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

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

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

Posted in nostalgic gear | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

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

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

QotW: What Subaru model is the most Subaru?

Happy Boxing Day from JNC! Speaking of boxers, Subaru is the most prolific builder of horizontally opposed engines in the automotive kingdom. But if you had to distill the Subaru essence into one model from any time in the company’s … Continue reading

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged , | 7 Comments

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!

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

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

Posted in Motorcycles | Tagged , | 3 Comments

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

Posted in wheels | 5 Comments

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

Posted in Aftermarket | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

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

Posted in nostalgic wear | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 18 Comments

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

Posted in Video | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

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

Posted in Motorcycles | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

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

Posted in Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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

Posted in News | 11 Comments

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

Posted in Design, News | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted in Video | 10 Comments

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

Posted in News | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

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

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 2 Comments