Tag Archives: publica

Cruise through the streets of Tokyo circa 1970

Posted on August 18, 2023 by Matt De Mangos

Seeing old cars is one thing, but how about an entire city-full of what are today rare classics? A portable video camera would have been very expensive back in 1970, but luckily someone had the foresight to get one and … Continue reading →

Posted in Showa Snap | Tagged 510, bluebird, corona, gloria, honda, life, nissan, publica, San'ai Dream Center, t80, toyota | 1 Comment

KIDNEY, ANYONE? 1974 Toyota Publica 1000

Posted on March 29, 2021 by Ryan Senensky

The Toyota KP30 Publica is a rare bird, even in its native Japan. For export markets, it was known simply as the Toyota 1000. Constructed on a down-sized Corolla platform, it served as Toyota’s entry-level runabout in many nations where … Continue reading →

Posted in for sale | Tagged p30, publica, toyota | 6 Comments

A brief history of JCW, Japan’s first carwash company

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Ben Hsu

We recently came across a news item about a new system in Japan that washes coronavirus off of your clothes and shoes. You walk through a metal frame while nozzles spray chemicals all over you, in droplets too small to … Continue reading →

Posted in Nihon Life | Tagged corona mark II, crown, ms51, publica, s60, shinkansen, toyota | 6 Comments

MOTORSPORT: Watch these old Nissans dominate Fuji Speedway

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Ben Hsu

If you’ve ever wondered why Nissan has such a strong following among Japanese enthusiasts, this video snapshot from 1970-71 explains it all. Nissans of all types dominate the field in two major races from those years. Though this was likely … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1300 coupe 9, 1600gt, 510, a30, b110, bluebird, c10, cedric, Colt F2000, corolla, datsun, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, familia rotary coupe, fuji speedway, gloria, Hakosuka, Hiroshi Kubota, honda, Jackie Stewart, JAF Grand Prix, japan grand prix, Kenji Tohira, kpgc10, kunimitsu takahashi, Kuniomi Nagamatsu, masahiro hasemi, mazda, mitsubishi, moto kitano, Motoharu Kurosawa, nissan, pgc10, publica, s30 z, Shogo Omori, skyline, sunny, Toshinori Takechi, toyota | 1 Comment

2019 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 01 — USDM Rare

Posted on October 1, 2019 by Dan Hsu

Even in the 15th year of the wonderful and ever-growing Japanese Classic Car Show in Long Beach, California, after so many iterations, there are still new things for the casual Japanese car enthusiast to discover. The phyla of Japanese cars … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 626, brat, charade, daihatsu, datsun 710, Dodge Challenger, dodge colt, galant, Galant Lambda, Galant VR-4, impulse, isuzu, jccs, kei, lancer celeste, luce, mazda, mitsubishi, n10, nissan, p30, publica, pulsar, sambar, starlet, subaru, subaru 360, svx, toyota | 14 Comments

EVENTS: Final New Year Meeting, Part 02 — The End of an Era

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Ben Hsu

After 42 years, the New Year Meeting, once the biggest classic car show in Japan, is no more. The Odaiba venue where the event is held will soon be bulldozed, making way for the future. We’ve covered New Year Meetings … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 117, 240rs, 410/411, 510, a30, b10, b110, b120, b210, bluebird, c10, Cabstar, cedric, Cedric 30, civic, Civic EF, clipper, contessa, corolla, crown, crx, CRX EF, csp311, daihatsu, datsun, Domingo, e10, fairlady roadster, familia, Familia BD, Fellow, fellow max, gloria, Hakosuka, hino, honda, honda N, isuzu, kei, mazda, minica, Minica Skipper, mitsubishi, n10, new year meeting, nissan, porter, prince, publica, pulsar, s110, s50, S500/S600/S800, sanitora, silvia, skyline, subaru, sunny, sunny truck, t360, today, vans, wagons | 13 Comments

EVENTS: The Final New Year Meeting, Part 01

Posted on February 26, 2019 by Brandon Kelley

It is with a heavy heart that we bring you this report on 2019’s New Year Meeting, held on the fourth weekend of January, for it is also the very last New Year Meeting. period. Twelve years ago, JNC became … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 1600gt, 521, a20, b110, b310, barikan, c10, c110, carry, celica, cherry, corolla, corolla levin, corona, Corona Pickup, crown, datsun, e10, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, gemini, Hakosuka, honda, isuzu, kei, kenmeri, Life PIckup, mark II, mazda, new year meeting, nissan, p30, porter, publica, r2, rx-7, s130, s30 z, s50, s800, sa22, skyline, sprinter trueno, subaru, sunny, suzuki, t40, t50, te27, TE55, tomei, toyota, ts cup, wagons, x70, z31 | 6 Comments

