According to the Japan Times, Kiyoyuki Okuyama was caught speeding in the mountains of Yamagata Prefecture on the morning of October 1, 2022. Okuyama was behind the wheel of his Ferrari Enzo, a car he happened to be instrumental in designing. The Enzo was clocked by police at 128 km/h (79 mph), a full 88 km/h (54 mph) over the posted speed limit of 40 km/h (25 mph).
The 63-year-old was sentenced by the Yamagata District Court to four months in prison, suspended for two years. "I will make sure this will never happen again and will contribute to society. I am very sorry," Okuyama said after the verdict. His defense had been that he was trying to cool the Enzo's engine by driving at a higher speed, and his sentence was suspended thanks to his open admission of guilt.
Okuyama has had a storied career, and is considered one of Japan's standout talents in the world of design. As noted by Hagerty, the Japanese government even tips its hat his way, championing his work for exerting "international influence transcending cultural borders."
Notably, after taking on the role of design director at Pininfarina in 1995, Okuyama became the first non-Italian to design a Ferrari when he worked on the Enzo. His other credits include the original Porsche Boxster, the 996-generation 911, and the E8-series Shinkansen bullet train.
As this case shows, Japanese authorities take a dim view of speeding, especially at such a high rate. Even being a beloved, world-famous designer won't get you out of hot water with the local courts.
