JTEKT is one of the three largest bearing suppliers in Japan, along with NSK and NTN. The original company dates back to 1935 when it was called Koyo Seiko, and some may remember the blue Koyo logo on bearings packages. The company is part of the Toyota Group but supplies many automotive companies from Ford to Polaris, and aerospace firms as well. In a rare behind-the-scenes look at JTEKT’s Tokushima plant, you can now see how its precision bearings are made. Continue reading
‘Return of Abunai Deka’ trailer promises car chases, gunfights, and the F31 Nissan Leopard
The dangerous detectives are back for a new movie to debut soon in Japan. Toei Studios has revealed a trailer for Return of Abunai Deka, the eight theatrical release in the series, which doesn’t include the original TV series that aired from 1986 to 1987. The movie seems to recapture the tone of the original, which is if Miami Vice took place in Tokyo and was more of a comedy. Best of all, the then-new-but-now-classic F31 Nissan Leopard seems to be making a comeback as well. Continue reading
Posted in Film/TV
Tagged abunai deka, f31, hiroshi tachi, leopard, mark x, nissan, toyota, Yuji Oshita
2 Comments
Castrol Toyota liveried Mustang wins NASCAR’s Goodyear 500 in Darlington
Dude, is this a Soopra? No, it’s a NASCAR Mustang running the same livery that adorned the Castrol TOM’s Supra in JGTC, and Toyota’s Celica GT-Fours in WRC before that. And as it happens, driver Brad Keselowski won the weekend at Darlington Raceway on Sunday. Did the retro livery help? Probably not, but it was definitely a sight to see the familiar red-and-green-on-white in the winner’s circle. Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
1 Comment
QotW: What car would you choose for a 100 horsepower or less cross-country rally?
Three years ago there was an invitation-only Cannonball-style cross-country rally for cars 100 horsepower or less. It was called the Musketball. Among the entrants were a Suzuki kei van decorated like the famous Trans-Con Medivac ambulance. So naturally we got to thinking, what’s the perfect JNC to tackle such an event? We should note that while it was a competitive event, winning almost took a back seat to having wacky fun, so do with that what you will.
What car would you choose for a 100 horsepower or less cross-country rally?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What Japanese racing livery should be revived?“. Continue reading
Toyotafest 2024 — Get an exclusive coupon code for a discount on admission
The 2024 All-Toyotafest will be here shortly, and we have a lot of announcements to make. First, JNC is partnering with the organizers of Toyotafest, TORC, the Toyota Owners and Restorers Club, to offer a coupon code for all attendees. Second, there will be a special guest at the JNC booth. And last but not least, there will be an exclusive diecast car that you can get only at Toyotafest. Continue reading
Happy 510 Day from JNC!
Kick back and grab an ice cold Calpis because it’s Friday and 510 Day. You deserve to have your thirst quenched with Japan’s favorite lactic acid bacteria drink. And yes, it tastes better than it sounds. Kanpai!
Posted in Holidays
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Chojin Barom 1’s Mach Rod — Guess the Tokusatsu Car!
Chojin Barom 1 is a superhero formed when two childhood friends, one smart and one strong, are chosen to protect the Earth from evil demon-like creatures called Dorge. Naturally, a champion of that stature requires a suitable chariot, and the show does not disappoint with a bright orange roadster called the Mach Rod. Welcome to another edition of Guess the Tokusatsu Car. This heavily modified roadster is a tough one. See if you can figure it out. Continue reading
Toyota S-FR sportster reportedly under development
What is going on at Toyota? Not so long ago, they were called the most boring car company in the industry. Now they have one of the most exciting lineups around, with one AWD hot hatch and two rear-wheel-drive sports cars. Soon, they might be adding another to the mix, says a new report out of Japan. Continue reading
Nissan Z celebrating 55th anniversary with special edition, report says
There’s a rumor that Nissan is preparing to launch a 55th anniversary edition of the Nissan Z later this year. Prototypes of the car have reportedly been brought stateside already, and dealer allocations will depend on how many Zs that store has sold already. Continue reading
Posted in News
7 Comments
QotW: What Japanese racing livery should be revived?
We were pleasantly shocked last week when Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing revealed that they’d be bringing back Toyota’s WRC and JGTC Castrol livery — on a Ford Mustang, no less. It got us thinking about what other famous Japanese racing liveries should be resurrected. Bonus points for finding the perfect car to match, and they don’t have to necessarily be on a car of the same marque.
What Japanese racing livery should be revived?
