Author Archives: Dan Hsu
Yamaha XSR900 GP adds retro racing cool to already retro bike
In 2021 Yamaha released the XSR900, a sports heritage bike inspired by the company’s Grand Prix championship victories in 1984. Now, the XSR900 GP takes that foundation and adds retro race bike coolness to the equation. Yamaha says it hearkens … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your ultimate hashiriya build?
The announcement of the first Tokyo Xtreme Racer title in two decades dropped last week, just a few days before the anniversary of the Rainbow Bridge’s opening on August 26, 1993. Coincidence? Probably, but it does raise the question of … Continue reading
Matchbox X JNC Mazda RX-3, 2024 Collectors Series
We are proud to introduce our the latest Matchbox car to feature the JNC inkan, the Mazda RX-3. Introduced in 1971, the early rotary-powered coupe was a pivotal step in Mazda’s ascension to motorsports glory, and has long deserved to … Continue reading
Posted in minicars
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A rare look at the 1965 Honda RA272 Formula 1 racer as it makes landfall in America
A Mazda PR rep once told us that every car in their museum in replaceable, even the original Chicago Auto Show Miatas, except one: the Le Mans-winning 787B. For Honda, that equivalent must be the 1965 RA272, the first Honda … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged formula 1, Goodwood Festival of Speed, honda, monterey historics, ra272
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TOM’s celebrates 50th anniversary with Starlet KP47-inspired watch
Toyota tuning house TOM’s is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year by teaming up with Casio for a special edition watch. The design of the Edifice EFS-S641TMS-1A was inspired by the TOM’s Toyota Starlet KP47, which ruled Japan’s 1970s racing … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged A90, Casio, kp47, Ritomo Miyata, Sho Tsuboi, starlet, SuperGT, supra, tom's, toyota
3 Comments
Legendary Honda CB72 returns to Suzuka after six decades for 70th anniversary of Yoshimura celebration
Legendary motorcycle tuner Hideo “Pop” Yoshimura was recently reunited with one of the machines that changed Japan’s motorsports history. The occasion was the 70th anniversary of Yoshimura R&D’s founding, and the bike was the Honda CB72. It was the first … Continue reading
Posted in Motorcycles
Tagged CB72, CB77, honda, Suzuka 8 Hrs, suzuka circuit, yoshimura
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Happy 510 Day from JNC!
Kick back and grab an ice cold Calpis because it’s Friday and 510 Day. You deserve to have your thirst quenched with Japan’s favorite lactic acid bacteria drink. And yes, it tastes better than it sounds. Kanpai!
Posted in Holidays
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Electric FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser restomod runs on batteries, keeps original gearbox and good looks
Resto-modding a Toyota Land Cruiser is nothing new. People have been putting Tacoma V6es, J80 1FZs, or SBC in them for years, but a UK company is now building them to run solely on electric power. The outfit is called … Continue reading
Ultraman Dyna‘s Machine Zellet — Guess the Tokusatsu Car!
Welcome back to JNC‘s “Guess the Tokusatsu Car” series. This should be a relatively easy one. For those unfamiliar with the term, tokusatsu shows are Japanese programs for kids that usually revolve around superheroes, robots, and giant monsters. Power Rangers, … Continue reading
Honda to open motorsports museum at Suzuka Circuit
Add another destination to your next trip to Japan, because Honda will soon open a new museum at Suzuka Circuit dedicated to motorsports. The Honda Racing Gallery’s grand opening this spring will coincide with the company’s 60th anniversary in Formula … Continue reading
Honda celebrates Collection Hall reopening by revving classic race engines
We can’t think of a more Honda way to open a museum than revving the crap out of some classic racing machines. Recently, the Honda Collection Hall in Japan reopened after a months-long remodel, and Honda held an opening ceremony … Continue reading
Kawasaki Ninja’s 40th anniversary colors are awesomely retro
Real ninja, the silent assassins of feudal Japan, date back to the 15th century. The iconic Kawasaki Ninja, however, turns 40 years old this year. The moniker debuted in 1984 as a rebranding of the GPZ900R, a groundbreaking sportbike that … Continue reading
Toyotafest 2024 date and location announced
Public Service Announcement: Toyotafest 2024 will be held at the Marina Green in Long Beach, Calif. on Saturday, June 8, 2024. This will mark the 28th annual All-Toyotafest, which welcomes Toyota, Lexus, Scion, and Toyopet vehicles. Vendor registration is already … Continue reading
Posted in events
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Happy TE27 Day from JNC
The great-grandfather to the AE86, the Toyota TE27 still isn’t that well known among car collector circles. We spotted this one in with glorious glass-smooth paint in the parking lot outside the Tokyo Nostalgic Car Show in 2010. A VW … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays
3 Comments
Honda’s new “H” logo looks a lot like the one from the 1970s
Honda revealed a new logo today, and it looks a lot like one from decades ago. The new “H” mark removes the square frame that has surrounded the logo for the last 43 years. The framed H was introduced in … Continue reading
Posted in News
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Happy New Year from JNC
The Japanese tradition for New Year’s is getting up early to watch the hatsuhinode, or first sunrise. By watching the inaugural dawn you’ll be starting the year off right. The preferred viewing spot is usually somewhere that requires a bit … Continue reading
Happy Holidays from JNC
Happy Holidays from JNC! We hope Japanese Santa Claus gave you everything you wished for. QotW will be back on Tuesday. メリークリスマス!
Hundreds of Honda SuperCub fans gathered to celebrate bike’s 65th anniversary
This year marked the 65th anniversary of the venerable Honda Super Cub. It also happened to be the 75th anniversary of Honda Motor Co. As such, the annual Cub Cafe Meeting at Honda’s headquarters in Tokyo had even more cause … Continue reading
Marvel at Honda’s 1962 motorcycle manufacturing prowess, now in English
A few weeks ago we shared a wonderful 30-minute Honda promotional movie from 1962, just one year before they started building cars. The film went deep behind the scenes in Honda’s motorcycle manufacturing facilities, showing how raw steel and plastic … Continue reading
