Sokichi Shikiba, 1939 – 2016

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Ben Hsu


Racing driver Sokichi Shikiba died yesterday, May 17, in a hospital in Tokyo as a result of liver failure. He was 77 years old.

Born to a hospital manager in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture in 1939, Shikiba grew up with a generation of young men who came of age as Japan’s nascent auto industry was taking off. Carmakers were delving into motorsports to spur development, and Shikiba’s cadre of fellow motorheads — which included legends such as Tojiro Ukiya, Aritsune Tokudaiji, and Tetsu Ikuzawa — became the forefathers of motorsport in Japan. Continue reading →

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EVENTS: 2016 All-Toyotafest, Part 04 — Off-Road Kings

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Ben Hsu

136-9970_Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 & FJ45

There are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and Toyota trucks. Tales of their indestructibility are told throughout the world, and this year’s Toyotafest saw a variety of Aichi dromedaries from all corners of the globe.  Continue reading →

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VIDEO: A brief history of the Honda Serial One N600

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Ricky Silverio

Honda Serial One N600

Honda has released the second installment of its video series documenting the restoration of the first car it built for the US market. If you’ve been keeping up with the story, the extremely brief video is unlikely to shed any new light on the topic. Still, it’s worth a viewing for any Honda head.  Continue reading →

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EVENTS: 2016 All-Toyotafest, Part 03 — Sporty Fours

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Ben Hsu

199-0015_Toyota Corolla TE27_Toyota Sprinter Trueno TE27 inkan

As we saw in Part 02, Toyota has had no shortage of grand, powerful machines powered by the legendary straight-six. However, the company built its fortunes on millions of inline-fours. Using its vast production reserves, it has over the years been able to bestow many of these four-bangers into an affordable sports coupe package for the masses. Here are some of them that showed up to the 2016 Toyotafest.  Continue reading →

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VIDEO: Best Motoring tests a Mitsubishi Mirage Cyborg

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Ben Hsu

Best Motoring Mitsubishi Mirage Cyborg

Ever since Best Motoring launched an official YouTube channel, it’s been delivering non-stop JDM goodness. But if you’re absolutely sick of watching S2000 touge battles and Silvias and Chasers duke it out for drift supremacy, then perhaps a video about the Mitsubishi Mirage Cyborg is more your pace.  Continue reading →

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REMINDER: Nissan Jam is coming

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Ben Hsu

NissanJam2016
Registration for the fourth annual Nissan Jam is open. The annual Datsun, Nissan, and Infiniti car show will be held on June 12 in a new venue this year, La Palma Park in Anaheim, California.

Registration is $35 for any Datsun, Nissan, or Infiniti vehicle. You can register by clicking this link.

Nissan USA has just announced they will be joining the festivities with an official display this year for the first time.

Yokohama Tire is also kicking in with awards and trophies. Thanks to the new location, the show will take place on grass rather than a dealership parking lot.

If you’re just there to spectate, admission is free. Mark your calendars!

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QotW: What’s the baddest Nissan-Mitsubishi combo?

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Ben Hsu

Maisto BRE Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X BRE 2

Almost exactly one year ago when news of the Toyota-Mazda partnership broke, it seemed like two companies, each excelling at their own particular skill sets, would only make each other better. Our QotW asked what the ultimate Toyota-Mazda combo would be. Somehow, though, Nissan’s takeover of Mitsubishi feels a lot more ominous. Therefore, you can choose whether to interpret this week’s question as “good bad” or “actually bad.”

What’s the baddest Nissan-Mitsubishi combo?

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What JNC should’ve had a shooting brake variant?”  Continue reading →

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NEWS: Fuji Heavy Industries changes name to Subaru Corporation

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Ryan Senensky

Subaru Building 1966

Subaru’s parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, is changing its name. Stemming from what is known as “an extraordinary meeting of its Board of Directors” FHI will be known as Subaru Corporation starting in 2017, pending stock holder approval.  Continue reading →

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EVENTS: 2016 All-Toyotafest, Part 02 — Straight Sixes

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Ben Hsu

102-9924_Toyota Cressida X30 MX32

As engines go, the Toyota straight-six is one of the best conceived by humankind. Smooth as Suntory whiskey, as long-lived as a mountain, and capable of stupid amounts of horsepower in later iterations, they are a triumph of automotive engineering. It’s no wonder the 2016 Toyotafest had over four decades of them and the cars they powered.  Continue reading →

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A list of cars lost in the International Vehicle Importers fire

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Walter Pineda

International Vehicle Importers fire 2

International Vehicle Importers has posted a list of the cars that have been lost in the warehouse fire on the evening of May 1 that claimed the lives of two company employees’ dogs. There were a dozen imported JDM cars lost, as well as several other cars, motorcycles and personal items owned by employees that were stored in the building.  Continue reading →

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NEWS: Nissan to take control of Mitsubishi Motors

