TUNE UP: A Mazda RX-7 appears in a Japanese boy band video

Once again we remain utterly clueless about the song or the artist portrayed in the video called “44 Raiders” by the Ballistik Boyz from Exile Tribe. We can only tell you that there is a Mazda RX-7 in it, and it looks very similar to a recent Tokyo Auto Salon winner. Continue reading

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QotW: What’s your best Toyota Corolla story?

On this day in 1972, the Volkswagen Beetle overtook the Ford Model T as the best-selling car in the world. However, the Toyota Corolla has long since obliterated both combined, with over 44 million sold. Unless you’re living in an Amazonian tribe untouched by modernity you’ve owned, known someone who has owned, or ridden in a Corolla. And while we are eager to talk about our AE86s, TE27s, or FX-16s, some of the best tales can come from your run-of-the-mill DX sedans, Geo Prizms, or NUMMI Novas, all of which we will count for this week’s question.

What’s your best Toyota Corolla story?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your most romantic JNC story?Continue reading

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Happy Presidents’ Day from JNC

No amount of lawmen can stop this President, a Nissan President H150, to be exact, in a clip from the crime drama The Big City, Part III. The authorities come at it hard, with countless Cedrics and even a Fairlady Z trying their best to bring it and its gang of thugs to a halt, but they are helpless to stop the steamrolling President. Continue reading

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Toyota is already giving the A90 Supra significant updates

Supra sales are not great. Toyota sold just 2,884 of them in 2019, fewer than the number of 86es in same year (3,398). That’s not a good sign for a halo cars like the Supra, whose sales curves usually start out strong and diminish as time goes on. With Toyota’s announcement yesterday that it would jack up the power of the six-cylinder Supra and introduce a 4-cylinder model less than a year into the launch, it seems like the company is hoping to attract more interest. Continue reading

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Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC

Happy Valentine’s Day, y’all. Show your loved ones some TLC today, but don’t forget your spouses!

Original Post

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The winners and runners up of the 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon

The 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon was, like SEMA, largely a big ol’ Supra-fest. However, after the trophies were handed out there were a few highlights from the awards categories that defied convention. Like the teachers said in English class, you have to appreciate the classics. Continue reading

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VIDEO: How Hiroshima’s unique past made Mazda what it is today

Mazda is celebrating its centenary this year, so expect to see a lot of historical content from them this year. The latest is a video about the company’s early history and its origins in Hiroshima, an area far removed from the Tokyo-Osaka corridor that all other Japanese carmakers operate out of. As we’ve mentioned before, Mazda’s ties to this region run deep, and this video shows how the history of Hiroshima has uniquely influenced the company. Continue reading

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Japan’s postal service celebrates 50 years of the Skyline GT-R with a commemorative stamp set

On Monday Japan’s postal service released a set of commemorative stamps honoring the Nissan Skyline GT-R’s 50th anniversary. Technically, the 50th anniversary took place almost exactly one year ago, but better late than never, no? Of course, with this being a Japan Post commemorative set, it doesn’t end with just stamps. Continue reading

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PIXELATED: Acura video game matches its graphics with the car’s era

We pooh-poohed Acura’s “Beat That” ad when it came out last October. A video game based on that spot, though? Well, that’s just undeniably cool. Here’s how you can play. Continue reading

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QotW: What’s your most romantic JNC story?

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, and you know you have some romantic, steamy, or downright heartbreaking stories involving a JNC and a significant other. Maybe there was a date, relationship, or marriage that turned out particularly well (or ended in spectacularly bad fashion) because of your car. Now is the time to share your tales of love.

What’s your most romantic JNC story?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How should Mazda celebrate its 100 birthday?Continue reading

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VIDEO: Chevy’s captive import Isuzu and Suzuki turbos were the bee’s knees

The 1980s were heady times. Even the smallest econoboxes coming out of Japan had sport-ified versions lavished with tech and gear that would have seemed at home on much higher-priced sports cars. Plus, both Isuzu and Suzuki were still operating in the US, and bringing these tiny, turbocharged compacts to our shores. Even if they were badged as a Chevy, they still offered loads of fun and personality for a rock-bottom price of entry. Continue reading

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Happy TE27 Day from JNC

Metal bolt-on fender flares should be a factory thing again. Happy TE27 Day from JNC!

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MINICARS: Hot Wheels ’89 Mazda Savanna RX-7 FC3S test shot

A few months go we showed you an early prototype for one of the most exciting Hot Wheels releases for this year, Mazda’s second-generation turbo rotary flagship. According to our friends at Mattel, the official name will be ’89 Mazda Savanna RX-7 FC3S. Now, we have several photos of an early test shot in addition to those released on the Hot Wheels Dream Team Instagram account. Continue reading

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Toyota brought out stock and rally Celica GT-Fours to the GR Yaris debut

The Toyota GR Yaris seems like it will be an insanely awesome hot hatch, even if its connection to the Celica GT-Four is dubious. We said it smelled like a retcon, but we have to admit, when Toyota put all four cars on the stage at Makuhari Messe for the GR Yaris’s debut, it did look downright cool. Continue reading

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The Toyota 86 Black Limited Concept could mark the model’s final edition

At the Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota had a pretty killer display that included a trio of Hachiroku. The purpose of the display was to show off a new prototype version of the Toyobaru 86 called the Black Limited Concept. For those familiar with the original AE86 from which the Toyota coupe gets its namesake, that is an extremely significant name. Continue reading

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VIDEO: Battle of the Japanese one-box vans

The sheer variety of Japan’s one-box vans are as mind-melting as their ubiquity. There are so many trims, options, and configurations that we could launch a sister site, JNV, to cover them all. Luckily, during the brief moment that they were available in the US, English-language reviewers were able to assess the American-spec versions back to back. Continue reading

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QotW: How should Mazda celebrate its 100 birthday?

It’s not every day that a car company reaches 100 years of age. Of the Japanese companies still making cars today, only Daihatsu, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, and now Mazda have made it this far. It’s a momentous occasion that literally happens only once in a lifetime, if that, and deserves a celebration worthy of the moment.

How should Mazda celebrate its 100th birthday?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the worst JNC decision you’ve ever made?Continue reading

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Happy TA22 Day from JNC

Later this year, the original Toyota Celica will celebrate its 50th birthday. Perhaps we should paint one eye of a little red Japanese doll, set it on our shelf, and paint the other one when the Celica joins the 50 year club. Happy TA22 Day from JNC!

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Here’s how Mazda celebrated its 100th anniversary

Turning 100 years old is a tremendous milestone for anyone. Mazda celebrated with an understated gathering at their headquarters in Hiroshima. The entrance was arranged with two cars from Mazda’s past, and two from its present. Around them, the lobby was filled with hundreds of white moth orchids. Continue reading

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100 YEAR CLUB: Mazda, Part 01

Exactly 100 years ago today, on January 30, 1920, Toyo Cork Kogyo was founded. This company, whose name translates to Oriental Cork Industries, would go on to build cars under the name Mazda. Thus, today marks the 100th anniversary of Mazda, a storied and charismatic firm that has brought us some of history’s most memorable and beloved enthusiasts’ cars. Continue reading

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