Tag Archives: hino

A brief history of Sori Yanagi’s Orient three-wheeled truck

Posted on December 5, 2024 by Ben Hsu

Last week we briefly touched upon the Mitsui Seiki TR-series Orient, one of many three-wheeled trucks that took to the streets of 1950s Japan. The Orient was notable for being the only vehicle designed by Sori Yanagi, a one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Three-Wheeled Trucks | Tagged hino, Mitsui Seiki, Orient, Sori Yanagi | 2 Comments

A Quiet Greatness is a gorgeous, must-have book about Japanese cars

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Ben Hsu

As much as Japanese cars have permeated automotive culture, they’ve been lacking in one important aspect: the coffee table book. Walk into any bookstore (if you can still find them in your town), and you’ll see gorgeous volumes on Italian, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged A Quiet Greatness, acura, daihatsu, datsun, dome, hino, honda, isuzu, lexus, mazda, mitsubishi, mitsuoka, nissan, prince, subaru, suzuki, toyota, yamaha | 14 Comments

Yukihiro Takahashi’s ads for Mazda, Daihatsu, Toyota Cresta and MR2

Posted on April 25, 2023 by Ben Hsu

The seminal electronica band Yellow Magic Orchestra lost one of its founders, drummer and vocalist Yukihiro Takahashi earlier this year. Last week we remembered the band’s keyboardist Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Nissan commercials; now it’s Takahashi’s turn, and he was even more … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged cresta, daihatsu, familia, Familia BG, hino, mazda, mira, Mira L70, mr2, Super Dolphin, sw20, toyota, X100 | Leave a comment

Collect the 100 most significant Japanese cars in 1/64 scale

Posted on September 16, 2022 by Steve Chang

By now JNC readers are probably familiar with large-scale subscription model kits. Iconic cars like the Nissan Skyline GT-R or Toyota AE86 are common subject matter, with a few pieces mailed to you each week over a period of about … Continue reading →

Posted in minicars | Tagged DeAgostini, hino, honda, isuzu, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, subaru, toyota | 12 Comments

Hino’s radio program for long-haul truckers ends after 52 years

Posted on April 6, 2021 by Ben Hsu

For over half a century, a Hino-sponosored a radio program has kept long-haul truckers company in Japan as they drove through the night. Imitators came and went, but Hino Midnight Graffiti Hashire! Kayōkyoku wasn’t just the longest-running radio program for … Continue reading →

Posted in Nihon Life | Tagged Dakar Rally, hino, isuzu, toyota | 4 Comments

The winners and runners up of the 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon

Posted on February 13, 2020 by Ben Hsu

The 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon was, like SEMA, largely a big ol’ Supra-fest. However, after the trophies were handed out there were a few highlights from the awards categories that defied convention. Like the teachers said in English class, you … Continue reading →

Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged A80, A90, b310, Blitz, c210, century, crown, csp311, datsun, fairlady roadster, hino, hks, mazda, nissan, re amemiya, rx-7, sa22c, silvia, skyline, sunny, supra, tokyo auto salon, Top Secret, toyota, ts cup | 7 Comments

EVENTS: Japanese Automotive Invitational 2019

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Dan Hsu

Now in its second year, the Japanese Automotive Invitational seeks to introduce the idea of collectible Nihon steel to a crowd that considers a 1954 Ferrari 375 MM not classic enough. Located at the Infiniti booth that sits just outside … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 2000gt, 200sx, 240z, 280zx, 3000GT, 300zx, 310, 411, 510, 929, acura, adam carolla, alcyone, bellett, bluebird, c10, contessa, corona, cosmo, cosmo sport, crx, CRX EA, CRX EF, csp311, datsun, fairlady roadster, fc3s, fj55, g2, galant gto, Hakosuka, hino, honda, Honda S-Series, honda z, infiniti, Integra g1, isuzu, J80, Japanese Automotive Invitational, jc, jimny, land cruiser, legend, Legend g1, lexus, Lexus LX, lexus sc, lj20, luce, mazda, miata, Miata NA, mitsubishi, Model 70, Monterey Car Week, mx-5, nissan, nsx, paul newman, r130, r382, rx-7, s10, s130, S30Z, scca, Sera, silvia, skyline, sports 800, subaru, subaru xt, suzuki, svx, t40, toyota, Type 16, VehiCROSS, Z30, z31 | 7 Comments