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Ryan Senensky

Mitsubishi Motors Tokyo HQ

Breaking news from Japan tonight: Nissan has agreed to take a 34 percent controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors in a deal worth $2.2 billion, according to Bloomberg. It is now the single largest shareholder in the beleaguered automaker, even larger than than parent company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which owns 20 percent. Continue reading →

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MINICARS: Matchbox Hakosuka Nissan Skyline

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Ricky Silverio

Matchbox Nissan Skyline C10 Hakosuka

Matchbox has just teased a new casting for 2016, and it’s none other than the hakosuka Nissan Skyline. Technically, it’s a 1971 Skyline 2000GT-X, complete with the surf line over the rear wheels and it’s still in prototype form (that’s what those numbers on the hood mean). Like the Hot Wheels Hakosuka, it’s a groundbreaking model for the line, which may open the doors for a new wave of collectors to discover Matchbox.  Continue reading →

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VIDEO: Battle of the 80s track weapons

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Ben Hsu

Nissan 300ZX Z31 Laguna Seca pace car 1984

Long before it was Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the circuit was sponsored by Nissan and had the 200-horsepower 1984 300ZX Turbo as its official pace car. In a video from the period, the most 80s vehicular battle you can imagine pits it (0-60 in 7 seconds!) against a Honda VF700S Sabre and famed rider “Fast Freddie” Spencer’s Honda 500GP race bike. To even the odds, the Z and the Sabre are given a head start and take off before Spencer even puts on his helmet. The result is, well, close. See the video below. Continue reading →

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EVENTS: 2016 All-Toyotafest, Part 01 — A preview of what’s to come

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Ricky Silverio

YI9764a_Toyota MR2 SW20

Now in its 21st year, the All-Toyotafest has become quite possibly the most popular Japanese car show in southern California. How popular? Online registration for the 2016 gathering — all 450 spots — sold out just eight hours after going live. The result was a diverse landscape of Toyota, Lexus and Scion enthusiasts that’s growing fast, with something for everyone and every taste. Most won’t be JNCers cup of tea, but the range that Toyota has as well as a whole event dedicated to them is extremely impressive.  Continue reading →

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Happy 5/10 Day from JNC

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Ricky Silverio

jccs_2009_datsun_510_wagon

2016 marks JNC‘s 10th anniversary. The 510 has been an important car for us over the years, including serving as the subject of our very first feature story. As such, we’ve decided to celebrate 5/10 Day by taking a look at the most memorable 510s we’ve featured over the years.  Continue reading →

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VIDEO: A 240Z built for a 10,000-mile off-road race

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Ben Hsu

Peking to Paris Datsun 240Z

You thought Touge California was tough? It was only eight hours, 200 miles, and took place on pavement. This Datsun 240Z was built to tackle a rally that starts in Beijing, China, goes 10,000 miles through the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, Russia and most of Europe to finish in Paris, France.

Its standard L24 was bored out to 2.7 liters and runs lower compression to compensate for the lower-quality fuel that father and son team Chris and Tjerk Bury might encounter in some of the remotest areas on Earth. Other life-saving measures include skid plates, a roll cage, 26-gallon fuel cell. If that seems like Mad Max-style insanity to you, remember that the 240Z did win the Safari Rally. The car’s currently on a boat to China but you can still watch the The Smoking Tire‘s video below. Continue reading →

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QotW: What JNC should’ve had a shooting brake variant?

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Ryan Senensky

Subaru XY6 Alcyone shooting brake

With news of the new Toyota 86 Shooting Brake prototype, we at JNC have been ruminating on the idea of the shooting brake. It’s a a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup of cars. “You got wagon in my sports car!” “You got sports car in my wagon!” Together they taste great.

What JNC should have had a shooting brake variant?

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What JNC should Ryan buy for $8,000?”  Continue reading →

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Happy Mother’s Day from JNC!

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Dave Yuan

Mazda Carol Mother's Day

Show how much you love your mom by singing her a Carol today. Happy Mother’s Day from JNC!

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NEWS: Toyota builds an 86 shooting brake

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Ben Hsu

The shooting brake has long been the holy grail of a certain type of car guy. Half sports car, half station wagon, it’s a body style long extinct from the automotive kingdom but not from the hearts of enthusiasts. Google “shooting brake” and see any number of photoshopped renders of modern GTs with extended roofs. Then there’s Toyota, who went and actually built one.  Continue reading →

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EVENTS: Nostalgic2Days 2016, Part 01

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Skorj

Nos2Days-Sk32_Toyota 2000GT

At this year’s Nostalgic 2 Days show, we were on assignment to meet a very specific person, a towering figure from the golden age of Japan’s automotive history. Before our appointment — which will be covered in the next installment — however, we treated ourselves to a convention hall packed with kyuusha. We had made our way to Pacifico Yokohama early to assist some friends with their load-in, and took advantage of the early morning displays, pre-crowd. Continue reading →

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