Shiotsu Autotrade Japan – President’s Blog

If you ever visit Japan, you would be stunned to see heavily decorated monster trucks which are called Decotora or Dekotora in Japanese or simply Art trucks.  The truckers of Japan color their trucks with shiny stainless or golden exterior parts, beautifully painted landscapes, kabuki or manga characters,or pictures of celebrities.  At night, their fluorescent handiwork shines through with colorful and bold neon and ultraviolet light displays. One can find these decorations on both the cab as well as the trailer, on the exterior as well as in the interior.

Decotora truck owners are very passionate about the looks of their decorated trucks. They have an emotional attachment with their trucks and do not care about the money they spend in decorating these trucks.  What gives them the satisfaction and pride is the personalization and symbolic meaning of these art designs on their trucks. The trucks look like artsy monsters after decoration.  Seeing at this large scale decoration, anybody could easily confuse these Dekotora trucks to be something art related but automotive. Despite of so much decoration Dekotora trucks still retain their performance ability and are used as reliable workhorses.

You can see great variations in Dekotora truck design and art which often reflect the owner individual taste and choice.

Different types of Dekotora trucks

Dekotora trucks are styled in three different ways namely Kansai, Retro and Kanto.  Since 1990 onwards, these Dekotora have been greatly influenced by the art of Manga and Gundam.  Apart from these magazine influenced designs, it is very common to see decorations related to modern art or some of the retro design which bear resemblance to those found in the movie Trucker.

To show off the decoration of Decotora in the night time,  parts of trucks such as bumpers, the frame of the luggage rack and foils are illuminated using relay computer illumination patterns. Few people who don’t like all these decoration of Decotora do complain about that trucks look like a Pachinko parlors.

Owners of these decorated Japanese trucks ofte form groups or Dekotora communities. They organize shows to showcase Decotora trucks and arrange competitions for best decorated trucks. Prized Dekotora trucks are also showcased in some other events, as these giant trucks are also used as art promotion trucks .  Decotora shows are real crowd pullers, so the show surely becomes a hit.  If you ever visit Japan, keep your eyes open to spot these loudly decorated monster trucks.

Technorati Tags: Art trucks, Japan, Decotora, Dekotora, Dekotora trucks, Manga, Japanese trucks, trucks

Last week I had been to Odaiba in Tokyo, which is the new popular seaside tourist area of  Tokyo. There I got an opportunity to visit Toyota’s giant showroom known as Mega Web. As its slogan suggests “Look, Ride, Feel  Car Theme Park,” Toyota Mega Web is indeed an exceptional showroom on earth and truly a dreamland for all car lovers.

Through Mega Web, Toyota displays all its products and brands, so that people can get closer view of all their products and get an opportunity to look at the latest technology in auto Industry.  Mega web is a giant  showroom built over an area of 24,000 square meters, which includes Car Museum, Theme park, E-com Ride and History Garage.  It has over 150 cars on display of over 70 various models. Apart from the cars, there are plenty of other things to do there to keep us entertained throughout the visit.

The main attraction of this Mega Web is the Toyota City Showcase where every one can have a look at all the latest as well as future brand of Toyota models. Visitors can actually test drive these cars, but since I went there on a Saturday, the place was so crowded and needed prior reservation for a test drive. You can test drive even luxury cars like the Lexus. There is an outdoor driving course for all car enthusiasts who want to test drive and experience the magic.

Then there is the Mega Theater where one can experience rides called as Ride One or E-com (Electric Vehicle Commuter)  Ride.  Ride One gives opportunity for test drive but only thing needed is a valid driving license.  Kids section has also been included so they enjoy their 150m circuit drive known as Kids Hybrid Ride One.  I truly missed my kids, I wished I could have got them along with me. I, however, took advantage of this opportunity and tried my hands at the E-com ride.  This ride costs just around two hundred yen, and it is definitely worth spending few yen on this.

There are also other areas of the Toyota Mega web which provides rides – the History Garage and Universal Design Studio.  History Garage section of Mega Web is the one were you can go back in to the history of Toyota and find out all the vehicles manufactured by Toyota from 1950 – 1970.  The Universal Design Showcase is a great learning experience as you can have closer look on how cars specifically designed to better suit our lives.  Car museum section displays iconic cars from all over the world which includes brands other than Toyota also.

Other attraction of this Mega Web is “Hybrid Wonderland” section which showcases the green side of automobiles. This section is designed specially for all Furl Cell powered and hybrid cars created by Toyota.  So that people can gather more knowledge about relatively less used hybrid cars.  Other than Toyota’s products, you can also get to know its latest technology which is used to design different cars.

