Tag Archives: japan

Ebisu Circuit badly damaged in landslide following 7.1 earthquake

Over the weekend Japan’s famed Ebisu Circuit suffered extensive damage following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake and subsequent landslide. The race track is a beloved venue for drifting enthusiasts both amateur and professional, and is at the heart of the yearly … Continue reading

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NEWS: Heavy snow hits Tokyo, disrupts road, train and air travel

A heavy snow storm struck Tokyo Monday, dumping 9 inches of powder on the capital city. According to NHK about 50 cars were stranded on Tokyo’s iconic Rainbow Bridge. The weather interfered with Tokyo’s train schedules as well, and according to Reuters 250 … Continue reading

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Happy National Doughnut Day from JNC

In Japan, the police don’t like doughnuts. Especially not the kind made by a Toyota Soarer on the pedestrian-dense and high-traffic streets of Shibuya, one of the busiest districts of Tokyo. Don’t try this at home and happy National Doughnut Day, … Continue reading

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NIHON LIFE: Would you like a Skyline with your morning coffee?

In America, coffee costs $4 for a ridiculous latte that doesn’t even come with a toy car. In Japan, coffee companies often run promotions that attach a gift to the can, which you have to get at a specific convenience store chain. This Skyline … Continue reading

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MILESTONES: Neoclassic Magazine celebrates 50 volumes

Our friends at Kousoku Yuen magazine in Japan recently published their 50th volume. The bimonthly publication, whom some of you may know as NeoClassic, specializes in Japanese cars, but you’ll rarely see a 2000GT or Hakosuka GT-R on the cover. Instead, you’re more likely … Continue reading

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EVENTS: Toyota Sports 800 50th Anniversary, Day 01

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Toyota’s first sports car, the 1965 Toyota Sports 800. Though small in size, the Yotahachi, as it became affectionately known, quickly developed a devoted fan base thanks to its ultra light-weight construction, aircraft-inspired styling, … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2015 Nostalgic2Days, Part 03

Closing out our coverage of the 2015 Nos2Days show, we begin with some cars being honored on the red carpet. Just like at a movie premiere, the event reserves a special crimson rug for those that have graced the cover of a magazine. In this … Continue reading

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PROJECT B: Owning a classic car in Japan, Part 03 — The Streets

In Part 01 of this series I went in search of my first classic car, a Prince Skyline GT-B. In Part 02 I proved to the city of Tokyo, where I live, that I had space to park it and went through Japan’s infamous … Continue reading

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PROJECT B: Owning a classic car in Japan, Part 02 — The Shaken

In Part 01 of this series, I went through the process of searching for the appropriate classic car. Even though I live in Tokyo, it turns out the best way to get the car I wanted, a Prince Skyline GT-B, … Continue reading

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Wednesday Wall: Aoshima Gurachan Box Art

If you haven’t gone to the Aoshima‘s English Facebook page yet, you’re missing out on some gorgeous gurachan wallpaper based on their box art. Where else can you decorate your desktop with a beautiful shakotan Skyline Japan in purple illustrated in purple? … Continue reading

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The beautiful Box Art and history of Aoshima model kits

Step inside any Japanese hobby store and you’re bound to be dazzled by both the beauty and abundance of Aoshima box art. Their highly detailed plastic model kits have been around for decades, and in many cases have done a … Continue reading

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Haunted by the Ghosts of Nostalgics Past

For someone who loves driving, I am notoriously bad at recognizing landmarks. It’s embarrassing, really. Ex-girlfriends have raised many an eyebrow, astonished at how I could fail to notice — even though “we’ve passed by a thousand times” — that a new … Continue reading

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Surf’s Up when your Surf Wagon has a Surf Line.

Reason number one to have a C210 Skyline Japan as your surf wagon: It’s already got a surf line. Reason number two: It looks killer lowered on Star Sharks. Did we mention we love wagons?

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Friday Video: Nissan Skyline Japan, Subaru Leone, and a Helicopter

The 1979 cop show Detective Story was hugely popular, and responsible for launching the career of Yusaku Matsuda. This clip appears to be a parody of the original, as it contains no Matsuda and adds a laugh track instead. Nevertheless, it … Continue reading

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Identify This Rusty Car Found in a Japanese Junkyard

See that wagon lurking behind this hakosuka and Honda Today? All we know is that it’s old, rust, and resting in a junkyard somewhere in Japan. This photo was sent to us by a reader there. Heck, it may not even be Japanese. Be … Continue reading

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Events: Nos2Days 2011, Part 02

Nos2Days is a two-day event held by Geibunsha, publishers of the awesome Nostalgic Hero magazine. Cars on display can come from any number of places — individual owners, restoration shops, aftermarket tuners, specialty car dealers, and Nostalgic Hero covers, spanning … Continue reading

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What the Tsunami Looked Like from a Car

DONATION LINK. Here are some more harrowing videos of the tsunami, including an in-car video from a Japanese driver who just happened to be driving along the coast the exact moment the tsunami hits. He remains amazingly calm as his … Continue reading

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Friday Video: Zokusha Cruise Osaka

As Japan recovers, let’s visit a simpler time. Here’s a nice evening commute through Osaka. Judging from the cars the background, it’s mid-1980s. Fun times. Watch the video below the fold.

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Sportsland Sugo Damaged in Earthquake

Japan is still recovering from last week’s record-breaking 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Sadly, reports say one of the nation’s great racetracks, Sportsland Sugo, has sustained damage.  Located in the hard-hit Miyagi Prefecture, Sugo was built in 1975 by … Continue reading

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“Save Japan” Disaster Relief Campaign from Japan’s Motorsports Community

Juichi and Shigekazu Wakisaka, the race car driving “1141” brothers, have started a relief fund from the Japanese motorsports community for victims of the Tohoku earthquake.  Save Japan has the support of Japanese racers and motorsports personalities of diverse backgrounds, … Continue reading

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