In 1983 a Navy Machinist ranked MR2 was on leave in Japan. The rank MR2 means Machinery Repairman Second Class. He did as most Navy men do on leave, hitting the town, looking for fun. He ended up in a dance hall with his buddies watching the locals dance and to their wonder, men danced with men and women danced with women. It perplexed him. After a couple beers and some long conversations with his mates, he mustered the bravery to dance with one of the young women. When he approached one of the young ladies with the offer to dance, her face turned a couple shades of red but not due to embarrassment. She was flattered.

The two danced the night away. He would tell you it was a night to remember as the tiny woman who spoke little English became enthralled with the moment, sharing an evening dancing in the arms of a true gentleman. They exchanged as much information as they could in the loud surroundings. She found out his rank and the ship he was on. The night ended and the machinist wandered back to his ship for the night with a great story to tell. But the story had not yet ended.

The next morning he was brought to dockside, having been requested to do so by a young Japanese woman with a bouquet of twenty-four roses. It was of course the young woman from the night before. Upon opening the note, he got her name for the first time. The last name was Toyota.

A year later, the Toyota MR2 was produced. According to Toyota MR2 stands for mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, two-seater. The machinist now works as an aerospace inspector. The story still goes around the shop causing grins on fellow machinists’ faces. No one knows if the story is true. The retired Navy man swears to his honesty and even blushes when he tells the story. True or not, it makes for great legend!