Category Archives: Holidays
Japanese automakers jointly built five EV concepts for the Tokyo Motor Show 50 years ago
The conventional wisdom is that Japanese automakers are dragging their feet when it comes to EVs. It’s kind of a reductive statement that doesn’t take into account the fact that most are simultaneously exploring many zero-carbon propulsion systems, or that … Continue reading
Posted in concepts, Holidays
Tagged daihatsu, Earth Day, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota
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Happy Open Car Day from JNC: Japan’s first convertible turns 90 years old
Put your tops down because today is Open Car Day in Japan. The holiday was created by the Japan Convertible Association, who judged April 5 to be the best day of the year for topless driving. Coincidentally, it’s also the … Continue reading
Happy TE37 Day from JNC
We’ve spent the last few March sevenths honoring the Toyota Corolla TE37, but let’s not forget what is probably the most iconic wheel of the tuner age, the Volk Racing TE37. The instantly recognizable lightweight 6-spoke looks good on a … Continue reading
Happy R31 Day from JNC
It’s not easy having Godzilla as your younger brother, but the R31 Skyline is an interesting guy too. For example, it was released on August 31, 1985, during a time when Japan was undergoing an industry-wide transition from fender mirrors … Continue reading
Happy Presidents Day from JNC
As we all know from the Toyota Century, the most luxurious upholstery for your Japanese VIP sled is wool. The JG50 Nissan President also came standard with wool and silk fabrics slathering the interior, but if you really wanted, you … Continue reading
Mazda made a chocolate Miata for Valentine’s Day
Picking out a spot-on Valentine’s Day gift is never easy but as it is in all aspects of life, Miata is always the answer. Forget flowers, if I found a chocolate Miata like this wrapped in a bow on V-Day … Continue reading
Happy B210 Day from JNC
The third-generation Nissan Sunny debuted in Japan in 1973, making this year the 50th anniversary of the B210. Nissan sold nearly 900,000 of these bad boys. A good portion of them were sold in the US, where it was called … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays
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Happy TA22 Day from JNC
Please excuse this terrible angle of this shot, taken hastily in the parking lot of the 2011 New Year Meeting, back when that was still a thing. The key part of this Celica is the wild rear spoiler, anyway, which … Continue reading
Happy Sanitora Day from JNC
Fun fact: Did you know that there are some Sunny Trucks that did not have Hakosuka front ends? It’s true, and they actually look quite good that way. It’s okay not to follow trends on Instagram, people. So today, on … Continue reading
Happy Kenmeri Day from JNC
As cool as GT-R clones may be, there’s something pure and simple about a four-banger Kenmeri. Despite two fewer cylinders the Skyline GL evokes no less nostalgia than the flared S20 street machines. In fact these are technically more nostalgic, … Continue reading
Happy New Year from JNC
This year definitely didn’t end the way we had hoped, but 2022 is officially over. Here is a Nissan Prince dealership postcard from 1969 wishing customers a Happy New Year. Here’s to new beginnings and new journeys for 2023. May … Continue reading
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
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Happy Halloween from JNC
Have a wonderfully spooky day today, and may our vintage Japanese cars outlast us all. Happy Halloween from JNC!
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
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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
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A 105-year-old electric car was restored in Japan on this day, Electric Car Day
Electric cars are all the rage today, but are by no means a new phenomenon. Electric Car Day in Japan was started by Yuasa, the Kyoto-based battery company. In the US, you might be familiar with Yuasa batteries if you … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays
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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
