The role of the Takumi in making the Lexus ES Sedan

Japanese products have long been noted for their high quality and craftsmanship, the result not only of dedication to giving customers the best but also the pursuit of kaizen (constant improvement). While machines can achieve high quality, craftsmanship is still largely a human thing and mastery of craft is what distinguishes the Takumi.

Over 60,000 hours of experience
The highly skilled Takumi are present in many Japanese industries (even in restaurants) though it is in the auto industry that they are often highlighted. Each company has their Takumi, a group of workers who have spent decades developing their skills with hours, days and years of practice involved. At Lexus, for instance, the Takumi masters have over 60,000 hours – equivalent to 30+ working years – of experience developing their craft.

The areas where the Takumi work (in the auto industry) are varied and could be on the sheet metal, painting or even test-driving. Their role in quality control is often emphasised where trained eyes, ears and fingers can detect even the slightest imperfection or noise that the average person won’t notice. For the Takumi, nothing less than perfection is acceptable.

Time alone does not make one a Takumi (otherwise every long-serving worker would be considered one!). “The essence of Takumi is to gain a sublime understanding of the nuances of a particular art,” explains Nahoko Kojima, one of the world’s foremost paper-cutting artists. “To be focused and spend countless hours on one thing, and to carry on. It requires one to empty the mind and focus in a way that is simply not possible when still acquiring a skill.”

Takumi teach machines to be ever better
By 2050, it’s estimated that machines will be capable of surpassing human performance in virtually every field. Thus the role of the Takumi may seem destined to diminish as machines take over much of manufacturing a car. However, that is not necessarily the case. Just as Artificial Intelligence requires a process of learning first, the Takumi can continue to have a role in teaching machines to make ever better cars.

Painting, for example is now done mainly by robots and gives pretty good quality. But the Takumi still push for greater perfection in finishes and find ways to apply paint in a better way or with greater efficiency. This pursuit of perfection has been ongoing at Lexus since the brand was born in 1989.

The Lexus ES
Lexus vehicles epitomise the craftsmanship of Takumi craftsmanship and engineering excellence, with models like the seventh generation ES being a fine example. This is the second bestselling model (and also one of its oldest lines) of Toyota’s luxury brand. It is built on its Global Architecture – K (GA-K) platform, which gave designers the opportunity to explore the limits of sedan design with ‘provocative elegance’.

The long wheelbase and length of almost 5 metres enables the wheels to be pushed close to the corners, with wider front and rear treads, allowing for a very spacious interior. Every facet of the roomy sanctuary shows the dedication of the Takumi to ensure precision and the highest quality.

For the Malaysian market, the ES comes with a proven 2.5-litre 4-cylinder DOHC VVT-Ie engine which produces 204 bhp/247 Nm. The power flows through a Direct Shift 8-speed automatic transmission, which has the feel of a dual-clutch transmission, to the front wheels.

The ES is available for viewing and test-drives at Lexus Centres or if you are in the Klang Valley, it is on display at the Plaza Arkadia Fountain Courtyard at Desa Park City this weekend and at Eco Ardence in Setia Alam, Selangor from December 7 – 10. Lexus Malaysia is offering an exclusive rebate if an ES (priced from RM320,888) is purchased before December 31, 2023.

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