Category Archives: Nihon Life
The history of Toyota’s insane dealer networks, explained
“Why does Toyota have so many dealership chains in Japan?” you may have asked yourself at some point, “And why do certain dealers sell only certain models?” It’s all very confusing. Well, as of last month, if you’re buying a … Continue reading
Drift back to school with an Initial D AE86 backpack
It’s hard getting up for class but when you’re wearing a snazzy AE86 backpack, you can slide to school in style. Forget your Jansport, a Japanese shop has made a replica of the Initial D Toyota Sprinter Trueno for all … Continue reading
Japan unleashes retro mobile post office based on the Toyota HiLux
On July 19 Japan’s postal service kicked off a national campaign featuring a retro truck that will serve as a mobile mail drop. Based on the sixth-generation Toyota HiLux, the roving post office will travel to tourist destinations and appear … Continue reading
VIDEO: Nissan celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Tomei Expressway
You are probably sick of hearing about Nissan’s many anniversaries this year, but the company is celebrating one more 50-year milestone — that of the Tomei Expressway. The 215-mile highway traces Japan’s southern coast between Tokyo and Nagoya, following a … Continue reading
Posted in Nihon Life
Tagged 510, 521, a30, b110, bluebird, c10, cedric, cedric 130, datsun, fairlady z, gloria, nissan, S30Z, skyline, sunny, Tomei Expressway
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NIHON LIFE: Japan raises speed limit to 75 mph
Japan has raised its speed limit to 120 kph (75 mph) on two major expressways, the highest maximum that has ever been allowed in the country. The high-speed zones span a 50-kilometer section of the Shin-Tomei Expressway between in Shizuoka … Continue reading
Posted in Nihon Life
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NIHON LIFE: How an automaker deals with scandal in Japan
As you may have heard, Mitsubishi Motors experienced a little scandal last year, in which it was found guilty of cheating government fuel economy tests. It sent stock plummeting so badly that Nissan was able to gobble it up and grab a … Continue reading
Posted in Nihon Life
Tagged delica, eK Space, eK Wagon, Galant Lambda, galant sigma, lancer evolution, minicars, mirage, mitsubishi, Nihon Life, Outlander, pajero, rvr
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NIHON LIFE: Japan proposes changes for easier expressway navigation by foreigners
Japan’s expressways are famously difficult to navigate. Most are named for the far-away places they head to and are difficult for non-native Japanese speakers to remember. That may all change, the Ministry of Transport is proposes an alphanumeric system to help us gaijin not get … Continue reading
NIHON LIFE: Get free tea when you climb into a Suntory taxi
Today is National Taxi Day in Japan, a date chosen to commemorate the start of the country’s first cab service in 1912. As it happens, this month Suntory is making Japan’s notoriously hospitable taxis even more so, by giving passengers a complementary … Continue reading
NIHON LIFE: June is Illegal Exhaust Awareness Month in Japan
Time for a JNC public service announcement: If you have a car in Japan, and you have an aftermarket exhaust on it, be careful during the month of June. It’s Illegal Exhaust Awareness Month, and authorities will be cracking down on modified … Continue reading
NEWS: Japan raises its national speed limit
Last Thursday, the Japanese government passed a law allowing the raising of the national speed limit for the first time. Ever since the opening of Japan’s first highway, the Meishin Expressway, in 1963 the speed limit has been pegged at 100 kph … Continue reading
NIHON LIFE: How to park your car in Japan, Part 03
Welcome to the final installment in our multi-part treatise on short-term automobile storage in Japanese society. In Part 01 of the investigation we studied what was within and without the bounds of the law, as well as the ubiquitous steel-bar-rising-up-out-of-the-ground parking lots. In … Continue reading
NIHON LIFE: How to park your car in Japan, Part 02
Sure, owning your own kyuusha in Japan sounds like a lot of fun, but where do you put it? In Part 01 of our damning exposé on the topic of parking an automobile in Japan, we illustrated what was legal and illegal, and did a … Continue reading
Posted in Nihon Life
Tagged ae86, civic, corolla levin, delica, honda, mitsubishi, Nihon Life, Parking, s800, toyota, type r
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NIHON LIFE: Bidding Sayonara to the Hotel Okura
It has no engine, no wheels, and never won any races, but the Hotel Okura is an icon of the Showa Era. Since opening its doors in May 1962, it has hosted every US president since Richard Nixon. In 1976, JVC … Continue reading
Posted in Nihon Life
Tagged honda, Hotel Okura, Kishichiro Okura, Nihon Life, prince, s54, s800, skyline
36 Comments
NIHON LIFE: Summer Evening on the Wangan
The O-Bon is an annual festival that honors the souls of one’s ancestors. Many Tokyoites head to their hometowns to visit the graves of their forebearers, leaving the city strangely free of its dreaded logjam traffic. In other words, it’s the perfect … Continue reading
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Tagged Caterham, century, chaser, DeTomaso Pantera, gt-r, honda, integra, Integra Type R, isuzu, isuzu 117, JXZ100, lamborghini, mini, Nihon Life, nissan, nsx, r32, r34, s800, skyline, toyota, vw, wangan
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NIHON LIFE: Commuting above-ground
Living in Tokyo’s 23-ku has many benefits, and detractions too I suppose. However, one of my great pleasures is the early morning commute across town. Many years ago I decided to ditch the usual meek-gray-mouse-crammed-onto-the-Ginza Line experience for a motorcycle.
Posted in Nihon Life
Tagged ae86, century, corolla levin, CrossCub, Hakosuka, honda, Lancer Evo 9, mitsubishi, nissan, s660, s800, skyline c10, SuperCub, toyota
21 Comments
Shaken preparation at Sports Car Service of Yokohama
Nestled in the sleepy, semi-rural outskirts of Yokohama is Sports Car Service, specializing in the repair and maintenance of nostalgic cars. Recently a friend needed to get an old rotary prepped for shaken, Japan’s roadworthiness inspection, and we tagged along to … Continue reading
Posted in Nihon Life
Tagged 110s, 1500 sports, 1600 sports, 2000 sports, bellett, capella, cosmo sport, datsun, fairlady, fairlady roadster, honda, isuzu, mazda, nissan, rx-2, s800, Service Corner, sp311, sports 800, Sports Car Service, sr311, toyota, yotahachi
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NIHON LIFE: The Shuto, Tokyo’s Elevated Expressways
Tokyo’s Metropolitan Expressway — Shuto Kōsoku Dōro (or just the Shuto) — is Tokyo’s answer to handling large volumes of traffic traversing the megalopolis.
Posted in japan, Nihon Life
Tagged aqualine, bayshore route, c10, daikoku futo, datsun, fairlady z, Hakosuka, japan, nissan, s30, shuto, shuto kosoku doro, skyline, tokyo, tokyo metropolitan expressway, wangan
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