QotW: What’s an automotive bonding activity you can do with kids?

Posted on August 11, 2025 by Ben Hsu

Today, August 11, is National Sons and Daughters Day. I’ve played Hot Wheels with my son as soon as he was able, but now he’s aging out of them and getting serious about Pokémon cards. Still, I’ve found ways to bond with him over car-related things like going to shows or building a Tamiya Mini 4WD. One of my favorite road trips was a recent one when the two of us flew one-way to Phoenix to pick up a low-mileage Acura TSX Wagon for a friend and drive it back to LA. We both had a blast and it’s something I’ll never forget and

What’s an automotive bonding activity you can do with kids?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your favorite piece of infrastructure?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | 7 Comments

Williams-Honda FW11 championship winning F1 car restored

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Ben Hsu

In 1987 Honda embarked on an epic streak of Formula 1 supremacy. The Honda RA166 1.5-liter turbocharged V6 mounted in the Williams-Honda FW11 produced 1200 to 1500 horsepower at 12,000 rpm and was one of the most powerful motors of the era. It would secure Honda’s first Constructors’ Championship in what would be a six-year era of dominance of the sport. Now nearly 40 years later, Honda and Williams have restored this piece of history. Continue reading →

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Suzuki celebrates 40th anniversary of GSX-R motorcycle with special editions

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Dan Hsu

The Suzuki GSX-R series has long been designed to be the hardest core of the crotch rockets. Others Japanese motorcycles were street bikes that were adapted for racing; the GSX-R was built as a race bike for the street. Incredibly, that formula has survived for 40 years across multiple models. To honor this legacy, Suzuki has introduced 40th anniversary models of the GSX-R750, GSX-R1000, and GSX-R1000R. Continue reading →

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Tomica celebrates 30 years of ‘Initial D’ with detailed premium sets of AE86, RX-7, S13, and more

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Ben Hsu

Great news for Hachiroku fans this AE86 Day. Tomica has announced a set of highly detailed toy cars in honor of Initial D‘s 30th anniversary. The cars include Takumi’s iconic Toyota AE86, Keisuke’s Mazda RX-7, Iketani’s Nissan Silvia, and a replica of the Fujiwara Tofu Shop. Continue reading →

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Here comes the Sunny: B110 grille trend continues with Suzuki Jimny mask

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Ben Hsu

The B110 Nissan Sunny had one of the most distinctive grilles of all time. It has become a trend to mount its face on new, non-Sunny Japanese cars to evoke a retro feel on the modern machinery. The latest to don the Sunny mask is the Suzuki Jimny, thanks to an aftermarket company called Beyond Japan. Continue reading →

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The second-gen Lexus LS400 was even LS-ier than the first

Posted on August 5, 2025 by Steve Chang

After the original Lexus LS400 turned the traditional luxury car market upside down, engineers for the second-generation asked, “Why mess with success?” The XF20 gave customers more of the LS’s trademark opulence, sumptuousness, competence, and overall value, just more of it. Despite the car being 90 percent new, it can be hard to tell the difference between the pre-facelift XF20 and the XF10. Continue reading →

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QotW: What’s your favorite piece of infrastructure?

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Steve Chang

Today, August 4, is Bridge Day, a pun on the words eight (ha) and four (shi), which form hashi, or “bridge” in Japanese. It was first held in Nobeoka City, Kyushu Prefecture, known for its many bridges and is now celebrated in all 47 prefectures. However, there’s a competing holiday, Suspension Bridge Day, that also takes place today and was started by Totsukawa Village, Nara Prefecture, whose mountainous terrain is home to 60 bridges.

There’s always something a bit breathtaking about driving across a bridge, or any massive piece of engineering, and thinking about, however briefly, the vast amount of brainpower and muscle that we tiny humans put forth to build such a structure.

What’s your favorite piece of infrastructure?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Daily, Garage, or Sell — Transformers, Go-Bots, or MASK“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | 13 Comments

Safari Rally Datsun 240Z celebrated with trio of Seiko limited edition watches

Posted on August 1, 2025 by Ben Hsu

Welcome to another edition of Japanese Nostalgic Chronograph. Hot off the heels of the Initial D 30th anniversary collaboration, Seiko has released three watches honoring the rallying successes of the Datsun 240Z. The trio are part of Seiko’s Speedtimer series, which was launched in 1969, the same year as Nissan’s famed S30 chassis, and have always been designed for timekeeping in motorsports and athletics. Continue reading →

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The last Honda V10 to power Ayrton Senna is up for auction

Posted on July 31, 2025 by Dan Hsu

Honda will soon be auctioning off the last V10 engine that powered Ayrton Senna’s rise to become the 1990 Formula 1 Drivers’ Champion, and helped McLaren-Honda clinch that year’s Constructors’ Championship. Until now, it’s been in Honda’s possession exactly as it was at the end of the 1990 season. Come August, it’ll be sold to one lucky collector. Continue reading →

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Initial D celebrates 30th anniversary with limited edition Seiko watch

Posted on July 30, 2025 by Ben Hsu

Automotive culture was forever changed when when Initial D launched in July of 1995. To mark the seminal touge manga’s 30th anniversary, author Shuichi Shigeno and publisher Kodansha have teamed up with renowned watchmaker Seiko for a limited edition timepiece. Its design features several notable design cues from Takumi Fujiwara’s tofu delivery Toyota AE86. Continue reading →

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Why a 2001 Acura Integra Type R sold for over $200,000

