Author Archives: Steve Chang
Here’s what a Nissan 350Z would look like with Datsun 240Z headlights
There’s no doubt that the S30 Fairlady Z was a styling icon. It’s the most beloved of all the designs, and it’s something that Nissan has been trying to chase ever since with varying degrees of success. Chief among the … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your ultimate lightweight JNC?
Today, September 21, is officially Lightweight Day in Japan, established by Kawakami Sangyo Co., Ltd., a Nagoya bubble wrap manufacturer. Kawakami literally means “river’s source” and thus chose the water nymph Naiad from Greek mythology as their symbol. Naiad also … Continue reading
Pikes Peak racing legend Monster Tajima’s floating floor can save your car in a flood
As you may have heard, a torrential rainstorm struck central Japan on September 8, flooding towns, triggering landslides, and halting service on Japan’s famously resilient transportation infrastructure. There has been heartbreaking footage of cars being swept up in the deluge, … Continue reading
Toyota completes its restoration of a J40 Land Cruiser
Toyota has just posted the sixth and final episode of its extensive restoration of a 1982 Land Cruiser. This, in theory, is the fun part, where the rust has been repaired, the body has been painted, and all that’s left … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite song or jingle associated with a car?
Yesterday, September 7, was Commercial Song Day in Japan (it was also Labor Day in the US so we had the day off). On that day in 1951, radio stations in Japan aired the country’s first commercial jingle. It was … Continue reading
Peter Cullen, voice actor of a generation, 1941 – 2026
If you are a fan of 80s and 90s cars, giant Japanese robots, or the golden age of Saturday morning cartoons, your childhood was graced by the voice of Peter Cullen. The Canadian voice actor played a role in all … Continue reading
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QotW: What’s your favorite JGTC livery?
The All-Japan Grand Touring Championship was a golden age of Japanese motorsport. Heavy hitters like Toyota, Nissan, and Honda duked it out for glory in the GT500 class, while Subaru, Mazda and second-tier models like MR2s and Silvias competed in … Continue reading
The ‘Initial D’ Bunta Fujiwara Zippo is the last lighter you’ll ever need
Zippo lighters are kind of a default branded accessory in Japan’s aftermarket. There have been countless automotive-themed Zippos released, with everything from Fairlady Zs to a Land Cruisers etched into the case. There have been Zippos themed for specific manga and … Continue reading
Toyota’s painstaking J40 Land Cruiser restoration continues
The saga of Toyota’s J40 restoration continues. Earlier this year, Toyota embarked on a journey to bring a well-worn 1982 Land Cruiser back to life. Though it had only 130,000 km (about 81,000 miles) on the odometer, its age and … Continue reading
Toyota bids Happy 86 Day with updated GR86 in ‘The Buddy’ commercial
Toyota has updated the GR86 and launched a new ad campaign to go along with it. The improvements are minor, but the commercial, titled “The Buddy”, is a beautifully shot homage to motoring. Brief Archival glimpses of an AE86 are … Continue reading
How Japan is able to create one-off ‘Initial D’ manhole covers
What’s most notable about Japanese manhole covers may not be their intricate designs, bright colors, or tie-ins to popular franchises like Pokémon or Gundam. What really boggles the mind is how Japan is able to manufacture seemingly one-off examples of … Continue reading
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Nissan welcomes new Patrol with heritage lineup
Nissan Australia has published a tribute video celebrating over six decades of the iconic Patrol nameplate down under. As production of the 5.6-litre V8-powered Y62 draws to a close, the film highlights how the Patrol evolved into a foundational piece … Continue reading
Can an AE86 actually beat an R34 Skyline GT-R in a race?
The R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R is often seen as the pinnacle of JDM performance cars, but can the humble Toyota AE86 actually give it a run for the money? With a 15-year age gap and 200-horse power gap the mismatch … Continue reading
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Tagged ae86, keiichi tsuchiya, Max Orido, nissan, Nob Taniguchi, r34, skyline, toyota
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Japan’s top mapo tofu chain celebrates Initial D’s 30th anniversary with dishes inspired by cars
Initial D is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and one of the more delightful collabs is with Chen Mapo, Japan’s number one restaurant for spicy tofu. After all, the entire touge racing series begins with Takumi delivering tofu to … Continue reading
QotW: What’s an automotive T-shirt that you wish existed?
Today, July 20, is T-shirt Day in Japan. It was chosen to coincide with Marine Day, which celebrates the ocean, on the third Monday of July, but also because T is the 20th letter of the alphabet. The T-shirt isn’t … Continue reading
Blacked-out Century SUV replaces Prime Minister’s Century sedan
For years Japan’s Prime Minister has rolled in style in a traditional Toyota Century sedan. However, when it came to choose her new ride Sanae Takaichi opted for a new Century SUV. Videos of her motorcade, which features the SUV … Continue reading
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QotW: How has ‘The Fast and the Furious’ impacted your local car scene
Twenty-five years ago today, on June 22, 2001, The Fast and the Furious hit theaters. Love it or hate it, the movie and its sequels have left a massive footprint on the movie industry, car culture worldwide, and Instagram reel … Continue reading
Here’s Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda doing the viral boat race dance
Despite helming the biggest car company in the world Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda never fails to have a good time. Whether he’s racing under his alter ego Morizo, trolling the press by showing up at a rally event in a … Continue reading
