text: Although the total market in Japan was down in 2004, we 
  
  managed to pick up market share. The two halves of the 
  
  year were completely different, however. The first half was 
  
  the ‘dry season’—where we didn’t have any new model 
  
  introduction for over 12 months. We underestimated the 
  
  impact that would have on our business, and the dealers 
  
  had a tough time because of it. Then we organized the 
  
  SHIFT_event in the second half of the year, and for the 
  
  first time ever introduced six new models simultaneously. 
  
  This completely changed the playing field. While it was 
  
  a challenge for the dealers to launch six models in five 
  
  months, it had a significant and positive impact. 
  
  Japan’s population peaks in 2006, and automobile 
  
  demand is expected to decline thereafter. With this in mind, 