Author Archives: Dan Hsu
Happy Holidays from JNC
Wherever you are, we sincerely hope that all our readers have a happy and healthy holiday season. Stay safe, enjoy cars, and may Japanese Santa Claus bring you everything your hearts desire.
Posted in Holidays
5 Comments
Retro motorcycles keep winning the Japan Bike of the Year award
The Honda Dax 125 has won Japan’s Bike of the Year for 2022. The mini-bike, which is short for Dachshund, was released back in March and inspired by the original Honda Dax from 1969. Notably, years before the Motocompo, it … Continue reading
Suzuki’s decision to crush its MotoGP bikes explains a lot
Earlier this month Suzuki won the Valencia Grand Prix, the last MotoGP race of 2022, but it was a bittersweet victory. With this win, Suzuki is closing the books on its decades-long participation in MotoGP, the premier motorcycle racing series … Continue reading
Happy Halloween from JNC
Have a wonderfully spooky day today, and may our vintage Japanese cars outlast us all. Happy Halloween from JNC!
Matchbox X JNC Mazda MX-5 Miata ND
We’re honored to share another great piece by our friends at Matchbox. It’s the latest car to feature the JNC inkan, and in fact it’s the newest car by year, make and model to feature our logo. It works out … Continue reading
In its 26th year, Toyotafest is still going strong — a brief history of TORC, the Toyota Owners and Restorers Club
We’ve been attending Toyotafest every year since JNC started in 2006, and it’s consistently one of our favorite events. Last year was the 25th Toyotafest, which means the show itself is now old enough to wear historic plates, buy collector … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged 4runner, a20, a60, a70, A80, ae86, aw11, cabe toyota, celica, corolla, corona, e20, e70, fj40, fj60, GR86, hilux, J70, kp61, L10, land cruiser, lexus, lexus is, Lexus LS, mr2, N60, RAV4, scion, sports 800, st185, st205, starlet, stout, supra, sw20, t40, tacoma, tercel, toyota, toyotafest, W30, xb
7 Comments
When the Kawasaki Z1 smashed the 24-hour world speed record
Today is National Bike Day in Japan. While the occasion has an emphasis on motorcycle safety, we’re going to focus on achievements. The game-changing Kawasaki Z1 turns 50 this year, and it came right out of the gates with a … Continue reading
Celebrate 50 years of the Kawasaki Z1 with this incredible Swiss motorcycle museum
This year marks the 50th anniversary of one history’s most important motorcycles, the Kawasaki Z1. To celebrate the occasion, and to promote the retro Z900RS inspired by the Z1, the company held a little event at its Swiss importer’s headquarters. … Continue reading
Happy 720 Day from JNC
As you go forth and enjoy your summer vacations, please remember that gigantic mobile homes are excessive. Our ancestors made do with campers like this Datsun pickup, and they did it with style. Happy 720 Day from JNC!
Happy Sevens Day from JNC
Not many cars can come out of the gates winning their class at the 24 Hours of Daytona, but that’s exactly what the Mazda RX-7 did. New for 1978, the immediately won the 1979 Daytona enduro’s GTU class and even … Continue reading
Happy MS75 Day from JNC
With Toyota possibly introducing a weird four-door “coupe” for the next Crown, we thought it was a good time to celebrate the other oddball in the lineage. Today, 7/5, seems a good a day as any to honor the MS75, … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays
2 Comments
Happy 620 Day from JNC
The Datsun 620’s simple yet stylish lines are timeless. Somehow Nissan designers managed to create a truck that looked good without a bunch of unnecessary flourishes or overly ornate grilles. The only embellishment, if it could be called that, was … Continue reading
Posted in News
2 Comments
Happy 610 Day from JNC
What deep sea creature does the 1973-76 Nissan Bluebird U remind you of? The 6-cylinder variant of the 610-generation Bluebird needed an elongated front end to accommodate the straight-six, so Nissan gave the nose a whole new design. That included … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays
2 Comments
Happy 520 Day from JNC
What you’re looking at is one of the rarest Nissan compact trucks ever sold. The Datsun 520 debuted in May 1965 with a two-headlight design beneath its sculpted fenders and hood. This generation was facelifted to a flat hood, quad … Continue reading
Happy 510 Day from JNC
A few years ago Nissan had a little display at its Yokohama headquarters building, one that featured a 1969 510 Bluebird sedan. It was part of an exhibit called “Game Changers” and it’s hard to disagree. Let’s all take a … Continue reading
Honda Super Cub honored by Japan’s Post Office
Spend any amount of time in Japan and you’ll eventually come across a red Honda Super Cub laden with bags zooming down a narrow street. These are the delivery bikes of Japan Post, the nation’s mail delivery service. Japan Post … Continue reading
Happy Tire Day from JNC
Did you have a good Tire Gauge Day yesterday? We hope so, because today is the official Tire Day in Japan. Tire Day was started by the Japan Automobile Tire Manufacturers’ Association to promote tire safety. April 8 was chosen … Continue reading
Happy Tire Gauge Day from JNC
Today, April 7, is National Tire Gauge Day in Japan. It serves as a reminder to not only check your tire pressure but your tire pressure gauge as well, as over time its accuracy can diminish from use. This year … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays
2 Comments
Honda Dax motorcycle revived, joins retro Super Cub and Monkey in 125cc fun club
Honda has been on a roll reviving its most iconic compact motorcycles. The latest one to join the party, the ST125 Dax, has just been released in Europe. As the name implies, it’s powered by the same 125cc four-stroke single … Continue reading
Happy TE37 Day from JNC
The TE37 Toyota Corolla had one of the cleverest US side marker light adaptations in the automotive universe. In Japan, the TE37 had three vents on the rear of the car. The US market mandated side marker lights, which often … Continue reading