Posted on July 29, 2025 by Ben Hsu

A 2001 Acura Integra has sold for $204,204. Unfortunately, your clapped out Viper killer is still going for the same price as it did before, because the record breaker is no ordinary Integra. For one, it’s an Integra Type R, the best-handling front-wheel-drive car ever built. It also has less than 4800 miles on the odometer, making it about as new as new can be. Continue reading →

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QotW: Daily, Garage, or Sell — Transformers, Go-Bots, or MASK

Posted on July 28, 2025 by Steve Chang

Welcome to another edition of Daily, Garage, or Sell, JNC‘s version of FMK. We’ve asked the question of 90s roadsters, flagship sedans, 80s drifters and more, but this time we’re turning our attention to 80s toys with their own cartoon lines. Transformers, Go-Bots, and MASK competed for the after-school attention of kids by telling elaborate tales of vehicles that changed into formidable battle machines. And when the same kids went to the toy store, complex toy versions of those vehicles competed for their parents’ dollars. It was the first generation to have such an overabundance of pop culture, and it was a great time to grow up.

Daily, Garage, or Sell — Transformers, Go-Bots, or MASK

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the most scenic place you’ve driven to?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | 3 Comments

Six-wheeled Toyota Century is the ultimate last ride

Posted on July 25, 2025 by Matt De Mangos

When it comes time to take that final trip by car, there aren’t many better ways to go than with a Toyota Century hearse. However, if a funeral car built from even the most luxurious of Japanese sedans is too ordinary for you, there is a solution. Up for sale is a modified Century that has been stretched over six wheels. Continue reading →

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Register now to celebrate 20 years of the Japanese Classic Car Show

Posted on July 24, 2025 by Ben Hsu

America’s premier show for classic Japanese cars is turning 20 this year. It’s an amazing achievement for JCCS, which started at a time when the idea of a Japanese car being worthy of collecting or restoring was still in question. Today nobody would dare challenge that notion, and the JCCS had a lot to do with that cultural shift. The first JCCS was held in 2006, making this year’s show the 20th anniversary of that seminal event. Continue reading →

Posted in Reminder | Tagged | 5 Comments

RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

Posted on July 22, 2025 by Dave Yuan


Shunsaku Tamiya, former president and chairman of Tamiya, Inc., passed away on July 18. His death was announced on July 21, with funeral services attended by close family and friends. Mr Tamiya led the transformation of Tamiya into a world-renowned manufacturer of high-precision plastic model kits, radio control vehicles, and motorized Mini 4WD racers.

He joined the company founded by his father originally as a transport firm, and switched to supplying lumber after the war. That brought about an expansion into wooden models, primarily of ships and planes. After a fire destroyed the company’s lumber supply, it focused primarily on the models.

Not long after, plastic technology improved and began taking over the model kit market. Shunsuke Tamiya spearheaded the shift to puramo (a portmanteau of “plastic” and “model”) and in the process changed the industry. He helped fuel enthusiasm for cars, as well as other types of transportation, for generations of children and adults alike. Continue reading →

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Weds Wheels debuts steelies for kei cars and vans

Posted on July 22, 2025 by Steve Chang

Forged alloys take the cake when it comes to pure function, but there’s always going to be something sinister about a set of steelies. Recognizing that steel wheels are from the factory these days, Weds Wheels has developed a steelie that gives kei cars and vans a bit of that old school cool. Continue reading →

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QotW: What’s the most scenic place you’ve driven to?

Posted on July 21, 2025 by Steve Chang

Today, July 21, marks two important days of commemoration in Japan. The first is Natural Parks Day, remembering the day in 1957 when the Natural Parks Act was passed in order to protect and promote Japan’s national parks. The second is Japan’s Three Scenic Views Day, which coincides with Hayashi Shunsai’s birthday in 1618. The Edo period writer noted the three most beautiful views of ancient Japan (Matsushima,  Miyagi Prefecture; Amanohashidate, Kyoto Prefecture; and Miyajima, Hiroshima Prefecture). Such destinations are the perfect locales to plan a summer road trip around, and will often take you off the beaten path to reveal the majestic wonder of Mother Earth.

What’s the most scenic place you’ve driven to?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your favorite JNC for open air driving?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 10 Comments

‘Cruising J-Town’ museum exhibit spotlights a pivotal chapter in car culture

Posted on July 18, 2025 by Ben Hsu

We suspect that many JNC readers were introduced to the wonders of Japanese cars during the Tuner Era of the late 80s and early 90s. The souped up imports that took over the streets triggered a paradigm shift in American car culture. Japanese Americans in Southern California were the first to “import tune” but the roots of the movement, which stretch back over a century, have largely been lost to time. A new exhibit at the Japanese National American Museum rectifies that oversight by delving into the rich history of Japanese American car culture. Continue reading →

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Jack White continues to exude cool with his latest ride

Posted on July 17, 2025 by Steve Chang

As we know all too well in the automotive realm, money does not buy taste. That’s not the case for musician Jack White. Despite a net worth deep into the 8-digit range, his vehicle choice is absolutely brilliant. In a social media post earlier this week the rocker revealed his latest acquisition, a 1991 Suzuki Samurai in his signature red with white stripes. Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrity Nostalgics | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Nissan Oppama plant closure is “the most difficult decision of my career” says CEO

Posted on July 16, 2025 by Ben Hsu

In what CEO Ivan Espinosa has called “the most difficult decision of my career,” Nissan announced Tuesday that it would be shutting down its Oppama plant. The factory has been in operation since 1961 and was Japan’s first full-scale integrated assembly plant. It has been called Nissan’s “mother plant”, a “holy land” and a “sacred site”, but after decades of building iconic cars and birthing Nissan’s motorsports program, it’s coming to a sad end. Continue reading →

Posted in News | 6 Comments