Category Archives: events

Toyotafest Spotlight: JZ-powered Celica drag racers

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Ben Hsu

Two of the biggest head turners at this year’s Toyotafest were a pair of seriously mean drag racers built on a daruma Celica chassis. Both were caged, tubbed, and running mills from the legendary Toyota JZ family.

Posted in events | Tagged a20, celica, daruma, drag race, toyota, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017 | 12 Comments

EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2017, Part 03 — Fun to Drive

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Ben Hsu

“Fun to Drive” was the tagline of Toyota Japan for much of the 1980s, and it was absolutely true. Toyota once had a whole portfolio of stylish, slingable cars that were also — and this is a key component of fun … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged a20, aw11, barikan, celica, corona, kp61, mr2, ST160, ST180, starlet, sw20, t40, t80, toyota, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017 | 16 Comments

EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2017, Part 02 — Celebrating the all-conquering Land Cruiser

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Ben Hsu

Toyotafest this year took the opportunity to honor what could be Toyota’s most legendary model. Sure, a neck-snapping Supra, drifting-birthing AE86, or luxe Lexus may be the dream cars of the first world, but for the rest of the globe the Land Cruiser is the ultimate aspirational … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged FJ25, fj40, fj45, fj60, fj62, J80, land cruiser, toyota, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017 | 11 Comments

EVENTS: 2017 All-Toyotafest 2017, Part 01 — New Digs

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Ben Hsu

Like RAV4 sales numbers, the number of cars at Toyotafest is ever-expanding. Now in its 22nd year, the country’s most comprehensive Toyota, Lexus and Scion car show has outgrown its home at the Queen Mary. This year, organizers from the Toyota Owners and Restorers Club … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 4runner, a20, a40, a60, ae86, avalon, aw11, camry, Camry Coupe, celica, Colin Project, corolla, corolla levin, corona, cressida, e70, e90, focus racing, ke10, lexus, Lexus GS, Lexus LC, Lexus LS, Lexus RC, longchamp xr-4, mr2, s190, scion, Scion xB, star sharks, sunchaser, sw20, t80, toyota, Toyota Van, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017, UCF20, UCF30, x30, XV10 | 7 Comments

Shanghai Motor Show: China’s long history with Toyota

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Ben Hsu

China is not a place you would immediately think of when Japanese nostalgic cars are mentioned. The country was largely closed off from imports until the 1980s, and wounds both psychological and physical, caused by Japanese actions during World War II, were not … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged camry, corolla, crown, e10, ke10, prius, s30, Shanghai Motor Show, toyota, V20 | 7 Comments

EVENTS: How Nissan celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Skyline in Japan

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Ben Hsu

Sixty years ago today, on April 24, 1957, the Prince Skyline debuted on a rainy day at the famed Tokyo Takarazuka Theater. It’s no exaggeration to say that few cars have a more revered place in the Japanese psyche, having served as … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged ALSI, BLRA-3, c10, c110, c210, dr30, gc10, gc110, GT-R Vision 2020, Hakosuka, Infiniti G35, Infiniti G37, Infiniti Q50, kenmeri, leaf, nissan, Nissan Crossing Ginza, nissan gallery yokohama, prince, r30, r31, r32, r33, r34, s50, skyline, skyline sport, v35, v36, V37, yonmeri | 11 Comments

NY Auto Show: The coolest car in New York right now

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Ben Hsu

JNC is at the New York International Auto Show, and despite all the big reveals of new crossovers and luxury sedans, the coolest car in city right now is what our own Ryan Senensky describes as “the first Japanese car to … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged Ascent, new york auto show, subaru, subaru 360 | 13 Comments

EVENTS: Old School Reunion Las Vegas

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Ben Hsu

When a new car show for classic imports sprang up Las Vegas, it was an opportunity for our friends in the Wild Cards car club to reunite. Usually it’s the Las Vegas cohort that has to travel to SoCal, but in this case … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 240z, 280zx, 510, a20, a60, c10, c110, celica, corolla, corona, cressida, datsun, dodge colt, dr30, e30, Fairlday Roadster, gc10, Hakosuka, kenmeri, kgc10, kgc110, lancer, Las Vegas, mitsubishi, nissan, Old School Reunion, r30, s130, S30Z, sa22c, skyline, te37, wagons, Wild Cards, x70 | 17 Comments

