QotW: What’s your favorite radio control car?

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Ben Hsu

We suspect that there’s a pretty large overlap between fans of old Japanese cars and radio control cars. After all, many of the best RC cars come from Japan, from iconic Tamiyas to new school HPIs, highly detailed Kyoshos to ready-to-run Nikkos. Plus, it’s just fun to tinker with mechanical things that mimic real cars, and there’s plenty of hop-up parts as well. It’s a great first step for those who aren’t old enough for a full-size car to get into all things automotive.

What’s your favorite radio control car?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the best rig for a novice off-roader?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | 8 Comments

The Japanese Classic Car Show reaches a milestone

Posted on June 6, 2025 by Ben Hsu


The Japanese Classic Car Show has announced dates for 2025. It marks a significant milestone, as it happens to be the event’s 20th anniversary. The achievement isn’t just for the success of the JCCS, but the Japanese classic movement as a whole.

As the show’s announcement states, “Back in 2005, Japanese cars weren’t even widely seen as ‘classics.’ Now, thanks to a passionate community of fans, builders, and collectors, we’re proudly celebrating the craftsmanship, culture, and legacy that continue to thrive in the US and beyond.”

Twenty years ago Japanese cars were still largely seen as disposable. Many in the collector car community openly laughed at the idea that they could even become valuable classics. Today, that notion has been mostly dispelled and the JCCS, as the first show of its kind in America, played an enormous role.

The 2025 show will celebrate significant models from major manufacturers, including the first-gen Toyota Celica, Mazda RX-7, the Nissan/Datsun 240Z (with a BRE reunion including Peter Brock and John Morton), and the Honda Z600. Held within the JCCS will also be the 14th annual Japanese Classic Motorcycle Show, and there’s more to come.

The 2025 JCCS will be held at Marina Green Park in Long Beach, California on October 11. Registration will open July 7.

Posted in Reminder | Tagged | 1 Comment

Toyota Land Cruiser ‘Lite’ patent image unearthed

Posted on June 5, 2025 by Ben Hsu

Toyota has been teasing the idea of a baby Land Cruiser for over three years now. The notion seems one step closer to reality now that patent images showing a full render of the vehicle have been discovered. The rendering looks like a cross between several existing Toyota models, including thew new Land Cruiser 250 and dearly departed FJ Cruiser. Continue reading →

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Baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima was synonymous with the X60 Toyota Mark II

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Ben Hsu

On June 3 baseball star Shigeo Nagashima passed away from lung cancer in a Tokyo hospital. Voted 1958’s Rookie of the Year, he was instrumental in establishing the Yomiuri Giants as Japan’s greatest baseball dynasty. By the time Nagashima retired in In 1980 he was a household name. Two years later he became Toyota’s spokesman for the new X60 Mark II. Continue reading →

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A closer look at the Tommykaira ZZII prototype

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Steve Chang

At the turn of the century Tommykaira was on the verge of building a Japanese supercar. Gran Turismo players may remember the Tommykaira ZZII as a super light, mid-engined, all-wheel-drive weapon that decimated the competition. Sadly, that was as far as the car got, because funds ran dry and the real car never progressed beyond the prototype stage. As it turns out, that one prototype does run and is still kept at Tommykaira HQ in Japan. Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged | 2 Comments

QotW: What’s the best rig for a novice off-roader?

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Steve Chang

Carefully plotting every tire placement through a rock-strewn trail at tortoise-like speeds can be just as exhilarating as perfectly connecting apex after apex to shave a tenth of a second off your lap time. And as it happens, today, June 2, is National Rocky Road Day. While the calendar authorities probably meant the ice cream flavor, it still got us thinking about what a good starter off-roader would be — something that’s affordable, plentiful (for parts scavenging), easy to operate and fix, and guilt-free when banging against rocks.

The affordability criterion likely eliminates any Land Cruiser and anything with the Toyota tax. The parts availability requirement will limit the JDM options. We almost think something like a beat-up Subaru or Honda CR-V might work better than an actual 4×4 if we’re just talking practice vehicles.

What’s the best rig for a novice off-roader?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your most memorable road trip?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 13 Comments

The Toyota RAV4 concept made a tiny splash at the Tokyo Motor Show

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Ben Hsu

A new Toyota RAV4 debuted last week, and in the 30 years since the original hit ToMoCo showrooms a lot has changed. Today the RAV4 has superseded the Camry as the default car for sensible but unimaginative shoppers. However, the RAV4’s original concept was much more unconventional than the crossover it became. Continue reading →

Posted in concepts | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

A Honda NSX-R has sold over over $1 million and it’s worth every penny

Posted on May 29, 2025 by Patrick Strong

Over the weekend a 2003 Honda NSX-R sold at auction for over $1 million. Naturally, comments regarding the sale have been a tsunami of but-it’s-just-a-Honda type of responses. To which we say, what is wrong with you? Continue reading →

Posted in marketwatch | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Nissan might sell its Yokohama headquarters and showroom

Posted on May 28, 2025 by Ben Hsu

In 2009 Nissan spent $450 million to build a brand new headquarters and showroom in Yokohama. Opened to coincide with the Port of Yokohama’s 150th anniversary, then-president Carlos Ghosn described the seaside high-rise as a “sailboat on a voyage across an ocean of unlimited possibilities.” Now, as the company bleeds cash and desperately searches for a lifeline, it’s considering selling its HQ. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged | 5 Comments

Toyota is coming out with a sub-Tacoma compact pickup

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Ben Hsu

For years fans of Toyota trucks have been clamoring for a return to the compact pickup, the kind of mini-truck that helped Toyota establish itself in the US in the 70s and 80s.  The Tacoma has gotten too big and expensive to fill that role, serving double duty as a workhorse and off-roader. Now a pickup that slots below the Tacoma has been confirmed. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , | 22 Comments

QotW: What’s your most memorable road trip?

