Monthly Archives: December 2023
Happy New Year from JNC
The Japanese tradition for New Year’s is getting up early to watch the hatsuhinode, or first sunrise. By watching the inaugural dawn you’ll be starting the year off right. The preferred viewing spot is usually somewhere that requires a bit … Continue reading
R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R tissue box will dry your nose super quick
If your home is anything like ours, this winter has been a revolving door of viruses. Tissues flow non-stop. But now at least there’s an entertaining dispenser to make blowing your stuffy nose a bit less of a drag. Behold … Continue reading
Nissan’s greatest hits converge in 90th anniversary commercial
Ninety years ago today Nissan Motor Co. was founded. It’s a momentous occasion for one of Japanese most prolific and beloved carmakers, and to commemorate the occasion Nissan has released a commercial gathering together all of their “greatest hits” over … Continue reading
Happy Holidays from JNC
Happy Holidays from JNC! We hope Japanese Santa Claus gave you everything you wished for. QotW will be back on Tuesday. メリークリスマス!
Hundreds of Honda SuperCub fans gathered to celebrate bike’s 65th anniversary
This year marked the 65th anniversary of the venerable Honda Super Cub. It also happened to be the 75th anniversary of Honda Motor Co. As such, the annual Cub Cafe Meeting at Honda’s headquarters in Tokyo had even more cause … Continue reading
The Bridgestone Super R.A.P. aluminum wheel has been resurrected
It looks like a steelie, but the Bridgestone Super R.A.P. is an aluminum wheel. Introduced in 1987, it was designed to be “the ideal competition wheel”. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Bridgestone’s motorsport program, so the company has … Continue reading
R35 conversion turns Nissan GT-R into R34 Skyline homage
The R35 Nissan GT-R has always been an incredible performance machine, but it hasn’t been traditionally beautiful. In fact, it departed quite a bit from tradition by splitting off from its R32/R33/R34 predecessors to become its own thing. However, a … Continue reading
Adorable Mazda Miata slippers are a fun last-minute holiday gift
Looking for a last-minute holiday gift idea? These Mazda Miata slippers seem like an ideal way to keep your feet warm during the cold months. Who wouldn’t want to go sliding around their floors with a pair of NA MX-5s … Continue reading
QotW: What do you want from Japanese Santa Claus this year?
Do you think Japanese Santa Claus is a rosy-cheeked, jolly old man with a fluffy white beard? No, he’s a chain-smoking mechanic in red one-piece coveralls with blackened fingernails and a perm. If you ask him the price of anything … Continue reading
Mazda Luce owner is part of multi-generational rotary family
With the rollout of the rotary engine’d Mazda MX-30 underway in Japan, Mazda is doing a video series on owners of rotary-powered cars. The first is Mr Shimzu, who drives a second-generation Mazda Luce, known as the RX-4 in the … Continue reading
Drive a classic Toyota Supra when you stay at the Fuji Speedway Hotel
If you’re planning to visit Fuji Speedway soon, you might want to look into the Supra Winter Festival. The program lets guests of the Fuji Speedway Hotel drive a Supra during their stay. While the main purpose of the promotion … Continue reading
Marvel at Honda’s 1962 motorcycle manufacturing prowess, now in English
A few weeks ago we shared a wonderful 30-minute Honda promotional movie from 1962, just one year before they started building cars. The film went deep behind the scenes in Honda’s motorcycle manufacturing facilities, showing how raw steel and plastic … Continue reading
Honda engines of street and circuit sound off at 75th anniversary event
As part of Honda’s 75th anniversary festivities this year, the Honda Collection Hall in Japan invited guests to listen to the sound of engines. Taking a series of classic motorcycles, cars, and racing machines from the museum, curators fired them … Continue reading
QotW: Do you treat your daily different than your JNC?
I have a confession to make: I treat my daily driver poorly. With my JNCs, cars I intend to keep forever, I park far away from other cars, institute a strict “no food or drinks” policy, and spend hours detailing … Continue reading
How ‘Honda Red’ became the marque’s official color
This year marks Honda’s 75th anniversary as a company, and they’re celebrating in a very unique way. Honda is offering a colored pencil that is the exact shade of their official “Honda Red” corporate color. It’s the same red that’s … Continue reading
Toyota continues teasing Celica revival from official channels
Toyota just can’t help itself from dropping not-so-subtle Celica hints all over the place. Last week it once again teased a revival of its beloved sports coupe from one of its official channels. When was the last time a car … Continue reading
The Subaru Legacy turbo wagon had one fatal flaw
Long before the WRX was even a glint in the eye of Subaru USA’s marketing team, Fuji Heavy Industries was offering a turbo wagon in the US market. The first-generation Legacy Sport Wagon was the most athletic wagon Subaru had … Continue reading
Toyota MR2 reportedly returning at the expense of mid-engine GR Yaris
A rumor out of Japan says that not only is Toyota reviving the MR2, but that it will have a purely gasoline-powered engine. In fact, the mid-engined runabout is likely to be the last combustion-only Toyota sports car ever made. … Continue reading
QotW: What car would you show an alien to help them appreciate cars?
Today is ET Day in Japan, commemorating the day in 1982 when the movie E.T. The Extraterrestrial was released there. Using that as a jumping off point, let’s say you encounter a curious and benign life form that has traveled … Continue reading