EVENTS: Nostalgic2Days 2017, Part 02 — Skyline Central

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Ben Hsu

When Nostalgic Hero lists their top Japanese classics of all time, the winner is not a Nissan Fairlady Z, Mazda Cosmo Sport, or even at Toyota 2000GT. It’s the KPGC10 Skyline GT-R. Whether you agree with the choice or not, there’s no denying … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged c10, c110, datsun, dr30, Hakosuka, hks, japan grand prix, kenmeri, kgc10, kgc110, kpgc10, kpgc110, Kusaka Engineering, nissan, os giken, panasport, pit house, prince, r30, r31, R31 House, radio control, rocky auto, rs watanabe, s54, skyline, Tea Valley, Tetsu Ikuzawa, UnLimited Kustoms, utilitas, Victory 50, Yoshikazu Sunako | 6 Comments

EVENTS: Nostalgic2Days 2017, Part 01 — Starting with Z

Posted on April 5, 2017 by Ben Hsu

The annual Nostalgic 2 Days show in Yokohama is a fantastic weekend of cars organized by Nostalgic Hero magazine. It’s as if the pages spring to life, with many of its featured cars gathered in one spot. Though it does tend to be a … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, advan, fairlady z, Glow Star, Mizukami Auto, nissan, Nostalgic 2 Days, os giken, rs watanabe, s30 z, Speed Forme, star road, Tea Valley, work wheels, Yokohama Tire, z432, z432-R | 7 Comments

EVENTS: 2017 Tokyo Auto Salon, Part 03 — The Classics

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Ben Hsu

The Tokyo Auto Salon has a reputation for churning out some truly bizarre automotive works, but these day some seriously classy classics can be found amidst the VIP vans and drift missiles. You’ve seen the examples modified for speed and show; here … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 2000gt, advan, Advan HF Type D, ae86, b120, BLSID-3, bosozoku, c10, c130, corolla, cube, datsun, dr30, Endless, Fabulous, fairlady z, Fairlady Z432, Fairlady Z432R, gt-r, Hakosuka, laurel, liberty walk, longchamp xr-4, National, nissan, Panasonic, prince, publica, r35, rocky auto, s30 z, sanitora, skyline, sprinter trueno, star road, sunny truck, SuperGT, toyota, Triumph, work equip 01, Work Equip 40, work wheels, yokohama | 8 Comments

EVENTS: 2017 Tokyo Auto Salon, Part 02 — Restomods

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Ben Hsu

Since its inception in 1983, the Tokyo Auto Salon has been Japan’s showcase premier exhibition of automotive trends. Back then, it went by the very literal name of Tokyo Exciting Car Show, but the idea was the same — showcasing what Japanese tuners … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged ae86, c10, c110, c210, corolla, corolla levin, Crown Majesta, dr30, ebbro, fairlady z, fc3s, g-works, GS F, Hakosuka, kenmeri, kp61, lexus, mark II, mazda, mitsubishi, Obayashi Factory, r30, r31, R31 House, r32, r33, r34, r35, radio control, RC F, re amemiya, Rocket Bunny, rx-7, S180, s30 z, skyline, soarer, sprinter trueno, ssr, starion, starlet, Super GT, tokyo auto salon, tom's, Top Secret, toyota, wagons, work wheels, x70, z10 | 5 Comments

EVENTS: New Year Meeting 2017, Part 08 — Leaving in Style

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Ben Hsu

The New Year Meeting is an magical festival of vehicular awesomeness, but what happens when the party’s over? Most owners drive their cars home, but sometimes you want to ship your precious cargo. With many areas of Japan more crowded … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 2000gt, b110, cherry, datsun, e10, elf, gemini, isuzu, mazda, minizoku, Mitsubishi Fuso, new year meeting, nissan, rx-7, sa22c, sunny, toyota | 2 Comments