Posted on May 26, 2025 by Ben Hsu

The Friday before Memorial Day is National Road Trip Day in the US. In Japan today, May 26, also happens to be the anniversary of the opening of the Tomei Expressway, a famed route heading from Tokyo to points west. One of the reasons we love cars today is spending formative, pre-flatscreen years on extended interstate drives. I hope to instill that love in my son as well, so selfishly I’m also looking for ideas when asking:

What’s your most memorable road trip?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your best/worst dealership story?“. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged | 5 Comments

A brief history of the Toyota RAV4

Posted on May 23, 2025 by Ben Hsu

Toyota debuted the sixth-generation RAV4 on May 21, continuing a crossover lineage that dates back 31 years. When the original launched in 1994 no one, probably not even Toyota, predicted how massive a sales success the model would be. Toyota has sold more than 15 million RAV4s in 180 countries around the world. There’s genuine history there and Toyota knows it. That’s why the newest one shared its global debut stage with six other models, including the 1989 concept that started it all. Here’s a brief history of the RAV4 from a Japanese market perspective. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , | 3 Comments

UD Trucks celebrates 90th anniversary

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Steve Chang

The company today known as UD Trucks was established in 1935. This year they’re kicking off a 90th anniversary campaign to celebrate nearly a century of trucks. The large truck and bus maker was founded by Kenzo Adachi in Saitama Prefecture and originally known as Nihon Diesel Industries. In 1960 Nissan purchased it and renamed it Nissan Diesel. Continue reading →

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Toyota 2000GT and LFA casually appear in Lexus ad with no mention

Posted on May 21, 2025 by Ben Hsu

Here’s a puzzler for ya. A new Lexus commercial features Toyota’s two most legendary sports cars, but neither is mentioned or spotlighted at all. Normally the presence of such revered chariots would hint at the company’s storied history or legacy of high performance machines. Not here. The spot is for the Lexus NX, a competent luxury crossover but not the kind of car that sets your hair ablaze. Continue reading →

Posted in cm | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Could Toyota be Nissan’s financial savior?

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Ben Hsu

Last week Nissan announced a new recovery plan to dig itself out of its downward spiral. It announced that its deficit for the fiscal year ending in March 2025 had swelled to $4.5 billion and that it will close seven factories and cut 20,000 jobs (15 percent of its workforce). At the same time a new plan hopes returns is fortunes to the black by 2027, and a surprising new name has been bandied about as a potential backer: Toyota. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , | 5 Comments

QotW: What’s your best/worst dealership story?

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Steve Chang

Today is apparently the first ever National Automotive Dealer Day. Love ’em or hate ’em, dealerships are a part of life. We suspect that most people don’t like spending a lot of time in them, but  if you love cars sooner or later you’ll have to step foot in one. Even those who wrench their own rides and never buy new will have to visit the parts counter. There’s really no escaping them.

What’s your best/worst dealership story?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the craziest odometer reading you’ve ever seen?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | 9 Comments

Nissan’s mid-engined V6 Micra celebrates its 23rd anniversary with an refresh

Posted on May 16, 2025 by Ben Hsu

Speaking of the Nissan March, Nissan Great Britain has just updated one of its wildest creations. Originally built 23 years ago, the Micra 350SR is what happened when Nissan GB crammed the ubiquitous VQ35 V6 engine midship into the back of the K12 March. To celebrate its ni (2 in Japanese) san (3 in Japanese) birthday, they’ve updated it for the modern age. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Why SuperGT team owner Masahiro Kondo bought a first-gen Nissan March

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Ben Hsu

To petrolheads Masahiko Kondo is best known as a racing driver and team manager. However, long before his motorsports career he was a teen heartthrob with his debut single Sneaker Blues shooting to number one in 1980 when Matchy, as he was nicknamed, was only 17 years old. It was inevitable that a company would scoop him up as a spokesperson, and Nissan did just that when they launched the March hatchback in 1982. Now over four decades later, despite having raced Skyline GT-Rs, Porsches, and Dodge Vipers at Le Mans, Kondo has decided to buy a 56-horsepower first-gen March and restore it. Continue reading →

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Toyotafest 2025 is coming soon. Get your coupon code here

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Ben Hsu

The 2025 All-Toyotafest will be here in a little over a month. The show enters its 29th year and will be held at Marina Green Park in Long Beach, California on June 28, 2025. Registration is open for all Toyota, Lexus, and Scion owners. Spectators can buy tickets, and the organizers are graciously offering JNC readers a coupon code for $5 off any online ticket orders. Simply enter the coupon code JNC5 to receive your discount. See you there!

Posted in Reminder | Tagged | 1 Comment

Vintage ANA livery with matching service vehicles

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Matt De Mangos

Here’s a Showa Snap taken by our friend Yoshida-san at Haneda Airport near Tokyo. The Boeing B727 is still finished in the old Mohican Blue livery of All Nippon Airways. Matching service cars include what appears to be a T130 Toyota Corona Van and a Toyota Hilux ramp truck. In 1982 ANA celebrated its 30th anniversary by adopting its Triton Blue livery and began phasing out the Mohican Blue. This photo was taken right around that time. Airline colorways are just as beautiful as the best racing liveries. Could there be a museum of airport service vehicles out there?

Posted in Showa Snap | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments