Author Archives: Ben Hsu
The iconic Mitsubishi Fuso K201 fire engine is all but extinct
I have recently become obsessed with an iconic Japanese fire engine that is seemingly all but extinct. The Mitsubishi Fuso K201 was one of those big, ridiculous looking machines that makes kids go wide-eyed. It looked at once futuristic and … Continue reading
Posted in Emergency Vehicles
Tagged emergency vehicles, fire engine, K201, K252, mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Fuso
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SHOWA SNAP: Peko-chan looms large over Ginza, circa 1964
Four hundred years ago, Sukiyabashi was a bridge crossing the outermost moat of Edo Castle, which separating nobles and samurai from ordinary townsfolk. Post-war, it became one of the two main intersections in Tokyo’s ritzy Ginza shopping district. In 1964, … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite tire?
On May 11, 1947, the patent for the tubeless tire was issued to BF Goodrich, ushering in a new age of wheeling. Nowadays, it can be hard finding the right sized rubber doughnut for many classics here in the US. … Continue reading
VIDEO: An all-rotary episode of Option Video
The Japanese tuning series Option Video has just posted an all-rotary episode. In it, host Daijiro Inada assembles a group of cars that showcase the progression of rotary engine-equipped Mazdas, starting with a Cosmo Sport. Accompanying him in what seems … Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged cosmo, Cosmo JC, cosmo sport, d1gp, Daijiro Inada, fd3s, Isami Amemiya, kaido racer, mazda, option, re amemiya, rotary engine, rx-3, rx-5, rx-7, sa22c, wagons
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VIDEO: Travel through time with these defining moments in Mazda’s 100-year history
As you may have heard, Mazda is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020, and they have created a little video showcasing the company’s “defining moments”. It’s short, but cleverly blends archival footage with modern, to give the impression that you … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 787b, cosmo sport, cx-30, Green Panel, le mans, mazda, rotary engine
3 Comments
ART CORNER: Here’s your classic Toyota papercraft
If you’ve ever visited the Toyota Automobile Museum, you may be familiar with the exclusive papercraft they give away at the info desk. It changes every so often, so you’ll never get the same one twice. Well, the museum has … Continue reading
Posted in Art Corner
Tagged a20, buses, celica, corolla, e10, FB-series, papercraft, toyota
6 Comments
MOTORSPORT: Watch these old Nissans dominate Fuji Speedway
If you’ve ever wondered why Nissan has such a strong following among Japanese enthusiasts, this video snapshot from 1970-71 explains it all. Nissans of all types dominate the field in two major races from those years. Though this was likely … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 1300 coupe 9, 1600gt, 510, a30, b110, bluebird, c10, cedric, Colt F2000, corolla, datsun, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, familia rotary coupe, fuji speedway, gloria, Hakosuka, Hiroshi Kubota, honda, Jackie Stewart, JAF Grand Prix, japan grand prix, Kenji Tohira, kpgc10, kunimitsu takahashi, Kuniomi Nagamatsu, masahiro hasemi, mazda, mitsubishi, moto kitano, Motoharu Kurosawa, nissan, pgc10, publica, s30 z, Shogo Omori, skyline, sunny, Toshinori Takechi, toyota
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QotW: What’s the best way to make progress on your project car?
There are many hurdles to moving forward on a big project. In the past year, my wife and I bought a house, moved, and had a baby. I waited a long time to have my own garage space but now … Continue reading
VIDEO: And now for your viewing pleasure, Hakosuka drift!
We were quite taken by this Hakosuka when we came across it in 2016, even though it might just be one of the rattiest examples to set a wheel into a car show. But, there’s a reason for its battle-scarred … Continue reading
Happy TE51 Day from JNC
One of the oddest Corolla body styles must have been the SR-5 Liftback, or what hipsters today would call a shooting brake. Essentially, it’s a wagon, but sporty because it has two doors. I still see one in my neighborhood … Continue reading
Toyotafest 2020 has been canceled, but you can still get these 50th anniversary of the Celica T-Shirts
We are sad to report that Toyotafest 2020 has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The show, originally scheduled for June 6, was to be the 25th annual Toyotafest, a momentous occasion to be sure. So, while quarter-century celebration … Continue reading
ART CORNER: Ease your quarantine blues with an official Mazda coloring book
Automakers continue to find new ways to help us deal with being stuck at home during the coronavirus outbreak. Mazda’s latest scheme to help us kill some time is a downloadable coloring book that features seven of their landmark cars.
Posted in Art Corner
Tagged 3-wheel truck, 323, 787b, cosmo sport, familia, Familia BD, le mans, mazda, mazda 3, Miata NA, mx-5, r360, Type-DA
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VIDEO: Every Honda S-car, driving
Every iteration of Honda’s S-series cars has been a hoot to drive. In a newly released video, the Honda Collection Hall in at Twin Ring Motegi compiles runs by each of their S roadsters around the narrow footpath behind the … Continue reading
Watch all six episodes of Honda’s history as told by manga
Honda has re-released its full six-part cartoon history video series, told with manga panels. The series is based on the m the Shogakukan manga series about company founder Soichiro Honda. Though Honda has released the videos piecemeal before, the old … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged beat, Dream, formula 1, honda, Honda S-Series, manga, ra271, ra272, soichiro honda, super cub, t360, Takeo Fujisawa, Yoshio Nakamura
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Check out Isuzu City, the mind-blowing miniature town that is Japan’s largest diorama
Goodbye forever, readers. We at JNC have decided to move to a place in Japan where there are plenty of nostalgic cars, clean streets, and barely any traffic. It’s Isuzu City, population 3,300, located inside the Isuzu Plaza museum in … Continue reading
QotW: Do you have any fond memories of the Lexus GS?
We learned Friday that Lexus has killed off the GS name. It had been rumored for a while, and at the same time models like the ES are getting big enough to step on the GS’s toes. Plus, there’s that … Continue reading
The Lexus GS is no more.
Lexus has announced it is ending the GS nameplate. The Grand Sedan is no more. Sales for the luxury sedan have been slow as people move towards crossovers instead. It also spells doom for the wonderful 467-horsepower, naturally aspirated, V8-powered … Continue reading
