Japanese Nostalgic Car

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 →

Both Nissan and Mitsubishi recently revived some old racing truck liveries for the Rebelle Rally, which kicked off over the weekend. We often discuss Japan’s racing cars, but racing trucks seem to have been inadvertently sidelined. Most of Japan’s manufacturers who sell actual trucks — Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Hino, Honda — have raced them as well.

What’s your favorite Japanese race truck?

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 car book?“. Continue reading →

Today is Old Book Day in Japan. The holiday is celebrated on October 4 each year because it’s a pun on the kanji 古書, which is translated as “old books”. When you break down the kanji for “old” (古) into its components 十 and 口, then overlap them as 田, it resembles four books. Well, at least that’s the explanation given by Japan’s National Federation of Secondhand Bookstore Association.

In any case, it’s a good a time as any to ask what’s the most indispensable from your home library. Perhaps it’s a history book, a repair manual, a picture book, or even a children’s book like Makoto Komori‘s Datto-san series (lead photo). Let us know what it is and why.

What’s your favorite car book?

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 Nissan color?” Continue reading →