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Mar 04 2009 7 Comments

Japanese far-right failure?

Japanese regulations restricting exhaust emissions have obviously resulted in cleaner air in the capital, but it’s arguable that they have also helped rid the roads of at least some of the city’s right-wing nationalists, as many of their venom-spouting vans may not have met the new requirements.

Japanese nationalist vans

However, as satisfying as it is to see these harbingers of hate lying silent and subdued, with one of their ill-informed ilk — albeit of the slightly watered down variety — ensconced as master of this major metropolis,

Japanese nationalist vans

and a Prime Minister unapologetic at best about the past,

Japanese nationalist vans

these rotting relics are seemingly set to be perpetually replaced by more modern models.

Japanese nationalist vans

Utterly unlike their message,

Japanese nationalist vans

which remains rooted in reverse.

Japanese nationalist vans

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. S in Shanghai says

    3/4/2009 at 7:22 pm

    Abandoned car haikyo. That’s new.

    /S

    Reply
  2. Lee says

    3/4/2009 at 7:34 pm

    Yeah, I can’t find anymore buildings in and around Tokyo, so I’ve had to resort to cars.

    It could well be bicycles next!

    Reply
  3. andru says

    3/4/2009 at 11:16 pm

    Hardly seen this site in Japan though.

    Reply
  4. thejapaneseeye says

    3/5/2009 at 8:43 am

    Nice shots as usual Lee – I wonder where you found them!

    Reply
  5. mfeige says

    3/5/2009 at 5:12 pm

    Hi,

    I lived in Japan for two years during middle school and a couple of subsequent summers. It’s now been years since I’ve been and needless to say I miss it terribly. I recently found your website and it has cured some of my “homesickness.” I’m blown away by your photos. Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed them.

    Thanks

    Reply
  6. Lee says

    3/5/2009 at 5:28 pm

    Came across them when out cycling thejapaneeeye. I didn’t realise I was that far out, but the vans were registered in Hachioji.

    And thank you very much mfeige. Glad you like the pictures and that they help a little with those understandable feelings of “homesickness”.

    Reply
  7. Makito says

    3/9/2009 at 1:39 am

    It’s got powered seat controls! wow… so ahead of their time. Even today, it’s still “optional” on many cars….

    Reply

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