Japanese Nostalgic Car

Recently, the Daihatsu HiJet received a lifetime achievement award from Japan’s top design institution. There haven’t been many cars to receive this honor. Past recipients have included the Nissan Cube and Toyota HiAce. While these vehicles are surely deserving, they’re just all so, well, practical. Sure, they’ve done a lot for the delivery drivers of Japan, but what about driver drivers? Certainly there is a car that evokes joy, elegance, refinement, or some other form of vehicular excellence. Cars are meant to be driven, and is carving a touge pass or carrying occupants in luxury not just as pure an expression of the automobile as cargo capacity?

For the purposes of this question we’ll adhere to the rules of the HiJet’s prize, the Good Design Long Life award. That means it will have to have been on the market for more than 10 years (multiple generations are okay) and must endure in some way as a marker of Japan.

What JNC should receive a lifetime achievement award for design?

The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Tell us you’re a JNC owner without telling us you own a JNC.” Continue reading →

The JNC life is a hard one. There’s a lot to deal with when you drive an old car, so let’s commiserate with each other by playing the Tell Me Challenge, in which you tell your fellow travelers what it’s like to own an old Japanese car without actually saying that.  For instance, “I have enough parts stashed away to build a second example of my car,” or, “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry when I look at Bring a Trailer,” or, “People always ask me what year Mustang I’m driving.”

Tell us you’re a JNC owner without telling us you own a JNC.

The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the one car enthusiast tourist thing you must do before you die?”. Continue reading →

Today is Industrial Tourism Day in Japan, an occasion that sounds a lot more boring than it is. Started by the Nagoya Chamber of Commerce, it asks people to explore the ingenuity and craftsmanship that may lurk behind the scenes but that make up everyday objects and drive the country’s economy. The automobile is a huge part of it, and the world has no shortage of museums, racing circuits, car meets, or incredible roads to celebrate the car.

What’s the one car enthusiast tourist thing you must do before you die?

The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your favorite JNC work vehicle?” Continue reading →

Today is Driver’s Day in Japan, an occasion to honor the professionals who operate the trucks, buses, and taxis that make the economy hum. It takes place on October 18 every year, because an alternate pronunciation of the numbers “ten, one, eight” happens to be do rai ba, or “driver” in Japanese. Japan has a huge number of workhorse vehicles, from post office Super Cubs to three-wheeled pickups to blinged out Hinos. Not to mention nearly every wagon ever made had a commercial “van” variant, so there’s no shortage to choose from.

What’s your favorite JNC work vehicle?

The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your favorite Japanese race truck?“. Continue reading →