Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Toyota’s Megaweb showroom will close for good on Dec 31
One of our favorite places to visit in Tokyo has always been Toyota’s Megaweb showroom. Located in the Odaiba shopping district, it was perfect for getting a car fix while non-petrolhead traveling companions did some nearby souvenir collecting. Sadly, it … Continue reading
Nissan Pathfinder ad goes retro with 1987 model
It wasn’t a surprise when Nissan reached into its long history to promote cars like the new Z, or to bring out a classic Skyline GT-R for a Japanese market commercial. Those are beloved models and the older generations enjoy a … Continue reading
McDonald’s popularized the drive-through in Japan and turns 50 today
Fifty years ago today, Japan’s first McDonald’s restaurant opened in Ginza, Tokyo. The American fast food chain not only introduced hamburgers to Japan, but the concept of the drive-through restaurant. It was a time when Japan was undergoing rapid motorization, … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite form of motorsport?
This week Japan will celebrate Health and Sports Day, a holiday that promotes athletics and active lifestyles. Normally it’s held in October, commemorating the opening of the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. This year, it’s been moved to July to mark … Continue reading
3DBotMaker’s JNC Tournament Round 1
Round One of 3DBotMaker’s JNC tournament is here, and it’s a nail-biter. We have a beautiful lineup of, by coincidence, color matched classics with a heavy white, blue and red theme. The race is run four times, with cach of … Continue reading
TUNE UP: Biz Markie made the Mazda MPV a hip-hop symbol
Biz Markie has passed away at the age of 57. In his honor, we are republishing this story from August 18, 2017. RIP (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021). Nineties hip-hop had no shortage of love for Japanese cars, but … Continue reading
Mazda almost built a front-drive rotary sedan in the 60s
Recently Mazda restored the 40-year-old MX-81 concept after it had been discovered in a warehouse. They shipped the Bertone-designed car back to Italy to have Italian coachbuilders recondition the body and interior. However, the MX-81 from forty years ago is … Continue reading
There has been a Nissan Z in almost every Marvel movie
The fact that a Datsun Bluebird Wagon played a significant role in a Marvel production gave us a pretty good chuckle last week. However, it’s not the only Nissan to have appeared in the Marvel cinematic universe. Eagle eyed moviegoers … Continue reading
You can now buy NISMO parts direct from the Omori factory
Nissan’s factory in Omori has been the birthplace of some of the company’s most iconic cars. It’s the home of NISMO, and still cranks out parts for RB26, S20, and VQ motors. It’s always been a challenge to get these … Continue reading
QotW: What are your best tips for managing your JNC life?
The JNC life is not an easy one. It starts with one old, temperamental, and rare car. Next thing you know, your savings, house, and free time are consumed by tools, parts, and perhaps even a spare donor car or … Continue reading
3DBotMaker’s JNC tournament qualifying round
Here it is, the qualifying round for 3DBotMaker’s Japanese Nostalgic Car tournament. This race will set up the brackets and provide an idea of how fast the cars are. We had no influence on the tournament other than selecting the … Continue reading
There’s a Datsun Bluebird 411 Wagon in Loki, y’all
Several readers sent in a hot tip yesterday regarding an old Datsun wagon guest starring in the Marvel cinematic universe. Specifically, it’s a 1965 Datsun Bluebird WP411 in the series Loki, and it plays a pretty significant part in the … Continue reading
3DBotMaker’s JNC diecast racing tournament begins this weekend
We at JNC are excited to announce a partnership with 3DBotMaker, the premier diecast racing league. For the next four weekends, every Saturday the 3DBotMaker YouTube channel will be broadcasting the Japanese Nostalgic Car tournament, in which all the Hot … Continue reading
There’s now a Mazda 787B easter egg in the Mazda 2
It’s kind of a shame Americans don’t buy small, zippy hatchbacks anymore because the Mazda 2 by all accounts is an affordable car that is still pretty fun to drive. Even if it hadn’t been discontinued already, it was offered … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the best way to find your dream JNC?
It used to be very simple. If there was a JNC you wanted, you’d search its make and model on Craigslist. Either that, or hop on a forum dedicated to that model if such a thing existed. Nowadays, it can … Continue reading
VIDEO: The 1984 Corolla marked a watershed moment in Toyota history
The fifth-generation Corolla marked a paradigm shift in Toyota history. It was the first sign that the old, rear-wheel-drive traditions would soon be wiped clean, replaced with newfangled front-drive successors. It was a risky proposition for Toyota, but it paid … Continue reading
The Isuzu Plaza museum’s latest exhibit has a Bellett race car
Last week the Isuzu Plaza museum in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture has opened a new exhibit. Called “Isuzu Challenging Spirit,” it shows a few off-the-beaten-path creations that the company, which is today primarily known for large trucks, has been responsible … Continue reading
Toyota’s Megaweb shows off some actual Toyotas
Like the Toyota Automobile Museum, the History Garage of Toyota’s Megaweb showroom in Odaiba, Tokyo is a celebration of all things automotive. Recently, we’ve seen them restore a couple of Nissans, an R32 Skyline GT-R and 510 Bluebird Coupé. Now, … Continue reading
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Tagged ae86, corolla levin, Megaweb, soarer, sprinter trueno, te27, toyota, z10
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Toyota adds more Supra parts to GR Heritage Parts Project
Toyota announced today more parts to be added to the GR Heritage Parts Project for the A70 and A80 Supras. It’s the first expansion since the program was launched almost a year ago. So far the list hasn’t been very … Continue reading
