Tears – in this case, Toyota President, Akio Toyoda’s tears.  According to a recent SFGate story, Toyota’s CEO teared up during the House Oversight Committee hearing and broke down balling at a meeting with national Toyota dealers.

Why the tears?  Crying in public is common protocol for Japanese executives in trouble.  The Japanese view crying as a virtuous symbol of the acknowledgment of one’s mistakes.

While Toyoda’s tears have improved his image in Japan; the jury is still out in the United States where Toyota continues to struggle with several high-profile safety recalls.  Did Toyoda’s tears demonstrate true remorse or were they a theatrical show?

Remorseful tears or not, many in the automobile industry and at Toyota, itself, have confidence that Akio Toyoda is still the best person to lead this global manufacturing giant.  Since assuming the role of CEO in June, 2009, Toyoda has publicly criticized the previous CEO and management team for being overly focused on growth and for losing sight of the customer.  He pledged to return the company’s focus to the customer and to grow more responsibly in the future.

After slamming Toyota’s previous management in a rare statement to the Detroit Free Press, Jim Press, the former head of the automaker’s US operations, expressed his own confidence in Toyoda.  “Akio Toyoda is not only up for the job, but he is the only person who can save Toyota. He is very capable, and he embodies the virtues and character that built this great company.”

The CEO, himself, admits, “We at Toyota are at a crossroad. We need to rethink everything about our operation.”  Fixing Toyota is going to be a big job, but Akio Toyoda appears to have the passion and drive necessary to succeed.  As he puts it; his name is on every product his company makes.