Author Archives: Ben Hsu
‘Initial D’ and Williams F1 collab is a weird snapshot of 2026 car culture
The Williams F1 team has unexpectedly collaborated with Initial D for a line of merch. There really isn’t a lot in common between a British Formula 1 team formed in the 1970s and a touge racing manga from 1990s Japan, … Continue reading
Butame Toyota Mark II stars in new J-hop music video
Members from two hit J-pop boy bands have formed a new group whose aesthetic is built around 1980s bosozoku culture. Maekawa Ippa has only one single so far, and the music video is stylized like a nostalgic Showa or Heisei … Continue reading
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Reimagined Honda NSX, the JAS Tensei, officially revealed
A modern interpretation of the iconic Honda NSX has now been fully revealed in physical form to media aPenned by Pininfarina and engineered by race car constructor JAS, the Tensei (meaning “rebirth” in Japanese) answers the question of what an … Continue reading
Actor Leo Morimoto owned one of the rarest Mazda models
Last month the beloved Japanese actor Leo Morimoto passed away at the age of 83. He was known for his laid back demeanor and calm screen presence in dramas like Shomuni and Nagi’s Long Vacation. However, he is best remembered … Continue reading
First NISMO Performance Center outside of Japan opens
Nissan Motorsports has cut the ribbon on the first NISMO Performance Center built overseas. It’s in the whimsically Australian-sounding suburb of Ferntree Gully, just outside Melbourne. It’s all part of Nissan’s grand plan to expand NISMO’s presence globally.
To celebrate our 20th anniversary we made a very simple shirt
October 2026 marks 20 years since Japanese Nostalgic Car was launched. We’ve had many shirt designs in this time (thank you to all who purchased one to support this site), but never a plain shirt with just the inkan on … Continue reading
Get your 80s JNC inkan at JCCS
It’s been many years since we’ve updated our inkan logo. Our classic version was an homage to bullet-shaped fender mirrors and vintage wheels like the sakura-spoked Yayoi. There were two versions, the original red and white and a black and … Continue reading
My car broke down two days before JCCS, but the Land Cruiser community is awesome
In preparation for the Japanese Classic Car Show this Saturday, I went to our storage to pick up all the stuff needed to set up our booth at the show. With our J80 Land Cruiser packed to the headliner, I … Continue reading
Akio Toyoda inducted into Automotive Hall of Fame
On September 23 Toyota Motor Corp chairman Akio Toyoda was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit. Just two days prior, he had crashed a Toyota off-road vehicle during testing. “So, if I look a little banged up, … Continue reading
Nissan’s Z Kaze Concept is an homage to the 90s
With its newly unveiled Z Kaze concept, Nissan is paying tribute to the 1990s. The car was unveiled at ZCon in Phoenix, Arizona, a gathering of the hardest-core Z enthusiasts in the country. Nissan says the Z Kaze “unlocks a … Continue reading
Japan’s oldest vehicle body manufacturer celebrates 125 years
On September 12, a lesser-known corner of Japan’s automotive world celebrated a milestone. Pabco, the oldest vehicle body manufacturer in the country, observed its 125th anniversary. It’s a company whose roots date back to the Meiji Era, a decidedly pre-automotive … Continue reading
Impul revives the GT bumper for R34 Nissan Skylines
The R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R might be decades old, but aftermarket parts are still coming. Case in point: Impul has revived its GT Bumper. It hearkens back to the original Impul GT Bumper from when the R34 was available new, … Continue reading
California to move smog test exemption to 1986 thanks to Leno’s Law
On Wednesday morning California Senate Bill 1392 was signed into law. Also known as Leno’s Law, it’s a reprieve for classic car enthusiasts across the state, as it pushes back the state’s notoriously strict smog tests to cars built through … Continue reading
The final Daihastu Copen rolls off the assembly line
On August 31, Daihatsu held a ceremony as the last Copen finished production and rolled off the line. A small group of lucky and dedicated Copen owners were invited to see off the Jaune Yellow kei convertible, a fitting color … Continue reading
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance welcomes a Japanese class for the first time
The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance that marks the grand finale of Monterey Car Week has long held the title of most prestigious car show in the world. Winning Best of Show is the highest and most coveted honor a car … Continue reading
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Tagged 24 Hours of Le Mans, 767b, 787, acura, celica, group c, honda, mazda, Monterey Car Week, nissan, nsx, Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, R91CP, T180, toyota, WEC, yojiro terada
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Carlyn Dinkler, pioneering Toyota Corona restorer and preservationist, 1939—2026
We are sad to report that Carlyn Dinkler, a pioneer in the world of vintage Japanese cars, has passed. Long before the internet, long before Toyotafest, and long before anyone though old Toyotas were cool, Dinkler was already devoting his … Continue reading
Mitsubishi Pajero returns as new body-on-frame SUV
When Mitsubishi discontinued the Pajero in 2019 it was punch in the gut for enthusiasts. That was followed by a knockout uppercut when Mitsubishi shuttered Pajero Manufacturing Co., Ltd., its legendary plant dedicated to building the the famed SUV (as … Continue reading
QotW: What other ‘outdated’ things do you enjoy?
Recently my 7-year-old has become obsessed with DVDs. He was born in an age where everything you could ever want to watch is on-demand. He can’t fully grasp it when I explain (in old prospector’s voice) that back in my … Continue reading
Ken Okuyama’s supercar celebrates the spirit of 1989, a landmark year for Japanese cars
“1989 was a defining year. It gave us the GT-R, Lexus, and the RX-7. Japan’s automotive industry reached new heights,” says renowned automotive designer Ken Okuyama. His latest creation, the V12-powered Kode89, is a tribute to that seminal year. It … Continue reading
Hiroshi Okuda, former Toyota president and chairman who fast-tracked the Prius, 1932—2026
Toyota confirmed last week that Hiroshi Okuda, former president and chairman of the company, had passed away on August 8 at the age of 93. He was a transformative figure in Toyota’s history. When he took the helm in 1995, … Continue reading
