Author Archives: Ben Hsu
JCCS Registration to Close in One Week
A public service reminder to all you kyusha fans who are waiting till the last minute: registration for theĀ 2009 Japanese Classic Car Show will be closing in one week, on Tuesday, September 15. Five years ago, the launch of … Continue reading
Kidney, Anyone? 7700-Mile Toyota Celica, Kenmeri Skyline, and Gurachan Mazda RX-7
How many kidneys does a human body have, anyway? We’re car nuts, not doctors. Anyway, here’s a trio of interesting finds that crossed our paths over the long weekend.
Friday Video: Seibu Keistatsu For All
Some Seibu Keistatsu to kick off your long weekend. Stay safe and try not to get blown up like these cop cars! Thanks to cesariojpn for the tip!
Nissan's Fairlady Z 40th Anniversary Minisite
Nissan has just launched a Japanese minisite in celebration of the Fairlady Z’s 40th Anniversary, along with some photos of the 370Z Roadster. It’s all in Japanese but you can click here to take a look.
KP61 Toyota Starlet Drift Machine
Teruyoshi Iwai campaigns one of the coolest D1GP cars around, a KP61 Toyota Starlet stuffed with a 4AG with TRD and Silk Road suspension components. Apparently Iwai made his triumphant return to D1 in Round 5 at Ebisu Circuit, but … Continue reading
Another Blog Chock Full of Rotting J-Tin
Remember the exploits of the Kusahiro Exploration Corps? Well here’s Dara Dara Seikatsu’s blog to further document the oxidizing nostalgics of Japan and ruin your day. Thanks to reader Charlie C. for the tip!
Lexus Celebrates 20th Anniversary
On September 1, 1989 sales of the Lexus LS400 began. It’s hard to believe but it’s been 20 years since the first luxury branded Toyota was offered to the American public. Thirty years after Toyota first arrived stateside, the idea … Continue reading
Swiss Nostalgics at Japaner Treffen 2009
JNCer Rene H. sent us these photos of the recent Japaner Young-und-Oldtimer Treffen all the way from Switzerland! They seem to like their cars mostly stock but improved with age, like a fine Swiss Emmental.
Epic Diecast Car Chase: S130 Fairlady Z and Silhouette Skyline vs Firebird Trans-Am
No, it’s not Friday yet but this Tomica-filled car chase could not be chained back. Imagine an alternate universe that has Smokey and the Bandit fused with the cars and violence of Seibu Keisatsu. It’s The Fastest Yellow & Red … Continue reading
Nostalgic Wear from Import Bible
Our friends at Import Bible have once again turned out a new collection of fresh threads, this time for hachiroku heads. The “Old School” T-shirt has stuff like Work Equip 03s and an AE86 headlight switch in lieu of those … Continue reading
Friday Video: TE71 Corolla Levin vs. S30 Fairlady Z
We have absolutely no idea what movie or TV show this car chase is from, but at least the scene isn’t dominated by the marque that forked over the most sponsorship yen. The main cars are a TE71 Corolla Levin … Continue reading
Kidney, Anyone? 18,000-Mile Datsun Bluebird 411
This incredible 1968 Datsun Bluebird 411 is probably the closest you’ll ever get to owning a time capsule car. According to the seller, this RHD predecessor to the Datsun 510 lived in a New Zealand museum for 20 years before … Continue reading
Sneak Peek at Classic Toyotas in New NFL Ads
The NFL will be running a series of tailgate party-themed ads in the upcoming season, and some classic Toyotas are about to get prominent placement. Here are some behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot, courtesy of the JCCS. In one a … Continue reading
EVENTS: The Very Last Nisei Showoff
Way, way back in the day, nisei (the Japanese word for second-generation Japanese Americans) held informal cruise nights all over the greater Los Angeles area. They were some of the first guys ever to modify 510s, Celicas and the early … Continue reading
Friday Video: Mitsubishi Action in Guerrilla Group 8
Despite the presence of Tetsuya Watari, gunfights, and a gull-winged Japanese sports coupe, this is not Seibu Keisatsu. Mitsubishi fans, rejoice! It’s Guerrilla: Tokyo Police Group 8, starring Watari-san (who played our beloved Sgt. Daimon in Seibu), a Mitsubishi Starion … Continue reading
More Vintage Wheel Ads: Techno, Yayoi, Etc.
We posted some vintage Japanese wheel ads a while back. Here’s some more spotted on Riverside. Many have a similar theme: modified OG J-ride, night time shot, the wheel in question and a glimpse of asphalt lit dramatically. The message … Continue reading
JNC Contest Answer: 1925 Otomo
Congrats to Brad D. (TSiSS350), who guessed correctly that the yesterday’s JNC Contest Car was a 1925 Otomo! Here’s a brief history of the car and Brad’s prize after the jump.
JNC Contest: Call This Car!
I have been criticized for making my “guess the car” type contests too easy, so here’s one for ya’ll. Identify this car and win a diecast nostalgic from Japan!
Toyota Celica Speedster at Woodward Dream Cruise
Since 1995, the Woodward Dream Cruise has taken over the streets of Detroit each August and is one of the biggest gatherings of muscle cars and hot rods on the planet. J-tin is a pretty rare sight at the WDC, … Continue reading
Friday Video: Tokusou Saizensen Intros
This week’s video shows the collected opening sequences for Tokusou Saizensen, which translates (we think) to “Special Investigation Frontline”. The long running Japanese police drama aired from 1977 to 1987, but the intro had to be re-shot each time Nissan … Continue reading