Inside the Toyota Megaweb there are many restaurants for visitor’s refreshment.  So on a whole, my visit to Toyota’s Mega Web was entertaining, knowledgeable and fulfilling.  So you all can also visit Mega Web with your family or friends and spent your whole day enjoying.  If you are planning to visit Japan, I definitely recommend you to visit Toyota Megaweb at Odaiba.

Technorati Tags: Toyota, Car museum, Toyota Megaweb, Japan, Odaiba

In Japan, the cost of maintaining a vehicle is very high and ¾ th of that cost is attributed to the fuel cost. This cost is very high especially for trucks, so Japanese Trucking industry is giving emphasis to what is called as Eco driving. Eco-driving is a driving technique which can help to curb emission of greenhouses gases and conserve fuel. In Japanese language eco-driving is called as ”eko-doraibu”. Eco driving can lead to safer driving, cost cutting and will be friendlier to both planet and human.

Fuel consumption in trucks is influenced by three factors, namely, driver operation, driving circumstances which are outside the control of the driver and the vehicle itself. Significant amount of fuel can be saved just by practicing fuel conservative driving habits.  Tests show that a truck having average of about 35,000 miles yearly could alone reduce fuel consumption by more than 1,200 gallons just by using eco-driving techniques.

Research has shown that one can easily drive at a speed of around 30 km/hr without pressing accelerator even once, when one starts the vehicle slowly in low gear and engages the clutch. One can save about five cc of fuel this way. Moreover while running the truck there is no need for drivers to use accelerator as engines (rpm) revolutions per minute is very high. One should try to maintain steady speed while driving trucks which reduces the need for accelerating and decelerating trucks, which ultimately can help to cut down the fuel consumption.

If the speed of truck is reduced by 5 to 10 miles per hour while driving on highway; fuel economy can be enhanced up to 12% or even more. Idling of truck for long time also wastes fuel.

Make sure that tyres are properly inflated and avoid unnecessary use of the exhaust brake. It is advisable to use engine brakes as it requires longer distance to slow down the truck and fuel consumption is less. Other precaution to be taken to reduce the fuel consumption is to minimize the usage of electrical accessories, particularly air conditioning which can increase fuel consumption.

Thus Eco-driving is a cheap, simple and effective way to suppress about 10% fuel-burning CO2 spillage of every driver, which is large amount if properly applied to every type of vehicle usage. Japanese Government sponsors programmes promoting eco-driving with training campaigns, eco-driving program models and public events. Japanese truck manufacturers such as Isuzu also encourage eco-driving concept.

Technorati Tags: Japan, Japanese Truck, Eco driving, fuel consumption, Isuzu

Last weekend  I was lucky to find time for my family to take them out for cherry blossoms viewing.  Kyoto is undoubtedly the best place in Japan for viewing cherry blossoms and it is just 30 minutes drive from my home in Osaka.  Former capital of Japan, Kyoto is very famous for its scenic beauty  and it is a pleasure for eyes to watch its enhanced beauty during the Cherry Blossoms season.

Cherry blossom are special highlights of spring in Japan. Very few countries have the pink cherry trees which get covered wholly by flowers.  Though Cherry blossom can be seen only for week or so around April first week, those few days are the most glowing days of kyoto.  Many tourists visit Japan specially to experience the beautiful cherry blossoms also known as Sakura in Japanese language.

Japanese people love to sit under the cherry trees with their friends and families and watch the beautiful blossoms while eating and drinking – this style of flower viewing is also called as Hanami. In Kyoto,  the main attraction is “Cherry Blossom” festivals which take place everywhere in Kyoto during this time. Apart from this, “Cherry Blossom Dance” is another attraction of this season.  Different places in Kyoto experience different types of cherry blossom viewing.  Heian Shrine experiences  ‘weeping cherry-blossom’ trees while in Path of Philosophy one can leisurely walk through the shelter of  blossoms.

The short lived beauty of cherry blossoms has inspired many poets and philosophers in Japan. The Philosopher’s path  or ‘Tetsugaku no Michi’ in Kyoto is the special street lined by cherry trees, where many poets and philosophers indulged in their creative pursuits.

