Keisuke Kuwata’s latest music video is a feast of Showa Era cars

Keisuke Kuwata’s latest music video “Hitotarashi” is a carspotter’s dream. It takes place in a Tokyo traffic jam where almost every single car is a standout from the 70s, 80s, or 90s. Prior to the gridlock Kuwata himself, a known car enthusiast, begins the video tearing along the expressway in a red Mazda RX-7 Convertible.

“Hitotarashi” is the opening theme for the anime adaptation of the popular manga Akane-banashi, which debuted in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 2022. The story isn’t about cars, unfortunately, but rakugo, an Edo Period form of storytelling that we would probably call stand-up comedy except for the fact that it’s performed sitting down.

Kuwata is the frontman for the legendary blues-rock band Southern All-Stars, formed while Kuwata was a university student in 1974 and so popular that they’re sometimes referred to as Japan’s national rock band. Throughout his career, and in his solo work as well, Kuwata has shown a deep reverence for post-war Japanese musical history and often pays homage to artists from the Showa Era.

His love for the Showa Era was in full effect with the car choices in the video. From the moment he steps out of his FC, Kuwata we see Nissan Skylines, both C10 and R31; a Toyota Sera and Nissan S-Cargo; a lowrider Celica Liftback, multiple AE86s, including a USDM Corolla GT-S and one made up to look like Doc Brown’s time machine; a Mazda Roadster; and even a Suzuki Cultus Wagon.

When we finally see what’s holding up the traffic it gets a bit sad. A Daihatsu Storia, Toyota Mark X, Daihatsu Midget II have collided.

The filming location for “Hitotarashi” may look familiar as the venue for the all-Porsche Luftgekühlt show held in Tokyo in March 2026. It’s a two-kilometer stretch of the Shuto expressway called the KK Line that stretches from Shimbashi to Kyobashi, running past popular districts like Ginza and Yurakucho, the popular Shinkansen viewing area.

Contrary to claims from some Luftgekühlt attendees who inferred that the highway was shut down for the show, the KK Line has been closed since April 2025. There are plans to redevelop it into an elevated park in the heart of Tokyo. Until that happens, though, it’s the perfect backdrop for automotive footage that evokes the urban Japan feel. Anyone want to fund our epic hashiriya screenplay before park construction begins?

Kuwata’s association with cars isn’t new. In the 80s he appeared in some Nissan ads and the video for his 2021 hit “Hono no Seikatai” depicts the singer driving across Japan in a Subaru 360 with a guitar strapped to the roof.

Kuwata turned 70 in February of this year and took the occasion to announce his solo project “New 70s — This is where it all begins”, which includes a new album on which “Hitotarashi” is the first single, and tour. Clearly Kuwata is showing no signs of slowing down.