Honda's "Nature's Hope" Float to Lead 2016 Rose Parade®, Celebrate Majestic Beauty of National Parks

TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Honda's float entry, "Nature's Hope," a stunning representation of the majestic wonders found in national parks, will lead the 127^th Rose Parade presented by Honda and introduce this year's theme, "Find Your Adventure."  The float depicts and connects iconic national parks in the United States and Japan in a symbolic display of the harmony between the two nations.  The next-generation Acura NSX supercar will serve as the Rose Parade's official pace and sound car, ahead of its launch next spring.

The front of the float draws inspiration from Sanriku Fukko National Park, which was established in 2013 in Japan's Tohoku region following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011.  The other side showcases the scenic beauty and variety of wildlife found in America's national parks.

Twenty high school students visiting from Japan's Iwate prefecture, an area impacted by the earthquake and tsunami, will join multi-GRAMMY award winner, Daniel Ho, and 250 high school American students from the Los Angeles area to perform a musical composition alongside the float during the opening show.  The Japanese students are participants in the TOMODACHI Initiative, which was created by the governments of the United States and Japan following the 2011 disaster to create new bonds of friendship between American and Japanese youth through educational and cultural exchange activities. 

"Nature's Hope" includes several design features inspired by scenes found in the U.S. National Parks.  A grizzly bear fishes as a North American cougar looks on.  A real waterfall inspired by Yosemite Falls drops 14 feet.  An elk and a bald eagle set off towering Sequoia trees to complete the scene.  Other elements were incorporated as the suggestion of the visiting students:

• The majestic Miracle Pine Tree, a lone tree from a grove of hundreds that survived the tsunami;
• Two folk art horses from the Chagu Chagu Horse Festival, held in Morioka City every June;
• Examples of Nambu ironworks crafted in Iwate;
• A Japanese New Year bamboo arrangement; and
• Cherry blossoms will surround Snow Monkeys, both indigenous to Iwate

At 100-feet long and 24-feet high, "Nature's Hope" is among the largest floats in this year's Rose Parade.  For the sixth straight year, Honda's float will be powered by a specially configured low-emission, hybrid powertrain.  The Association's theme banner float will also be Honda-powered.

Honda and the Tournament of Roses

2016 marks the 55^th year Honda has collaborated with the Tournament of Roses and its sixth year as presenting sponsor.  The ground-breaking Acura NSX supercar, powered by three electric motors, a twin-turbocharged V-6 engine and 9-speed dual clutch transmission will serve as the Rose Parade's official pace and sound car.  Development of the Acura NSX is being led by a global team of designers and engineers in California, Ohio and Japan, and the Acura NSX is the only supercar to be produced in Americaⁱ. 

Honda first collaborated with the Tournament of Roses in 1961 to provide two-wheeled vehicles for 1962 Parade operations.  Honda has been a float participant in the Rose Parade since 1977, and has provided the official Tournament of Roses vehicle since 1994.  Honda continues to supply two-wheeled vehicles and also provides side-by-side (multi-utility) vehicles for Parade operations. 

As presenting sponsor, the Honda float is the first in the Rose Parade and showcases the theme.  As a result, it will not be considered a commercial entry and will not compete during the judging process.  Prior to becoming presenting sponsor in 2011, Honda floats won awards in 15 of the previous 16 years. 

About Honda

Honda established operations in America in 1959 and now employs more than 40,000 associates in its North American sales, R&D and manufacturing operations with total capital investment in North America exceeding $22 billion.  Based on its longstanding commitment to "build products close to the customer" Honda began building power sports products in America in 1979 and now operates 16 major manufacturing facilities in North America producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products, such as lawn mowers, mini-tillers and general purpose engines, and the HondaJet advanced light jet.  Honda also operates 14 major research and development centers in the U.S. with the capacity to fully design, develop and engineer many of the products Honda produces in North America.

About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses

The Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade®, the Rose Bowl Game® and a variety of associated events.  Nine hundred thirty-five volunteer members act as ambassadors of the organization and contribute upwards of 80,000 hours of manpower each year.  The 127th Rose Parade presented by Honda and themed "Find Your Adventure," will take place Friday, January 1, 2016, followed by the 102nd Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual.  Learn more at www.tournamentofroses.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

ⁱ The NSX is produced in America using domestic and globally sourced parts

Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151221/317694

SOURCE Honda