Kotaro Chiba, founder of Japan's Drone Fund, has become the first HondaJet owner in Japan. The aircraft was delivered after Japan Civil Aviation Bureau director general Kuniharu Ebina presented the HondaJet Elite's Japan type certification to president and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company Michimasa Fujino.

To commemorate the type certification and the first delivery of a HondaJet Elite in Japan, Honda Aircraft Company held a ceremony at Haneda airport in Tokyo, which was attended by Ebina, Fujino and chief executive of HondaJet Japan Gentaro Toya.

In June 2018, Honda Aircraft Company began sales of the HondaJet Elite in Japan through HondaJet Japan. Since expanding to the region, the company has taken orders for more than 10 aircraft.

Fujino says: “It has been our dream to see the HondaJet flying in the skies above Honda's home country of Japan and we are proud to mark this major milestone for Honda's aviation business. Honda Aircraft Company's goal is to improve people's lifestyles throughout Japan by introducing them to business aviation with the HondaJet Elite. We aspire to popularise business aviation in the region, ultimately creating a society where business jets are widely-accepted and used for personal and professional use.”

Chiba comments: “Honda has introduced a world-class personal mobility product for airborne transportation. I would like to thank Mr Fujino and his development team who created the amazing HondaJet Elite. I have taken multiple flights in this aircraft and can confirm its quietness, powerfulness, smoothness, safety and stability. Above all, the beauty of this aircraft is outstanding. When light jets become widely used, the entire country of Japan will become like one metropolitan area, which will accelerate new economic activities. I have strong confidence that today, 20 December, will be day one of the revolution in aerial mobility in Japan.”

Gentaro Toyanotes says: "HondaJet Japan is honoured to deliver the HondaJet Elite to our first customer in the region. We look forward to providing the highest quality product and service to our customers throughout Japan. We will continue to cultivate businesses that support the aviation industry to ensure an environment where the HondaJet Elite's convenience will be fully experienced by our customers. We look forward to people throughout Japan experiencing the technologically advanced aircraft.”