Author Archives: Dan Hsu
Honda concludes its 70th anniversary year with 400 millionth motorcycle built
This year marks the 70 years since Soichiro Honda’s little venture into motorcycle manufacturing. In 1949, the Dream D-Type became Honda’s first real motorcycle; prior models still had the appearance of a bicycle with an auxiliary motor strapped to them. … Continue reading
The Shoei NXR Zork TC-7 is the raddest helmet
We don’t often write about motorcycle helmets here on JNC, but when one comes along that is this striking, it’s hard to ignore. For 2020, Shoei is releasing a version of their popular NXR helmet slathered with 80s-inspired graphics, and … Continue reading
Japanese Classic Car Show 2019: Upping the Game and Best in Show
We are 60 percent of the way to the point where the JCCS itself, if it were a car, would be eligible for classic status. In its 15 years in existence, the Japanese Classic Car Show has grown from a … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 240z, 280zx, 300zx, 410/411, 510, a10, a20, a60, a70, Accord 1G, ae86, aw11, b110, b210, bluebird, carina, celica, corolla, datsun, datsun 1200, dc2, del Sol, e20, e30, e70, fairlady roadster, fc3s, fd3s, fj cruiser, honda, Honda N-Series, integra, Integra Type R, japanese classic car show, kp61, L10, Legend 2g, mazda, mr2, nissan, Prelude 3g, rx-2, rx-3, rx-7, s130, s30 z, sa22, starlet, sunny, supra, T160, te27, tercel, toyota, toyota 86, z31
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Happy Evolution Day from JNC
We don’t think Charles Darwin had flying Mitsubishis in mind when he published On the Origin of Species in 1859, but nevertheless, here we are, 160 years later, to celebrate Evolution Day. All our ancestors were running across the savanna … Continue reading
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New cell phone carrier commercial features Datsun 240Z
A new commercial for cellphone carrier Boost Mobile features a nice, lightly modified Datsun sports car. The rest of the spot features music, a lot of sweet moves, and someone maybe named Pitbull? We don’t know, we’re old, like that … Continue reading
QotW: What should be inducted into the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame next?
There are actually surprisingly few cars in the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame. The Mazda Roadster/Miata was just inducted, and the Toyota Corolla was welcomed last year, but the list is still pretty short. There can be many reasons for … Continue reading
Japanese Classic Car Show 2019, Part 09: Trucks, Vans, and Wagons
We have arrived at what could be our favorite part of JCCS, the vans, trucks, SUVs, and wagons. And now, in addition to seeing amazing US-market builds of such cars, their Japan-market counterparts are flooding in. No longer are the … Continue reading
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Tagged 510, 521, 620, Blizzard, bluebird, corolla, corona, crown, daihatsu, datsun, dodge, e30, fj40, forte, H100, hiace, hilux, honda, J60, J80, jccs, land cruiser, Life StepVan, mazda, mitsubishi, montero, n10, N20, N30, nissan, pajero, Pajero Evolution, repu, s130, stout, t80, Taft, toyota, trucks, vans, wagons
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SEMA 2019, Part 03: Year of the Supra
There were, like, so many Supras at SEMA, you guys. It felt like everywhere you went, you were bumping into an A90. Either that, or a mobility scooter with a swag-filled reusable Spyder bag. But yeah, Supras. At the end … Continue reading
Tokyo Motor Show: Could this be the return of the Honda Hunter Cub?
At the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda quietly rolled out a bike concept that hearkens back to the original CT110, aka the Trail Cub or the Hunter Cub. Though not for production, Honda says it was there simply to gauge customer … Continue reading
2019 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 07 — Kaido Racers
The classic Japanese street racer look has really taken off in recent years. It’s gotten to the point where even non-Japanese cars are adopting the look of deep-barreled small-diameter wheels, over-fenders with flush fitment, and a tough shakotan stance. It’s … Continue reading
2019 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 06 — Awesome 80s
The 80s were a pivotal time in Japan’s automotive history, and the JCCS did not disappoint with a of turbocharged, retractable-headlight, angular-bodied machines.
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Tagged 200sx, 300zx, 910, a60, accord, Accord 3g, ae86, aw11, b310, camry, celica, civic, Civic EA, Civic EF, corolla, corolla levin, cressida, crx, datsun, fc3s, honda, Integra g1, japanese classic car show, kp61, maxima, mazda, mr2, mugen, nissan, Pandem, racing beat, s110, s12, sprinter trueno, starlet, sunny, toyota, V20, x70, z31
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MINICARS: At long last, a fifth-gen Honda Prelude is coming to Hot Wheels
The fifth-generation Honda Prelude was a phenomenal car, but until now it was nearly impossible to find one in diecast form. It wasn’t a popular car in Japan and thus doesn’t really exist in diecast form there, and when it … Continue reading
2019 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 03 — Zoom Zoom
The Mazda booth is always a classy affair at JCCS, and this year they brought a who’s who of classics and late model cars from their North American collection. Right off the bat was one of the first Mazda RX-7s … Continue reading
2019 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 02 — JDM, yo
This year marked the 15th anniversary for America’s premier gathering of Nihon steel. To put that in perspective, at the first JCCS in 2005, the newest Japanese cars allowed for import under America’s 25-year import ban were built in 1980. … Continue reading
JCCS PREVIEW: Z Generations 50th Anniversary special edition shirts
One of the best selling items in the JNC Shop has been the Z Generations shirt, depicting all six iterations of the venerable Z chassis. However, this year marks the 50th anniversary for this game-changing car, and we wanted to … Continue reading
Posted in JNC Apparel
Tagged 240Z/260Z/280Z, 300zx, 350z, 370z, datsun, fairlady z, nissan, s130, s30 z, z31, z32, z33, z34
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MARKETWATCH: Honda RS1000 sells for nearly $90,000
We recently wrote about Japan’s first-ever high-end motorcycle auction taking place in conjunction with the 42nd running of the Suzuka 8 Hours race. Well, the auction took place July 27, and the results are in. The most expensive bike sold, … Continue reading
JNC THEATER: Tom Cruise uncovers his old Kawasaki Ninja in Top Gun: Maverick trailer
The surprise dropping of the trailer for the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick has given fans of Japanese nostalgic motorcycles a cool throwback to the 80s. In one scene, Tom Cruise’s character whips the cover off his old bike, a Kawasaki … Continue reading
