After more than two decades off the books, Acura has revived the Integra name. After a roller coaster of emotions revolving around the name, from the announcement hype to a disappointing concept reveal, we at least now have some concrete numbers on which to judge the successor to one of the most beloved sport compacts in history. Continue reading
Suzuka Circuit’s 60th anniversary Fan Appreciation Day
Over the weekend, Suzuka Circuit held its annual Fan Appreciation Day, a festival for motorsports enthusiasts of all stripes. The early spring event has always been an unofficial kick-off to Japan’s motorsports season, but this year it was a special occasion. Not only did it mark the event’s return after two years of cancelation due to the pandemic, but 2022 is Suzuka Circuit’s 60th anniversary. Continue reading
The Volk Racing 21A’s introduction completes Rays’ neo-classic wheels trilogy
Rays Wheels has launched their latest neo-classic model, the Volk Racing 21A. With its introduction to the market, the wheelmaker has completed its wheels inspired by the glory days of Japanese tuning and built for domestic cars of the era, what it calls the VAC collection. Continue reading
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Yumiko Okayasu went from acting to driver to race team owner
Yumiko Okayasu was born Tokyo in 1961, and began her career as the head of a street performance dance crew. By the mid-80s, she had joined the ranks of Japan’s entertainment industry as a singer and actor. Her big breakout came when one of her songs, “Dangerous Sexy Girl” was used in a commercial for a Subaru Rex. Ironically, she ended up being a standout Mitsubishi racer and eventual team owner. Continue reading
Happy TE37 Day from JNC
The TE37 Toyota Corolla had one of the cleverest US side marker light adaptations in the automotive universe. In Japan, the TE37 had three vents on the rear of the car. The US market mandated side marker lights, which often disrupted the original designs of cars whose nations of origin did not require them. So, Toyota simply added the rear side markers to the bottom vent, which happened to be positioned perfectly for the light. Voilá, problem solved! Happy TE37 Day from JNC!
QotW: What vehicle would you use to escape a war-torn hellscape?
It was a good five minutes we had between a global pandemic and a world order-realigning conflict that will likely plunge us back into a new cold — or maybe even hot — war. Our hearts go out to the people fleeing Ukraine right now, as well as those staying to fight. If it were possible we’d donate thousands of Land Cruisers, Pajeros, Jimnys, and whatever vehicles readers deem best of the situation at hand. Instead, we have donated to these worthy organizations. But if it were possible to donate cars…
What vehicle would you use to escape a war-torn hellscape?
The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What Japanese car would you build a lowrider with?” Continue reading
The Toyota 2000GT Shelby racer is the first Japanese classic to break $2 million at auction
The Carroll Shelby-tuned Toyota 2000GT race car we wrote about earlier this week has sold for $2,535,000, becoming the first Japanese car to cross the $2 million threshold at auction. It’s a stunning result. Originally, we had some doubts it would fetch such a high price, due to the fact that it wasn’t hugely successful in this lower-tier racing series, but we are happy to be proven wrong.
You can read more about the car in our earlier article, or in our old print magazine. Given the provenance of this car, it seems unlikely this record will be broken any time soon.
1994 Infiniti Q45: Now with more grille!
Fair or not, the Infiniti launch in 1989 will forever be remembered in the annals of automotive business history as a series of blunders. The name was weird and misspelled (this was decades before words like Google or Lyft could be names of multi-billion dollar companies). Television ads never showed the car. And when people finally did see the car, it shocked them with its Voldemort-like ugliness because it lacked a big fat chrome grille. Continue reading
Toyota Supra belonging to Japanese Prime Minister candidate to undergo restoration
Although Sanae Takaichi lost her bid to become Japan’s first female Prime Minister last year, she remains one of Japan’s most powerful women. She also happens to be the original owner of a 1991 Toyota Supra 2.5GT Twin-Turbo Limited. For the past decade Takaichi has been a bit busy with her many jobs, including Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications during the Abe administration, so she hasn’t had much time to drive it. But now, with the help of Toyota, Takaichi’s Supra is about to undergo a full restoration. Continue reading
R32 and R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R CRS concepts go for a spin at Fuji Speedway
The Nissan Skyline GT-R’s menu of factory tuned versions run deep, and one could argue that the NISMO CRS cars are the ultimate examples of the breed. The Clubman Race Spec treatment, which combines the highest level parts NISMO has to offer, is available on R32 through R35 generations, and upgrade the already potent machines for amateur track duty. It’s a rare treat to see these cars at all, but Nissan has just released a video of the R32 and R33 CRS at speed at Fuji Speedway. Continue reading
The Shelby SCCA Toyota 2000GT will likely be the first Japanese classic to break $2 million, maybe $3 million, at auction
Among historically significant Japanese cars, the 2000GT sits right there at the top of the heap. Among 2000GTs, the Carroll Shelby’s ex-SCCA race car is one of the most historically significant. The car is almost certainly going to be the first Japanese classic to break the $2 million auction barrier, and possibly the $3 million barrier when it goes up for sale this weekend. Continue reading
QotW: What Japanese car would you build a lowrider with?
