Author Archives: Ben Hsu
SHOWA SNAP: Kujira Crown taxis await you at Ginza Tokyu Hotel
Described as “a quiet oasis in the throbbing heart of the world’s biggest and busiest city,” the Ginza Tokyu Hotel was opened in 1960. It was the first hotel of Tokyu Hotels, one of Japan’s most prominent chains that still … Continue reading
A photo album of cars as part of the Japanese family
Most tourists are probably familiar with Orix as one of the major rental car companies in Japan, but the firm conducts many other auto-related businesses. One of them is EverDrive, an app that helps you track your elderly parents’ movements … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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VIDEO: Why the Mazda RX-2 is the next collectible Mazda
The Mazda RX-2 was the first truly accessible mainstream rotary-powered car. The Mazda Cosmo Sport and Luce R130 were too rare and expensive and the R100 too small, but the Capella (which eventually became the 626), was the perfect mid-size … Continue reading
VIDEO: Watch classic Mazdas rally across Europe
Earlier this year Mazda Germany found three classic cars, fixed them up, and sent three celebrities on a 3,100-kilometer rally across Europe. The cars, an SA22 RX-7, NA MX-5 Miata, and a rare European market 929 wagon, endure a lot … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Video
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VIDEO: Watch a MotoGP champ ride through the history of Japanese motoring
Over the weekend MotoGP rider Marc Marquez was in Japan winning his fifth world championship. Before that, the star 25-year-old motorcycle racer made a promotional video for Redbull Racing that takes viewers through the history of Japanese motoring.
Posted in Friday Video
Tagged c10, dekotora, fd3s, Hakosuka, honda, mazda, motorcycles, nissan, RC213V, re amemiya, rx-7, skyline, SuperCub
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SHOWA SNAP: Los Angeles in the early 1980s
Welcome to the first Showa Snap from the US. Taken in Los Angeles in the early 1980s, it contains a glorious sampling of Nihon steel. Right in the foreground there’s three sporty coupes from three major manufacturers, all lined up … Continue reading
Celebrate Advan’s 40th anniversary with tread-pattern erasers
To commemorate Advan’s 40th anniversary, Yokohama has released a set of erasers shaped in the tread patterns of their most famous tires. Does anyone even use pencils anymore? It doesn’t matter. These don’t look like they were meant to be … Continue reading
VIDEO: How many Land Cruisers is too many Land Cruisers?
In the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, the car collector hosts Brian Corsetti, owner of twelve FJ60 and FJ62 Toyota Land Cruisers. Of course, next to Leno’s triple-digit vehicle collection that sounds positively sane, but at least Jay has … Continue reading
NEWS: The Nissan GT-R 50 anniversary watch costs more than a real GT-R NISMO
With the 50th anniversary of the Nissan GT-R coming next year, expect a deluge of commemorative items marking the occasion. Nissan already made a special car earlier this year expected to cost $1 million. Now, they’ve partnered with Seiko to … Continue reading
SHOWA SNAP: Fukuyama Station, 1975
Fukuyama Station in Hiroshima Prefecture is located right by the 399-year-old Fukuyama Castle. Bullet trains whiz in and out of the station on a daily basis, and over 20,000 people pass though it every day. Back in 1975, parking at … Continue reading
Posted in Showa Snap
Tagged carina, corolla, crown, familia, Fukuyama Station, honda, kujira, Life StepVan, mazda, mitsubishi, ms75, s60, toyota
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QotW: What JNC did you once hate but now love?
If you were alive in the late 1980s, you’ll recall that the V20 Camry was everywhere. Few at the time thought they were particularly attractive, and they seemed to carry the stigma that Camrys today still hold — reliable as … Continue reading
JCCS Spotlight: Best in Show Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE
We’ve completed eleven installments of the biggest JCCS ever. It was a landmark year, one that saw approximately 500 cars and over 10,000 spectators, both new records. The competition was tougher than ever, but when the dust settled there was … Continue reading
NEWS: Mitsuoka turns your Miata into a Corvette Sting Ray
Mitsuoka is famous for giving Japan’s domestic cars weird, retro automotive costumes. For decades, its most popular offerings were the Viewt, which transformed a Nissan March into a British saloon, and the Le Seyde, Japan’s own Excalibur or Zimmer built … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2018 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 11 — Bikes
Two-wheeled conveyances are an integral part of Japan’s motoring culture, much more so than they are in America. Go to any city in the land of the rising sun and you’ll see hundreds of motorcycles buzzing around — as transportation, … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? Rare T120 2-door Corona
The seventh generation Toyota Corona isn’t as exciting as a classic Skyline or Celica, but there’s at least one version that bears mention. That version is the very rare 2-door sedan, which is so uncommon that it doesn’t even appear … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2018 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 09 — Fairladies
There is perhaps no other model more beloved at JCCS than the Nissan Fairlady and Fairlady Z. The revolutionary sports car changed perceptions of what a proper driving machine could be, and earned legions of loyal fans for nearly five … Continue reading
Posted in jccs
Tagged 240z, 280zx, datsun, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, jccs, nissan, Rocket Bunny, s130, s30 z
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VIDEO: A complete snapshot of Nissan circa 1974
A short film made in the UK shows a complete snapshot of Nissan’s activities in what appears to be 1974. After a brief history of the carmaker’s early history, it delves into the company’s extensive manufacturing and R&D efforts. And … Continue reading
NEWS: Akio Toyoda checks out a classic Crown in Finland
Akio Toyoda was recently overseeing his business empire in Finland, when he came upon a vintage Toyota Crown. According to Toyota, the CEO was astounded to come upon the S40 sedan in a rural Finnish village, still looking as if … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2018 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 08 – It’s a Sunny Day in Long Beach
Sure, Zs and 510s are great, and all, but they’re a bit, how do you say, common. When it comes to Nissans, these two model lines often make up the vast majority of the field. This year, however, the humble … Continue reading
