Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Mr K designed this Tokyo Motor Show logo
With the news of Mr K’s passing this week, we thought it might be a good time to reflect on his accomplishments, both in and outside of Nissan. Yutaka Katayama’s work extended far beyond the walls of Nissan Motor Corporation, and benefitted the Japanese … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your best Mr K story?
The news of Mr K’s passing this weekend moved many, especially in the US where he was instrumental in guiding the Datsun brand in its formative years. After retirement in 1977, Mr K remained an active ambassador to the brand, traveling across … Continue reading
VIDEO: The Life and Times of Mr K
Last September, on the occasion of Yutaka Katayama’s 105th birthday, Nissan produced a series of videos honoring the influential former executive. The sad news came out of Tokyo today that Mr K had passed away on Thursday, but as you can … Continue reading
RIP Yutaka “Mr K” Katayama, 1909-2015
Yutaka Katayama, beloved former Nissan executive and noted sports car enthusiast, passed away Thursday at the age of 105. Known as “Mr K” and respected and adored by legions of Nissan owners, Katayama was responsible for many of the early successes of … Continue reading
Chicago Auto Show: Mazda reveals Heritage Collection of accessories
Leading up to the Chicago Auto Show, Mazda announced it was releasing a Heritage Collection of accessories. Needless to say, we at JNC were very excited. Not only that, but the show would be a reunion of sorts, as the original Mazda … Continue reading
NEWS: Mazda is 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed’s featured marque
Mazda will be the featured marque at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year. It will have been eight years since a Japanese marque has taken center stage. One of the world’s premiere automotive events, the FoS takes place on the estate … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2015 New Year Meeting, Part 05 — Racers and Replicas
There is no shortage of motorsports history in Japan, and it’s not uncommon there to find road-going replicas of some of of the nation’s most iconic — and some not-so-iconic — competition machines. Here at the New Year Meeting, it’s a … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Nissan puts the “LM” back in GT-R
JNC owners, myself included, love to spout on about the superiority of rear-wheel-drive to anyone that will listen (and many whom won’t). Nissan wants to prove all of us wrong with a front-wheel-drive GT-R. No, that is not a typo. The latest evolution … Continue reading
Chicago Auto Show: 1967 Toyota 2000GT
For those of you in the midwest dying to see an honest-to-god 1967 Toyota 2000GT in real life, get thee down to the Chicago Auto Show, going on until February 22. Toyota is taking three of its classics on tour, displaying … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the one modern feature you wish JNCs had?
As pilots of decades-old Japanese warhorses, we all pride ourselves on driving the simplest, everything-you-need-nothing-you-don’t motoring experiences. Blind spot monitors? Ha! Backup cameras? Ha! Airbags? Double ha! We are hard core. Sometimes though, as hard as it is to admit, isn’t just … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2015 New Year Meeting, Part 04 — Shakotan Sleds
The previous installment of our New Year Meeting coverage focused on originality. In Part 04, we travel to the opposite end of the spectrum. But among all of Japan’s customization styles, shakotan is perhaps the most appealing to JNCers. Translated as simply “low,” shakotan cars are … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? Nissan Fairlady Z432 up for auction
A 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z432 is going up for bidding at the RM Amelia Island auctions next month. JNCers know the drill: its namesake 4 valves per cylinder, 3 carbs, and 2 cams stems from the S20 straight six sourced from the Skyline GT-R of … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2015 New Year Meeting, Part 03 — Bone Stock Beauties
Japan has been the source of some truly extreme car cultures. Sadly, a “custom car” was the type of vehicle deemed most unseemly by Japanese women in a recent survey. No matter. Despite a western eye that cherry picks the only the most severe … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2015 New Year Meeting, Part 02: Sports Coupes and Sports Sedans
In Part 01 of our New Year Meeting coverage, we looked at the early days of Japan’s infatuation with sizzling Sixties sports cars. In Part 02, we look at the Disco Decade’s explosion of new sports coupes and sports sedans.
Posted in events
Tagged 510, a20, b110, bluebird, c10, c110, celica, corolla, daruma, datsun, e30, E50, e70, fairlady z, fto, galant, gemini, gto, isuzu, levin, mazda, mitsubishi, new year meeting, nissan, r30, rx-3, s130, s30, savanna, skyline, sprinter, sunny, te27, TE55, toyota, trueno
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QotW: Which Japanese automaker has stayed truest to its roots?
Holy crap, the curmudgeons really came out in last week’s QotW responses. Well, we asked for it. This week, however, we’ll take a more positive spin. Which Japanese automaker has stayed truest to its roots? We’re going to risk the wrath of … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
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You can now ride a Toyota 2000GT train in Japan
How awesome is this? A Toyota 2000GT wrapped on the side of a train. Of course, it is in Japan and the train is the Linimo, a mag-lev train in Aichi Prefecture. Japanese rail companies often create limited-time decorations for their trains, … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese Nostalgic Train
Tagged 2000gt, Aichi Expo 2005, Linimo, toyota, Toyota Automobile Museum
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VIDEO: World’s coolest cop meets Mazda RX-3
Speeding tickets. It’s like a tax on driving. You never know when you’ll be plucked by laser for the Shirley Jackson lottery. Once in a blue moon, however, you completely luck the eff out and get pulled over by the coolest … Continue reading
QotW: Which Japanese automaker is furthest from its roots?
Sometimes you have a great history and come to the table with some big wins already under your belt. Then you make a bad decision, miss the goal by one yard, and ruin everything you’ve worked for, leaving legions of … Continue reading
