Honda Exhibit at Japan International Boat Show 2025
The 64th Japan International Boat Show 2025 was held from March 20 to 23, 2025 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture at Pacifico Yokohama (exhibition hall) and Yokohama Bayside Marina (large boat exhibits and boarding). Honda exhibited a booth filled with innovation and fun at this large-scale event, which attracted over 45,000 visitors over four days.
This year’s concept for the Honda booth was based on “Experience,” “Joyful,” “Affordable,” and “Story,” aiming to create an atmosphere where visitors could experience fun just by stepping into the booth. The booth was divided into Experience, Joyful, Affordable, and Story zones.
The Honda booth featured outboard motors including the BF350 flagship model, the BF300, which made its world debut at the Dusseldorf Boat Show in Germany in January 2025, and the large outboard motors BF250 and BF150, which were exhibited for the first time at the Miami Boat Show in the U.S. in February.
Also on display were small outboard motors ranging from the 2hp BF2 to the BF9.9, BF20, and BF30, as well as mid-size class outboard motors such as the BF50, BF60, and BF100 to complete the latest Honda outboard motor lineup.
In addition, boats equipped with the BF135, BF250, and BF350 were exhibited, providing visitors with a sense of how the outboard motors would look in action.
At Yokohama Bayside Marina, an outdoor mooring exhibition area, Beneteau’s Antares9 powered by a BF350 was on show. Many visitors were able to experience the strong presence of the BF350.
Also on display was the 1964 GB30, the original model that kicked off Honda’s marine business. The board explained company founder Soichiro Honda’s marine business philosophy, such as entering the two-stroke-dominated outboard motor market with a clean four-stroke engine based on his belief that ”watercraft should not pollute the water.” In addition to a chronological description of the history from GB30 to the electric propulsion prototype, the latest electric motorcycle EM1 e:, powered by Honda Mobile Power Pack e: which can be shared with electric motorcycles, were also exhibited.
An exhibit for marine leisure novices showed how to load an outboard motor utizing a Honda kei-car
The 2-horsepower BF2 outboard motor does not require a marine license for vessels under 3.3 meters, making it ideal to enjoy marine leisure activities.
The exhibit storing a BF2 in a carry bag for easy and smart loading inside a car, with an aluminum boat on the roof, was especially interesting to marine leisure novices, and received numerous questions.
A small vinyl pool was prepared at the Honda booth for the first time, where models of Honda outboard motors were given to children at the booth. Each child painted the vinyl boat in a different color, attached a spring-loaded outboard motor toy, and enjoyed miniature marine leisure.
Figurine and plastic model maker Max Factory displayed “Minori with Honda Outboard Motor BF350,” a plastic model of the BF350.
This plastic model set includes the BF350, Honda outboard motor flagship model released in 2024, and a figurine of Minori, who maintains the BF350. In addition to the appeal of Minori, the BF350 plastic model in particular is a highly sought-after product in the plastic modeling world because it offers a realistic experience of assembling the V8 engine and fitting it onto the outboard’s housing.
Many visitors were impressed by the intricacy of the model. “Minori with Honda Outboard Motor BF350” will be available at plastic model retailers throughout Japan and online from March 2025.