If you are coming to Osaka for buying Japanese cars from the used car auctions, you must have a visit to Kyoto in your itinerary. It is here you can get to know the real old Japanese culture.  Kyoto’s beauty also attracts many film makers to carry out shooting in its beautiful locations. Kyoto’s cuisines are equally famous for their taste. In Kyoto  can also get numerous types of delicacies which can be Buddhist due to its great influence in Kyoto and also different varieties of vegetarian food.

Technorati Tags: cherry blossoms, Kyoto, Japan, Sakura, Japanese, Hanami, Philosopher’s path, Japanese cars, used car auctions

When I was watching Japan TV news this week, I was amazed to see a humanoid female robot which could not only walk and talk but also express emotions such as smiles, anger, and surprise!

This robot named HRP-4C is developed by scientists at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, in Tsukuba city, near Tokyo.  And this very robot will make a special appearance in Tokyo fashion show, next week. So models like Kate Moss and Agyness Deyn are going to have an ageless competitor now as they do the catwalk!

This robot has been created for the entertainment industry, and will go  on sale for about 20 million yen (US$200,000).  I wonder who will buy this robot at such a high price in this time of economic downturn.

The female robot has a feminine Japanese face, large doe-like eyes, a small nose and shoulder length straight hair.  It is 5′2″ tall, about the average height of Japanese women, and has 42 motion motors programmed to mimic the human like movements.

You can watch a preview of the video of this robot taken at Tsukuba city.

Technorati Tags: Japan, female robot, HRP-4C, Tokyo fashion show, Japanese

We wish all our customers and well-wishers a Very Happy New Year. Hope this new year will bring joy, prosperity and happiness to you.  And please don’t forget to enjoy safe driving.

In Japan, New Year (shogatsu) is an important holiday season. Most businesses are closed in the first week of January.  Japanese people would typically be with their families to welcome the new year together.

January 1 is considered a very auspicious day in Japan.  It is best to start the new year by going to temple or shrine to offer prayers and watching the first sunrise (hatsu-hinode).  People clean their houses, shops and offices before the commencement of the new year. The new year day is supposed be full of joy and free of stress and anger and people prefer not to work on this day. However, many young people take this opportunity of a long holiday to visit nearby countries for vacation.

For those who can not visit Japan to welcome the new year in Japanese style, I am posting here a picture of sunrise at the Itsukushima shrine in Miyajima island, near Hiroshima. It is considered as one of the three most scenic places in Japan.

Technorati Tags: Japan, New Year, Japanese, Miyajima

Sega Toys, a Japanese firm has created a 15 inch tall  girlfriend robot that will go on sale in September for around $170 (18,000 yen), and will target a market of lonely adult men in Japan.

The robot girlfriend may not be tall and blonde, but she doesn’t complain about dirty socks ! She is big-busted, petite, very friendly, and she runs on batteries. She can sing, dance and – should the occasion require it – hand out business cards. She could prove to be a good companion for lonely-hearted men everywhere; she can even kiss on command. The friendly robot is named “Ema”  standing for Eternal Maiden Actualization.

Sega Toys says they want to break the stereotyoe image of robots where the robots are associated with strong, tough and battle-ready, and want to provide a robot which is friendly and interactive.

There will be a big demand for this friendly robot when it will be released.  If any of you would like to own this robot, I can arrange to get one for you.

Technorati Tags: Japanese, girlfriend, robot, Japan

Kinokawa is a small town in Wakayama prefecture of western Japan. There is nothing special about this town, but a cat named Tama has made the town very famous in Japan.

Tama, a 9 year old calico cat is appointed as stationmaster of Kishi Station in Kinokawa. She has been officially working for last two years. Two other cats were named deputy stationmasters at the same Kishi Station. Stationmaster Tama, wearing a formal railway uniform cap, and two other cats often welcome passengers at the unmanned Kishi Station. The railway company feeds her in lieu of salary.

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In Japan, you will often see small sculptures of lucky cat called Maneki Neko. These cats are supposed to bring luck.  Tama is also bringing luck to Kinokawa town. The station went unmanned in April 2006 as the railway line was losing money. But since Tama was appointed as the stationmaster, number of passengers using the line increased dramatically. The Wakayama railway company  expressed its appreciation of the cat’s role in boosting business by promoting her to super stationmaster and also by giving her a spacious stationmaster’s office equipped with a ventilation fan and a toilet.

The operator of the grocery shop at the station has been keeping the three cats. Tama became a national star when she appeared in books and documentaries.  She is also set to appear in a French documentary film about wonder cats around the world.

Technorati Tags: Kinokawa, Japan, Tama, cat, Station, stationmasters, Maneki Neko