http://www.tofugu.com/2012/01/12/dekotora-dekochari/
Dekotora or “decoration trucks” emerged when the Japanese series “Truck Guys” came out in 1975 [1]. The plot of the story involves two men who travel across Japan in their decorated trucks, basically fighting crime and protecting people and being portrayed as heroes.
[1] http://www.tofugu.com/2012/01/12/dekotora-dekochari/
http://blog.livedoor.jp/iketerutruck/
Since the series came out, hobbyists and truck drivers with day to day jobs such as delivering vegetables or fish have joined the Dekotora truck scene, using their own money to decorate their trucks. A separate generator is equipped in order to be able to power all the lights. These decorated trucks are made purely for fun and serve no other purpose but to gather people together of similar interests and to show off the wild side that is Japan.
Dekotora trucks have loud style, using many decoration elements such as chrome, bright colorful lights, and even chandeliers as interior decoration. Since the 1990s, the Dekotora scene was influenced by Gundam, a popular anime featuring giant robots. The trucks implemented more angular features and overall giving off a robotic look. The style of Dekotora has remained the same since.
Dekotora trucks are actually not that common in Japan relative to other car scenes, but it is one of many cool things that Japan has to offer if you can find one.
The video below is one of many gatherings held by owners of Dekotora trucks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98wRWl1GoRo
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Where can I visit to see this Dekotora Trucks in Japan, Tokyo?
Please help and kindly advise me. As i am going to Japan this year 2017 winter.
Please help me….
[…] it's cool, but would not live there. Kinda how I like these Japanese trucks, but I don't want one. Japanese Dekotora Trucks ⒷⓊⒷⒷⓁⒺⓈ Reply With […]
Woah! I had never seen this before, but very cool. I thought the original Transformers cartoon came from Gundam in Japan- were these trucks inspired by Gundam, or the other way around? Just curious what the link is. Awesome photos!
The trucks look so cool for me. This kind of truck culture is so different with the American truck culture shown in class. I can’t imagine how awesome it is to deliver food with these fantastic trucks.
These trucks are really cool. I can see why people gather to see them. I like that the interiors are also decorated. I’d guess the owners spend a lot of time hanging out in their trucks. The trucks remind me a little bit of a carnival, and a bit of Las Vegas, what with all the lights, and the colors. It would be neat to see one or more of these trucks driving down the street, lit up or not.