VIDEO: These dekotora drivers use their modded trucks for acts of charity

Posted on August 8, 2019 by Kevin San

The image of a dekotora driver in Japan typically isn’t a wholly positive one. Much like hard core truckers in the US, they are seen as rough around the edges, people you wouldn’t want to confront alone at a remote … Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged dekotora, hino | 2 Comments

MOTORSPORT: Record-holding Dakar racer Yoshimasa Sugawara retires at age 77

Posted on April 30, 2019 by Ben Hsu

After a record 36 back-to-back runs in the Dakar Rally, Yoshimasa Sugawara has decided to hang up his racing hat for good. The Hokkaido native holds dual Guinness records for most consecutive starts, having participated in his first Dakar Rally … Continue reading →

Posted in motorsport | Tagged Dakar Rally, hino, Yoshimasa Sugawara | 2 Comments

EVENTS: Final New Year Meeting, Part 02 — The End of an Era

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Ben Hsu

After 42 years, the New Year Meeting, once the biggest classic car show in Japan, is no more. The Odaiba venue where the event is held will soon be bulldozed, making way for the future. We’ve covered New Year Meetings … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 117, 240rs, 410/411, 510, a30, b10, b110, b120, b210, bluebird, c10, Cabstar, cedric, Cedric 30, civic, Civic EF, clipper, contessa, corolla, crown, crx, CRX EF, csp311, daihatsu, datsun, Domingo, e10, fairlady roadster, familia, Familia BD, Fellow, fellow max, gloria, Hakosuka, hino, honda, honda N, isuzu, kei, mazda, minica, Minica Skipper, mitsubishi, n10, new year meeting, nissan, porter, prince, publica, pulsar, s110, s50, S500/S600/S800, sanitora, silvia, skyline, subaru, sunny, sunny truck, t360, today, vans, wagons | 13 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Ben Hsu

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, here’s a collection of red cars for your viewing pleasure. The theme is the early days of Japan’s post-war auto industry. Can you name them all? Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC!

Posted in Holidays | Tagged 312, alto, bellett, bluebird, colt, compagno, daihatsu, datsun, hino, honda, Honda N-Series, isuzu, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, prince, publica, r100, skyline, subaru, subaru 360, suzuki, toyota, Valentine's Day | 7 Comments

NEWS: 2018 Japan Automotive Hall of Fame inductees include 1966 Toyota Corolla, Honda CB 750

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Ben Hsu

The Japan Automotive Hall of Fame has announced its 2018 inductees. Three vehicles and three significant figures in Japanese motoring history will now be forever honored for their part in the country’s auto industry. Here’s what (and who) they are.

Posted in News | Tagged CB 750, corolla, e10, hino, honda, ke10, Kishichiro Okura, motorcycles, Ryoichi Nakagawa, subaru, toyota, Yoshio Akiyama | 8 Comments

GALLERIES: The Petersen Automotive Museum opens an unprecedented exhibit honoring Japanese cars

Posted on May 25, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Perhaps it is only fitting that the Petersen Automotive Museum is now located in what was once the only Seibu department store in the US. Where rows of Japanese home goods resided in 1962, today in 2018 stands this hemisphere’s most comprehensive museum … Continue reading →

Posted in museums | Tagged 2000gt, A80, bosozoku, c110, civic, cosmo sport, cresta, csp311, datsun, Datsun Type 16, drag, ef, EK, Flying Feather, hino, honda, Honda N-Series, Honda S-Series, jimny, kaido racer, kenmeri, lj20, mazda, mitsubishi, Mitsubishi 500, n600, nissan skyline, Petersen Museum, prince, r382, rx-3, s600, silvia, skyline sport, supra, suzuki, Suzulight, toyoda aa, toyota, x80 | 30 Comments

EVENTS: 2018 New Year Meeting, Part 01 — Sixties Specials

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Ben Hsu

The New Year Meeting is the oldest classic car event in Japan, held annually at the end of January, closer to the lunar new year than the Gregorian one. Having started in 1977, this year marked the 42nd time it was held. This … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 117, 2000gt, 510, bellett, bluebird, contessa, cosmo sport, datsun, fairlady roadster, hino, honda, Honda S-Series, isuzu, mazda, monkey, new year meeting, nissan, publica, r360, toyota | 9 Comments

