Category Archives: kei
OH, KEI! The Jimny Santa Monica was a cute beach cruiser based on Suzuki’s mini-4×4
With summer is upon us, so are dreams of beachside cruising. In the history of kei cars, there was perhaps no vehicle more fitting for that purpose than the Jimny Santa Monica (it’s right there in the name!). Built upon … Continue reading
KEI HERO: The Suzuki Cappuccino is to the Miata what the Miata is to all other cars
Kei cars are an important and inescapable aspect of life in the Land of the Rising Sun. Some are important because they were a landmark of technology, and others because they were the first of their kind, and still others because they were … Continue reading
This Kenmeri Skyline does not look o-kei
Japan is a place where space to park for your car is at a premium. Compared to most driving populations, Japan is full of visible feats of Jedi parking, where cars are squeezed with millimetric precision into the smallest parking … Continue reading
KEI HERO: Mazda R360 Coupé
Of all the mainstream carmakers, Mazda puts the most stock into the driving experience and the sportiness of their vehicles. However, this is not just a recent occurrence. Mazda’s had drivers’ cars in their blood since their first post-war passenger car. Let’s take … Continue reading
KEI HERO: Suzuki Alto Works
Poor America. We don’t even know how bad we have it. In the States, we think of hatchbacks as puny, minimally equipped tin cans that people buy because they can’t afford something better. Elsewhere in the world and especially in Japan, not only are … Continue reading
EVENTS: Naniwa Swap Meet
Among the items on our Japan bucket list was checking out a real swap meet. Turns out, automotive-themed ones are not terribly common there, but we were fortunate enough to have Osaka’s Naniwa Swap Meet coincide with our stay.
Posted in events, honda, kei, mazda, Motorcycles, nissan, suzuki, toyota, wagons
Tagged advan, c10, cappuccino, cressida, crown, Crown Majesta, dekotora, Hakosuka, honda, jimny, Kanjo Loop, kei, Kei Works, Laputa, mark II, mazda, motorcycles, Naniwa Swap Meet, osaka, passol, police, porter, publica, r31, s130, S180, sanitora, skyline, sunny truck, SuperCub, suzuki, toyota, tundra, wagons, x70, yamaha
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NEWS: Nissan 360, Part 03 – Driving Insane Stuff
Thus far our Nissan 360 coverage has focused on your rare but predictable classic and race cars. However, the global Nissan empire is built on stuff sold in reaches of the world you can’t even find on a map. So every four … Continue reading
ART CORNER: Build a classic Honda N360 and life-sized N-One kei car out of paper
Those familiar with Japanese culture have likely encountered the art of papercraft. You may have even built a paper car or truck yourself. But we know you’re secretly wondering what would happen if some insane origami craftsmen built an entire full-size car … Continue reading
VIDEO: UNUSUAL DRIFT! Sideways and Stoppies with Kei Trucks
Okay, so there’s nothing nostalgic about a Suzuki Carry. However, we fully approve of modifying your company kei truck with a Suzuki Every turbo, a Cappuccino rear end, and a Silvia(!) coilover setup for the express purposes of drifting said company truck. It’s undiluted sunshine … Continue reading
Posted in kei, mitsubishi, suzuki, Video
Tagged carry, drift, kei, minicab, mitsubishi, suzuki
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EVENTS: 2013 JCCA New Year Meeting, Part 01
It’s a winter wonderland in Tokyo, but the blinding whiteness did not come from new-fallen snow. Instead, it emanated from the gleaming shiro paint jobs of rows upon rows of kyuusha. Two of JNC‘s intrepid photographers recently braved Japan’s icy … Continue reading
Posted in events, kei, minicars, mitsubishi, nissan, Prince, suzuki, toyota
Tagged 30-series Cedric, 31-series Cedric, 906, b110, butaketsu, c10, c130, Carrera 6, carry, cedric, corolla, daihatsu, Devil Japan, europa, fairlady roadster, galant gto, gc10, Hakosuka, JCCA, kgc10, kpgc10, kunimitsu takahashi, L50, laurel, levin, lotus, mira, mitsubishi, new year meeting, nissan, porsche, prince, rs watanabe, s54, shadow, skyline, sprinter, sunny, suzuki, te27, tomica, tosco, toyota, trd, trueno
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Wednesday Wall: Mazda watercolors by Miki Nakajima
The Mazda Japan Facebook page has been posting a series of beautiful watercolor paintings by Mazda designer Miki Nakajima. Subjects range from the 1950 Mazda PB-type three-wheeler to the 1970 RX-500 concept to modern favorites like the MX-5. See the … Continue reading
QotW: What should Suzuki USA have done differently?
Alas, Suzuki, we hardly knew ye. This statement rings especially true in the wake of the Suzuki’s departure from US shores last week, because as JNC reader Tyler pointed out, many of their best cars were not sold here under the … Continue reading
Posted in kei, Question of the Week, suzuki
Tagged alto, kei, QotW, Question of the Week, suzuki, works, ymo
30 Comments
Honda Celebrates 30 Years of US-built Accords
Here’s your daily dose of history. November 1, 1982 was the day when the first US-built Honda rolled off the assembly line in Marysville, Ohio. The first car to emerge from the newly constructed plant three decades ago was a … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the coolest kei car?
Seeing some excellent examples of kei jidosha on the way back from Nagano last week got our brains churning. These uniquely Japanese micro machines are what put the island nation on the road and have been around for over 50 … Continue reading
Posted in kei, Question of the Week
Tagged cherry, datsun, dome, honda, kei, minicars, nissan, QotW, Question of the Week, vamos, Zero
29 Comments