This amazing 1976 Toyota Publica was restored by a 12-year-old

Posted on February 22, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Stories of rare car restorations are always heartwarming, but it is especially so when the labor of love is a father-daughter project. Throw in the fact that the daughter was just 12 years old when they began the restoration, and … Continue reading →

Posted in profiles | Tagged p30, publica, toyota | 10 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Ben Hsu

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, here’s a collection of red cars for your viewing pleasure. The theme is the early days of Japan’s post-war auto industry. Can you name them all? Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC!

Posted in Holidays | Tagged 312, alto, bellett, bluebird, colt, compagno, daihatsu, datsun, hino, honda, Honda N-Series, isuzu, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, prince, publica, r100, skyline, subaru, subaru 360, suzuki, toyota, Valentine's Day | 7 Comments

EVENTS: 2018 Japanese Automotive Invitational

Posted on September 11, 2018 by Ben Hsu

It has been a banner year for Nihon steel at Monterey Car Week. The annual series of ultra-prestigious automotive events have traditionally excluded Japanese cars, but 2018 saw, for example, Nissan become the first carmaker from Japan to be honored … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 117, 2000gt, 240z, 510, acura, az-1, bellett, brat, bre, c10, cherry, Civic 1G, Civic Lady, cosmo sport, datsun, dome, dome zero, f10, f31, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, fj40, galant gto, Hakosuka, honda, honda N, Honda Serial One, infiniti, integra, Integra DA, isuzu, J30, jimny, kei, land cruiser, legend, lj20, m30, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, nsx, patrol, Prototype 9, publica, Q45, r32, r34, r360, s30 z, safari rally, sambar, skyline, sports 800, subaru, subaru 360, suzuki, toyota, z432 | 14 Comments

EVENTS: 2018 New Year Meeting, Part 01 — Sixties Specials

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Ben Hsu

The New Year Meeting is the oldest classic car event in Japan, held annually at the end of January, closer to the lunar new year than the Gregorian one. Having started in 1977, this year marked the 42nd time it was held. This … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 117, 2000gt, 510, bellett, bluebird, contessa, cosmo sport, datsun, fairlady roadster, hino, honda, Honda S-Series, isuzu, mazda, monkey, new year meeting, nissan, publica, r360, toyota | 9 Comments

50 YEAR CLUB: Toyota 2000GT

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Ben Hsu

Fifty years ago, the automotive world was forever changed. It was a Tuesday, May 16, 1967 that the Toyota 2000GT was introduced. It marked the dawn of a new age, a breakthrough in not only Japan’s automotive industry, but in … Continue reading →

Posted in 50 Year Club | Tagged 2000gt, fuji speedway, japan grand prix, Prince R380, publica, Shihomi Hosoya, sports 800, toyota, yatabe | 13 Comments

EVENTS: 2017 Tokyo Auto Salon, Part 03 — The Classics

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Ben Hsu

The Tokyo Auto Salon has a reputation for churning out some truly bizarre automotive works, but these day some seriously classy classics can be found amidst the VIP vans and drift missiles. You’ve seen the examples modified for speed and show; here … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 2000gt, advan, Advan HF Type D, ae86, b120, BLSID-3, bosozoku, c10, c130, corolla, cube, datsun, dr30, Endless, Fabulous, fairlady z, Fairlady Z432, Fairlady Z432R, gt-r, Hakosuka, laurel, liberty walk, longchamp xr-4, National, nissan, Panasonic, prince, publica, r35, rocky auto, s30 z, sanitora, skyline, sprinter trueno, star road, sunny truck, SuperGT, toyota, Triumph, work equip 01, Work Equip 40, work wheels, yokohama | 8 Comments

EVENTS: New Year Meeting 2017, Part 06 — Trucks, Wagons, Vans, and Kei Jidosha

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Brandon Kelley

One of the great things about the New Year Meeting is that in addition to all the brilliant classics and street machines, commercial vehicles are welcomed as well. There aren’t many places on the planet where you’ll see such a gathering of classic Japanese … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 620, AC Courrèges, acty, AD Van, b110, b120, c10, c110, Cabstar, carol, corolla, daihatsu, Datsun DB6, e10, fellow max, Hakosuka, hilux, honda, ke10, kei, kenmeri, Life PIckup, ln360, mazda, minica, mitsubishi, new year meeting, nissan, publica, sambar, sanitora, skyline, subaru, subaru r-2, sunny, sunny truck, T1500/T2000, today, toyota, trucks, vans, wagons | 11 Comments