Tokyo Auto Salon: Endless brakes make this Hino Contessa a show stopper

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Ben Hsu

One of the benefits of the growing interest in Japanese classics is that aftermarket companies are producing an increasing number of parts for the cars we know and love. One of the leaders of this movement is Endless Advance, the Japanese maker of … Continue reading →

Posted in events, Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged contessa, Endless brakes, hino, tokyo auto salon | 4 Comments

Tokyo Motor Show: The State of Cars in Japan

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Kevin San

By now you have seen plenty of car magazine and social media channels declare the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show as being a disappointment. Leading up to the show, there were whispers of some tasty production cars being revealed: a Fairlady Z … Continue reading →

Posted in Tokyo Motor Show | Tagged brz, calsonic, Concept-Ai, CrossHub, crown, Dakar Rally, Fine Comfort Ride, gt-r, hino, honda, Kai, kei, LCV D-Cargo, le mans, mazda, Motobot, MWC4, nissan, r35, s660, Sora Fuel Cell Bus, subaru, SuperGT, tokyo motor show, tomica, toyota, toyota 86, TS040, Viziv Performance Concept, Wonder Capsule, WRX STI, yamaha | 10 Comments

EVENTS: New Year Meeting 2017, Part 03 — Isuzu and Hino take center stage

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Ben Hsu

Each year the Japanese Classic Car Association celebrates a different featured marque at the New Year Meeting. Cars belonging to the featured marque are gathered for a concours d’elegance competition with awards voted on by judges from various Japanese automotive publications. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 117, bellett, contessa, elf, florian, gemini, hino, isuzu, new year meeting, Renault 4CV | 10 Comments

EVENTS: Kiryu Classic Car Festival, Part 02 — The Parade

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Ricky Silverio

By any standard the Kiryu Classic Car Festival is a memorable and diverse gathering of kyusha with no shortage of charm. Even better, however, is that after the car show part of the event concluded, the cars go for a parade through the streets … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged a20, b120, b310, barikan, bluebird, Bluebird 410/411, butaketsu, c10, c130, c230, Caren, celica, cervo, civic, Civic EG, contessa, corolla, corolla levin, corona, corona mark II, daruma, datsun 320, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, fronte, gloria, Hakosuka, hino, honda, honda z, kgc10, Kiryu Classic Car Festival, laurel, mark II, minica, Minica 70, mitsubishi, nissan, prince, s30 z, S500/S600/S800, sanitora, skyline, subaru, subaru 360, sunny, sunny truck, suzuki, te27, Vespa, wagons | 11 Comments

EVENTS: 2016 Kiryu Classic Car Festival, Part 01

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Ricky Silverio

The Kiryu Classic Car Festival holds a special place in the history of JNC. Back in 2006, long before any other English-language sites were interested in kyusha, it was the first show we covered in Japan. That also happened to be the first time … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 117, 1600gt, 2000gt, 410/411, 510, bluebird, c10, c110, c210, cedric, Citroen, contessa, corolla, corolla levin, cosmo sport, crown pickup, csp311, daihatsu, datsun, Dino, e30, Fairlady Z432, fto, gloria, Hakosuka, hijet, hino, honda, honda z, isuzu, kei, kenmeri, Kiryu Classic Car Festival, lancer celeste, Lancia, life, mazda, midget, nissan, prince, publica, repu, s30 z, s40, s50, S500/S600/S800, silvia, skyline, Snow Crawler, sports 800, subaru, subaru 1000, subaru 360, te27, tn360, toyota, wagons | 18 Comments

EVENTS: 2016 Meiji Jingu Classic Car Festival, Part 02

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Brandon Kelley

In Part 01 of our coverage of Tokyo’s Classic Car Festival at Meiji Jingu Gaien Park, I had just finished rolling up my tongue back into my mouth from which it had dropped, Tex Avery style, due to the cars brought out … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 2000gt, 310, 411, a20, b110, bellett, bluebird, celica, chaser, compagno, contessa, corolla levin, cosmo sport, crown, csp311, daihatsu, datsun, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, familia coupe, Griffon, hino, honda, isuzu, mark II, mazda, Meiji Jingu Classic Car Festival, mitsubishi, MX41, nissan, prince, r2, s30, s30 z, s50, s54, s600, silvia, skyline, sports 800, subaru, sunny, te27, toyota, Toyota Automobile Museum, x30 | 6 Comments