Toyokuni Machinery Co., Ltd., Nagoya, 1955-56
豊国機械工業 株式会社
This one is a bit of a puzzle as the Japanese Wikipedia entry shows the company as being Toyokuni Machinery, and the June 1955 Auto-By entry Mike shared with me confirms that, but the one 1955 ad that I've seen from Jos seems to indicate the manufacturer was Nippon Light Vehicle Co. Ltd. (日本軽自動車株式会社). Whether this was due to a buy out resulting in a change of name, or some other reason isn't clear. They are listed as producing a a 250cc shaft drive BMW clone called the Toyokuni Hit (豊国 ヒット号), although the name seems different in the 1955 ad ( Hokova/Hokuku/Hokuru (?) Hit: ホーコワ ヒット号).
Shaft drive machines were not common, and also more expensive to manufacture than chain drive machines so it is interesting to note that other BMW clones (Lilac, DSK, Rikuo) used a right side drive, where as this one appears to be left side drive. The Japanese Wikipedia entry says they also produced a scooter which was called the Hit (ヒット号), but I have yet to find an example.