EVENTS: 2016 Kiryu Classic Car Festival, Part 01

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Ricky Silverio

The Kiryu Classic Car Festival holds a special place in the history of JNC. Back in 2006, long before any other English-language sites were interested in kyusha, it was the first show we covered in Japan. That also happened to be the first time … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 117, 1600gt, 2000gt, 410/411, 510, bluebird, c10, c110, c210, cedric, Citroen, contessa, corolla, corolla levin, cosmo sport, crown pickup, csp311, daihatsu, datsun, Dino, e30, Fairlady Z432, fto, gloria, Hakosuka, hijet, hino, honda, honda z, isuzu, kei, kenmeri, Kiryu Classic Car Festival, lancer celeste, Lancia, life, mazda, midget, nissan, prince, publica, repu, s30 z, s40, s50, S500/S600/S800, silvia, skyline, Snow Crawler, sports 800, subaru, subaru 1000, subaru 360, te27, tn360, toyota, wagons | 18 Comments

GRAND TOURING: Isumi Matsuri

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Skorj

If there’s one thing that gets carriage-loads of people enthused, it’s trains — especially in Japan, where everyone loves trains. So, combining a wide range of Showa Era kyusha with a summer matsuri (festival) and organizing it at the most famous … Continue reading →

Posted in Grand Touring | Tagged 310, b10, B360, bellett, bluebird, cappuccino, cony, corolla, corolla levin, crown, daihatsu, debonair, e10, Expo '70, gemini, gloria, Hakosuka, hijet, hino, honda, Insight, Isumi Matsuri, isuzu, Kurogane, Leo, mitsubishi, nissan, publica, s120, s40, s800, skyline, sprinter, sunny, Taxi, te27, toyota | 24 Comments

EVENTS: 2016 All-Toyotafest, Part 05 — Editors’ Choice

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Ben Hsu

For the final installment of this year’s Toyotafest we share the JNC staff favorites. In a show packed with prime Aichi steel, it wasn’t easy to narrow down the field, making the results probably over-long. But hey, it’s a good problem to have, … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged a20, ae86, all-trac, aw11, celica, corolla, corolla levin, corona, daruma, e10, e20, gt-four, hachiroku, ke10, L10, mr2, publica, sports 800, sprinter trueno, st185, t110, te27, te28, tercel, toyota, toyotafest, up10, wagon, yotahachi | 15 Comments

EVENTS: 2016 New Year Meeting, Part 01

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Ricky Silverio

The New Year Meeting is Tokyo’s premiere classic car show and it takes place at the end of January. You’ll likely never see a gathering of J-tin so diverse anywhere else, and the magic begins with a line of cars at the … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 117, 3K, 510, a20, bluebird, bosozoku, c10, c30, cedric, celica, corolla, corona mark II, daruma, drag racer, Farialdy Z, galant gto, h31, Hakosuka, honda, isuzu, kaido racer, kp47, laurel, le mans, leone, life, mazda, Mazda B360, Minica Skipper, mitsubishi, Musashi Crystal, new year meeting, nissan, porter cab, publica, Rilakkuma, S-Series, s30, skyline, soarer, starlet, subaru, t60, toyota, z20 | 9 Comments

EVENTS: Tokyo Auto Salon, Part 01 — Old School Cool

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Ben Hsu

As one of the most important auto shows on the Japanese calendar, the Tokyo Auto Salon is a showcase of Japan’s latest and greatest tuning trends. With every customization style imaginable on display, however, old school cool is not always easy … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged bosozoku, c10, c110, cedric, Cedric 31, civic, Civic EF, fuji speedway, Glow Star, Hakosuka, honda, kenmeri, nissan, osaka jdm, Prince R380, publica, skyline, soarer, star road, TAS2016, tokyo auto salon, toyota, toyota 7, up10, z10 | 10 Comments

EVENTS: 2015 New Year Meeting Part 07 — Compact Flash

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Today (no pun intended!) we take a look at the classic city cars that showed up at the New Year Meeting. Some, like this happy red Honda Today, are kei cars, but not all. As you might remember, the Today was the star car in You’re Under … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged carol, cherry, city, civic, corolla, datsun 210, e80, fuji rabbit, fx-16, honda, K10, life, march, mazda, n360, new year meeting, nissan, publica, subaru, subaru 360, Super Turbo, today, toyota, Twincharger | 4 Comments