Author Archives: Ben Hsu
GRAND TOURING: Fuji Speedway in a Toyota Crown
So sad… our last day in Japan, but at least it ended with a bang. Here’s a behind the scenes look at some upcoming material. My friend Goshu and I went to the Time Machine Festival at Fuji Speedway. Why … Continue reading
Posted in events, japan, toyota
Tagged crown, fisco, fuji speedway, mooneyes, s50, time machine festival, toyota
9 Comments
Friday Video: Mitsubishi Kei Car vs. Mustang II
Perhaps the Skyline vs. Cougar video from two weeks ago was a bit too much excitement for your delicate sensibilities. If so, this week’s video is another Japan vs. Detroit matchup that flexes considerably less muscle. In 1985’s My Lucky … Continue reading
NIHON LIFE: Tressa Yokohama, Toyota’s Mega-Mall
I finally got some free time to go check out Tressa Yokohama, a giant Toyota-owned mega-mall in Kohoku, Yokohama. In addition to your typical shopping mall features like a McDonald’s counter and escalators pointing every which way, showrooms representing all … Continue reading
Posted in Nihon Life
Tagged toyota, toyota 7, toyota division 7, toyota mall, tressa yokohama
11 Comments
CA Seeks to Smog Check 15 Year Old Cars, Again
Last August California assemblyman Dave Jones put forth a bill that sought to apply the state’s strict emissions inspections to cars 15 years or older. The bill was defeated, but now Jones is at it again. This time funds from … Continue reading
Posted in laws
9 Comments
More from Odaiba Car Show
Here’s another photo from the weekend’s Odaiba car show sent to us by Mooneyes. There seems to be something car-related going on all the time there. This Celica may seem as painful as the itasha cars to some, but it’s … Continue reading
Posted in Spotlight, toyota
6 Comments
Itasha Car Show at Odaiba
Yesterday at Odaiba there was a car show that featured the odd combination of American muscle cars and itasha. Itasha is the latest Japanese fad, in which fans of anime and manga plaster their cars with large images of their … Continue reading
Book Garage: Japanese Car Brochure Heaven
No trip to Tokyo would be complete without a stop to Book Garage. It specializes in old Japanese car brochures, and has shelves filled with them. Want a catalog for a 1971 Nissan Cedric? How about a 1965 Toyota Toyoace … Continue reading
Posted in catalogs, japan
20 Comments
Japan Sighting: Denso Corona Wagons
Random Japan sighting: Isn’t it nice to know the Corona wagons employed by Denso are still in service? I thought these were KE70 Corollas originally but apparently they are Coronas! Closeup after the jump
Seibu Keisatsu's Skyline vs. Mercury Cougar
Ready for some Detroit vs. Japan action? A C210 Skyline chasing down a 1970 Mercury Cougar, perhaps? In fact, it’s the episode of Seibu Keisatsu in which the chief adds a new car to the fleet, the Super Machine-X Skyline … Continue reading
Posted in datsun, nissan, seibu keisatsu, Video Games
Tagged nissan skyline, nissan skyline c210, nissan skyline japan, seibu keisatsu
12 Comments
Japanese Elevator Car Park
Surely you’ve all heard of the car park elevators in Japan. You drive your car into a cradle and it goes up like a Ferris wheel. Unlike most, this one is not covered by walls to look like an actual … Continue reading
Posted in japan
4 Comments
Ice Coffee & Hakosuka Skyline
Not much to report from Japanland today. I’m drinking plenty of coffee, not only because I’m busy writing articles and making appointments, but also for the awesome toys that you get free with the canned java. In this case, it’s … Continue reading
Posted in datsun, japan, minicars, nissan
10 Comments
EVENTS: Mooneyes Cruise Night in Yokohama
So despite popping awake at 4am due to ungodly jetlag and traipsing all over the Nos2Days show, I went to check out Mooneyes’ cruise night on Saturday, where I nearly passed out from a mixture of gasoline fumes and exhaustion. … Continue reading
Posted in datsun, honda, japan, jnc, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, suzuki
20 Comments
EVENTS: Nos2Days
The full event report is up. Enjoy!
Your Weekend Dose of Seibu Keisatsu
Here is your Friday video. But it’s Thursday, you say? Yes, there will be no Friday post this week because I’ll be on a plane to Japan! Hopefully the forthcoming pictures will make up for it. This clip is once … Continue reading
Posted in datsun, nissan
3 Comments
Japanese License Plate Cell Strap
Surely you have noticed the Japanese cell phone strap craze. Why you’d want a bouquet of plastic cartoon characters dangling from your mobile, we do not know. But if you’re looking for a cell deco with an automotive theme, peep … Continue reading
Posted in nostalgic gear
5 Comments
2009 Toyotafest Registration Now Open
Calling all Toyotaku! Registration for the 2009 All Toyotafesti is now open! Come celebrate the joy of ‘Yotas ownership with your fellow enthusiast. This year the show is back at the Queen Mary in Long Beach due to popular demand. … Continue reading
Posted in events, toyota
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Goertz Myth Watch, Part III
We opened up a can of worms last month when we questioned the conventionally held belief that Albrecht Goertz designed, among others, the Toyota 2000GT and Datsun 240Z. If you want to see yet another misinformed article about this piece, … Continue reading
Posted in datsun, nissan, toyota
Tagged albrecht goertz, datsun 240z, nissan fairlady z, toyota 2000gt
11 Comments