EVENTS: New Year Meeting 2017, Part 07 — Motorbikes

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Brandon Kelley

The New Year Meeting is an amazing show, but there is one element missing, one that’s just as much a part of Japanese classic culture as the cars we love: motorbikes. Unlike in the US, where two-wheelers are mostly a … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged honda, kawasaki, motorcycles, new year meeting, suzuki, yamaha | 3 Comments

EVENTS: 2017 Tokyo Auto Salon, Part 01 — Legends of Rally

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Ben Hsu

The Tokyo Auto Salon this year was its usual bacchanal of outrageous VIP luxury sleds, retina burning drift machines, and European exotics dripping money and diamonds out of their exhaust pipes. But in the midst of the madness, some companies actually brought … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 240z, a60, brz, celica, datsun, nissan, S30Z, safari rally, sanitora, st165, st185, subaru, sunny truck, TA64, tokyo auto salon, toyota, wrc, WRX STI | 10 Comments

EVENTS: New Year Meeting 2017, Part 06 — Trucks, Wagons, Vans, and Kei Jidosha

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Brandon Kelley

One of the great things about the New Year Meeting is that in addition to all the brilliant classics and street machines, commercial vehicles are welcomed as well. There aren’t many places on the planet where you’ll see such a gathering of classic Japanese … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 620, AC Courrèges, acty, AD Van, b110, b120, c10, c110, Cabstar, carol, corolla, daihatsu, Datsun DB6, e10, fellow max, Hakosuka, hilux, honda, ke10, kei, kenmeri, Life PIckup, ln360, mazda, minica, mitsubishi, new year meeting, nissan, publica, sambar, sanitora, skyline, subaru, subaru r-2, sunny, sunny truck, T1500/T2000, today, toyota, trucks, vans, wagons | 11 Comments

EVENTS: New Year Meeting 2017, Part 05 — Nissan & Mitsubishi

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Ben Hsu

This year was a special milestone for the New Year Meeting, as it was the show’s 40th year. It was quite a milestone for the event, which started in 1977 at the Tokyo Prince Hotel, a much smaller venue. Back then, no one would … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 510, b10, b110, bluebird, c10, c210, cedric, cedric 130, csp311, datsun, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, fto, galant gto, Hakosuka, mitsubishi, new year meeting, nissan, s110, s130, s30 z, safari rally, silvia, skyline, sunny | 5 Comments

EVENTS: New Year Meeting 2017, Part 03 — Isuzu and Hino take center stage

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Ben Hsu

Each year the Japanese Classic Car Association celebrates a different featured marque at the New Year Meeting. Cars belonging to the featured marque are gathered for a concours d’elegance competition with awards voted on by judges from various Japanese automotive publications. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 117, bellett, contessa, elf, florian, gemini, hino, isuzu, new year meeting, Renault 4CV | 10 Comments

EVENTS: New Year Meeting 2017, Part 02 — Club Scene

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Brandon Kelley

In Part 01 of our 2017 New Year Meeting we spent the morning wandering around the swap meet, browsing everything from old car parts to old posters to model cars. After filling up with an early lunch, it was time to look … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 2000gt, 510, a20, advan, b110, b120, b310, celica, cherry, civic, Coniglio, corolla, cosmo sport, daruma, datsun, e10, honda, kp47, mazda, mooneyes, new year meeting, nissan, rs watanabe, S500/S600/S800, sanitora, sb1, sprinter trueno, starlet, sunny, sunny truck, ta22, te27, today, tomei, toyota, ts cup, Wizard | 13 Comments

EVENTS: New Year Meeting 2017, Part 01 — The Swap Meet

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Brandon Kelley

The end of January celebrated yet another fantastic gathering known as the JCCA New Year Meeting. Many guests made the trek to Odaiba, a literal island made of trash; to see the wondrous classic J-tin that come out but once … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged new year meeting, swap meet | 4 Comments