Kanako

The Kanako Motor Corporation, commonly called only Kanako is a Japanese conglomerate, responsible for car and bike manufacturing in Japan since after World War II. In Motorsports, Kanako participates in multiple disciplines, including the World Championships for Formula A, Sportscars and Grand Prix Motorcycles, stock car series like TM Master Cup, FARC, AmeriCar and Dash Cup. The brand is the most valuable in Japan, competing domestically against Nemoto and Isanni.

History
Following World War II, the company began building bikes with war surplus engines, but by the early 1960s, the brand started producing compact cars, eventually becoming one of the major manufacturers in the world, producing cars with better fuel autonomy in the wake of the 1973 Oil Crisis.

By the 1980s, it had become the largest bike manufacturer in the world, with a leading presence in the Japanese car market.

In Motorsports, the company has participated through not only partnered teams, but by factory efforts with the formation of the Suwa Racing Company, incorporated in 1962, providing tuning services to amateurs and a racing school. In the Grand Prix Motorcycle Championship, Kanako has won over 30 World Championships across multiple classes. In automobile racing, Kanako has first entered the Formula A Championship in 1970, with the estabilishment of the Japanese Grand Prix, although not much success was achieved until the late 1980s, winning titles as a engine supplier and since 1999, Kanako has its own team, while also supplying other outfits with engines.

In stock car racing, Kanako has previously entered TM Master Cup in one-off efforts and until 2020, actively supplied engines to FARC Lowe Dollar Series teams, winning 4 races between 2017 and 2019. Starting in 2019, the brand shifted from FARC to AmeriCar, becoming one of the leading brands in that tour, achieving 6 wins in its first year.

Trivia
This manufacturer is named after Touhou Project character Kanako Yasaka, and models are named after either references to characters, games or locations within the Touhou series.