From Honda Australia

Honda’s all-new Fit -- known as the Jazz in Australia -- has won the 2007-2008 Japan Car of the Year Award.

The second-generation Jazz expands on its predecessor’s strengths, providing enhanced packaging, utility, driving and environmental performance to set a new benchmark in the highly competitive small car segment.

Japanese orders for the new Jazz exceeded 20,000 in the first two weeks after its launch in late October this year.

Mr. Takeo Fukui, President and CEO, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. said, “We are honoured that the new Fit has been chosen as Car of the Year Japan for 2007-2008 from a range of models from Japan and overseas. We are happy that so many people see the Fit as the ideal small car.”

“We also appreciate the efforts of many people including the suppliers who supported our development and production. We will continue providing better satisfaction for our customers.”

Honda has won five of the last 10 Car of the Year awards, including one for the first-generation Fit in 2001.

The coveted trophy is awarded annually by a 60-member panel of journalists.

Aditional Reuters repport.
Link

TOV Editor note (personal)
One can only wonder why this information, although published in Honda's JP PR website since 11/21, never made it to any other Honda PR-website (not in Europe, not in America, not in Honda's own World Wide site).
The reason why I personally waited so long to post it, is because I was waiting for Honda to do it, as you could read in TOV forums by the time.
That reminds me also that, just a month before its Japanese debut (which eventually happened in Oct07), Honda UK PR team released a news item stating that the Fit wouldn't be released in Japan until January 08.
To me, it seems that Honda doesn't want its small newcomer go grab too much attention abroad, and personally, I don't appreciate this lack of transparency. Again, keep in mind that we are not talking about Honda's commercial websites, I'm referring to their corporate and PR sites. dgr