We’ve always had a fascination for the way Japan blends a deeply studied foreign automotive style with its own. Earlier this year, a Toyota Century limousine lowrider took the Grand Prix in the sedan category at the Tokyo Auto Salon. We’ve also discussed itasha, which seems like a modern incarnation of car-as-art, and lowriders are definitely an art form. Big sedans like Centurys and Presidents might seem like the natural choice, but everything from Suzuki Samurais to Nissan Maximas have made their mark on the lowrider scene.
What Japanese car would you build a lowrider with?
The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What are your thoughts on itasha?” Continue reading
Toyota Crown making a return to the US?
The Toyota Crown might be returning to the US market, if a leaked dealer schedule sheet is to be believed. Though it’s been Toyota’s most popular and evergreen sedan in Japan for nearly 70 years, it was sold stateside for only a fraction of that time, disappearing from the US in 1971. Incredibly, it could be back by the end of the year. Continue reading
An A70 Toyota Supra Turbo has sold for almost $89,000
Earlier this year we asked in a Question of the Week what the next six-figure Japanese car would be. Well, it seems that the A70 Toyota Supra Turbo is well on its way to that amount. Yesterday, a practically showroom-new 1987 example, with only 236 km on the odometer (147 miles) traded hands for $88,888. Continue reading
The original Toyota 2000GT subscription model has been re-released, requiring $1,000 and year to complete
No, you’re not having déjà vu. Another expensive, mega-scale Toyota 2000GT model kit has just be released in Japan. Actually, re-released is more like it, because the 1:10-scale DeAgostini Toyota 2000GT is the model that kicked off the modern age of high-end subscription kits in Japan. It’s not to be confused with the Hachette Toyota 2000GT that came out earlier this year, meaning there are now two concurrent Toyota 2000GT model kits whose parts you can wait impatiently by the mailbox for. Continue reading
QotW: What are your thoughts on itasha?
Over the weekend I took my toddler to a local show to see some cars. Though it wasn’t advertised as an itasha event, fully 85 percent of the cars there had anime characters plastered all over them, even cars like Dodge Chargers and assorted traditional muscle cars. Maybe this is yet another sign that I’m getting old, but I don’t understand the appeal of the “painful car” subculture.
What are your thoughts on itasha?
The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How has car ownership affected your love life?“. Continue reading
Happy Presidents’ Day from JNC
The Nissan President was meant for the leaders of Japanese society — government officials, captains of industry, and other assorted VIPs. It wasn’t enough just to have a bigger, more luxurious car. To really separate yourself from the peons you needed something completely out of reach. The President met that prerequisite by costing seven times as much as a Nissan Sunny. The Sunny’s modern equivalent is the Sentra, which starts at $19,610. Can you imagine a Nissan sedan that costs $137,270, and how opulent it would have to be to warrant that price tag? That’s the grandness you were getting when you slid into the plush cabin of a President. Happy Presidents’ Day from JNC!
The Nissan Fairlady Z chair brings your Z into the comfort of your own home
Welcome to Japanese Nostalgic Car‘s home furniture-themed sub-section, Japanese Nostalgic Chair. Admittedly it’s not a frequently visited sub-section, as we’ve only once before had the occasion, when a small Japanese carpentry shop in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture made a living room chair out of a Hakosuka Skyline seat. Turns out they make a Fairlady Z chair as well. Continue reading
Alive Hoon, the first movie about pro drifting, has a trailer and behind-the-scenes video
It’s been over 20 years since the D1GP, the first professional drifting league, was born. So it’s a bit surprising that, in all this time, there hasn’t been a feature film about the sport (no, Tokyo Drift doesn’t count). But, that’s all about to change. With the somewhat clunky name of Alive Hoon, the first scripted movie about drifting is about to hit theaters. Continue reading
VIDEO: Drifting in America has come a long way since 1998
Drifting was still a little-known underground activity in the United States back in 1998. However, that didn’t stop some of Japan’s most famous drift racers and judges from visiting southern California to see what the nascent scene was all about. Honestly, it’s a little embarrassing for us Americans, but hey, we all have to start somewhere. Continue reading
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Tagged acura, ae86, Civic EG, crx, drifting, eclipse, honda, integra, keiichi tsuchiya, Ken Nomura, mitsubishi, mr2, s13, s14, sw20
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