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 favorite Showa Era car?“. Continue reading
Electric FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser restomod runs on batteries, keeps original gearbox and good looks
Resto-modding a Toyota Land Cruiser is nothing new. People have been putting Tacoma V6es, J80 1FZs, or SBC in them for years, but a UK company is now building them to run solely on electric power. The outfit is called Inverted, and their builds are meticulously engineered to retain original look of the original Land Cruiser while delivering battery propulsion in style. Continue reading
Netflix’s ‘Senna’ trailer: Brace your eyes for glorious McLaren-Honda MP4 action
Netflix has released a trailer for its upcoming miniseries about celebrated Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna. Considered one of the greatest drivers of all time, Senna won three world championships while driving for McLaren-Honda, an era of dominance that is still regarded as one of the sport’s most memorable. And if the footage from the trailer is any indication, Senna will be a thrilling ride. Continue reading
Castrol TOM’s Supra livery rides again — in NASCAR
The iconic red, green, and white livery from the JGTC Castrol TOM’s Supra is making a comeback, but not on a Supra, Toyota, or even in Super GT. The reincarnated colors will instead be emblazoned on the No.6 Ford Mustang of Brad Keselowski in the NASCAR Cup Series. Continue reading
Toyota Starlet revival could actually be happening, maybe
After Akio Toyoda stepped down as CEO of Toyota last year a shuffling of the ranks put Tomoya Takahashi at the helm of Gazoo Racing. As it happens Takahashi was a big fan of the Toyota Starlet hot hatch, and said it was his dream to revive it. At the time he made sure to clarify that this was his personal wish and not an official goal of the company. But if a new report from Japan is to be believed, his wish may come true after all. Continue reading
Posted in Next Version
Tagged Gazoo Racing, GR Starlet, GR Yaris, rally, starlet, takahashi, toyota
3 Comments
QotW: What’s your favorite Showa Era car?
Today, April 29, is Showa Day, one of Japan’s national holidays. It’s considered a time to reflect on the Showa Era, which lasted from December 25, 1926 to January 7, 1989. But when you say Showa Era to the average Japanese person, they mostly think about the 1950s and 1960s, the time when Japan’s economy entered a period of rapid growth that culminated with the Bubble Economy of the 1980s. Cars that typify the Showa Era include the Daihatsu Midget, Subaru 360, and Mazda R360, the pioneers of private car ownership. For the purposes of this week’s question, though, we’ll allow any car sold before 1989.
What’s your favorite Showa Era car?
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 greenest car you’ve ever owned?“. Continue reading
Even Mercedes-Benz is getting their classics from Japan
It’s been an unintentionally German week here on JNC. Many respondents, rightly so, said that Porsche had the best automaker heritage collection in the world. Then there was news that German supplier Bosch was launching a series of classic car service workshops in Japan, something Denso or Aisin haven’t done. Then on Tuesday, I received an opportunity to see some of Mercedes-Benz’s collection of G-Classes and was surprised to find that two out of the five were from Japan, one a very rare model and one with a rare inspection sticker. Continue reading
Ultraman Dyna‘s Machine Zellet — Guess the Tokusatsu Car!
Welcome back to JNC‘s “Guess the Tokusatsu Car” series. This should be a relatively easy one. For those unfamiliar with the term, tokusatsu shows are Japanese programs for kids that usually revolve around superheroes, robots, and giant monsters. Power Rangers, that was essentially a dubbed and recut version of the tokusatsu series Super Sentai. For this installment, it’s the Machine Zellet from 1997’s Ultraman Dyna. Continue reading
It’s the end of the road for the Subaru Legacy
Subaru of America has announced that, after seven generations, 2025 will be the final year for the Legacy. And since the Legacy sedan is only sold in North America, it means next year is also the end of the Legacy line, period. Although the Legacy hasn’t really been compelling since around the time Subaru canceled the non-Outback Legacy Wagon, it’s still a sad end for the beloved nameplate. Continue reading
Bosch to launch classic car service workshops in Japan
Bosch Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of German parts supplier Bosch, has announced the Bosch Classic Car Service program t0 help keep older cars on the road. BCCS targets cars that are 15 years or older, an age at which many cars become too expensive to own due to Japan’s stringent Shaken safety inspections. To accomplish this, BCCS will offer parts and training to independent repair shops so that old car owners will have somewhere to turn to. Continue reading
Posted in News
4 Comments
QotW: What’s the greenest car you’ve ever owned?
Happy Earth Day! We at JNC don’t see a love for cars as being in conflict with care for the planet. We’re all about preservation, whether it’s classic cars or mountain gorillas or clean rivers. We love our Land Cruisers and rotaries, but luckily for us, many of our favorite old cars are not the gas guzzling kind. If anything, J-tin proved that you don’t need a big thirsty engine to have a ton of fun behind the wheel. From Honda CRXes to Mazda Miatas, there are plenty of excellent performance cars that don’t leave a big carbon footprint.
What’s the greenest car you’ve ever owned?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which carmaker takes the best care of its heritage?“. Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
23 Comments
