Tokyo Auto Salon 2017: Cars, Culture, and a Dental Crisis

A Pikachu-themed Lamborghini at Tokyo Auto Salon 2017.

Tokyo Auto Salon 2017 happened long ago. It was enormous fun, eventually. But my first problem was fixing a tooth problem. I was in tremendous pain and needed a dentist that morning. Luckily, he was free and saw me immediately. That cost me thirty minutes, and I scrambled to the station to make up for lost time. So, I got to the venue, Makuhari Messe in Chiba prefecture, late, still with some discomfort in my right jaw. That was okay because cars and models were excellent painkillers.

A silver engraved Kuhl Racing Toyota Vellfire at Tokyo Auto Salon 2017.

A Super GT Denso Lexus on the crowded display floor of Tokyo Auto Salon 2017.

Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Porsches filled the exhibit halls. My head spun just trying to calculate the total value in the room. Toyotas, Hondas, Triumphs, BMWs, and Nissans were there for anyone on a budget. Staff were busy polishing the vehicles constantly, on the lookout for fingerprints.

A race queen poses next to a car at Tokyo Auto Salon 2017.

Custom supercars: From crystal Mercedes to Pikachu Lamborghinis

Many cars at Tokyo Auto Salon 2017 were custom creations. Bling was the name of the game. Enormous sound systems were squeezed into small vans. Lamborghinis had Pikachus on them. Crystals covered a Mercedes. Anything you could imagine for a car, the creators could build. It was a petrol head’s dream.

A Mercedes coupe covered with Swarovski crystals at Tokyo Auto Salon 2017.

Tokyo Auto Salon models (race queens): True professionals

The models interested me deeply. They were everywhere. The more I observed, the more I began to look past the glamour and see something else entirely. I saw girls who had an incredible work ethic. They were professional and had a high level of endurance.

A black Toyota Mark X GT 300 at Tokyo Auto Salon 2017.

A model clad in leather poses next to a red Mercedes.

Imagine standing next to a car in some (usually) quite revealing outfit. Add high heels. Pose for photographers who might have more interest in you than the vehicle. Keep doing that until your shift is over. They must be exhausted by the end of each day.

The work must be daunting, yet they posed for every photo with an infectious enthusiasm. I gained a real appreciation for their incredible stamina, which drove home the point that modeling is much harder than it looks.

A sound system mounted in the back a of small purple van.

Comparing corporate displays: Nissan and Subaru

Major car companies, like Nissan and Subaru, occupied much space. But their displays seemed more mainstream, more conservative. Hopefully, they won’t “gentrify” the show.

A red Porsche 911 GTR 3RS at a Japanese car show.

A black and white Dodge Challenger SRT at Tokyo Auto Salon.

These companies lacked that special “bling.” Tokyo Motor Show (now Tokyo Mobility Show might be more their thing. Time was ticking away, so I took a few snaps and moved on.

Reflecting on Tokyo Auto Salon 2017

Business Day for Tokyo Auto Salon 2017 seemed smaller than in previous years. That didn’t matter because it was enjoyable. I left with one regret that day. Spending time at the dentist wasn’t fun. Taking photos of cars and models is. I wanted more time with them. To learn more about the event, check out the official website.