I have a somewhat milestone-ish birthday tomorrow that I wasn’t making a big deal of and would rather kind of ignore, but then my wife insisted I tell her something I wanted. I kind of joked and said I’d wanted to attend the Tokyo Motor Show since I was in high school reading about it in the various magazines, but had no idea when it was. She checked and while it’s held every other year, this happens to be one of them and it’s coming up in a couple of weeks! Five minutes later she found a round trip ticket for $403 (of which literally 95% is fees and taxes) from LA-Beijing-Tokyo and booked me on it. This morning I got the press credential that gets me in the show during the press days (and is curiously gender non-specific for some reason), of which I’ll miss the first day but I’m counting on the jet lag to get me up bright and early for the second day.
The Tokyo Show is still far enough away from here and different enough culturally to appeal to me, unlike many of the others where most everything has already been revealed by the time they roll around. I’m looking forward to seeing some interesting things there and hopefully share them with you…
In any case I have a few other things I want to see and do in Tokyo but if anyone is around I’d be happy to meet up for something (but no karaoke!) Our two Japan-based contributors are still checking their new work travel and vacation plan schedules so time will tell in that regard but if there are others out there let me know; I’m aware it’s a long shot. Either post here or send an email to CurbsideClassic@gmail.com and I will respond. If I don’t then it didn’t come through so please try again.
I haven’t been to Japan since 2005 and look forward to exploring Tokyo again but probably won’t travel anywhere else this time as opposed to the last time. There’s more than enough to see and do in Tokyo for a week as a solo traveler without a load on my back…Perhaps I’ll see you!
” curiously gender non-specific for some reason”
In the Japanese language, the honorific “-san” is gender neutral, and is the go-to title when dealing with people outside your personal circle.
In contrast, our strange language:
1) Really does not have a non-gender specific title (I guess “Dude” comes close…).
2) Has any number of first names which are not gender specific.
I’d assume using “Mr/Mrs” is their solution to these issues. By placing both honorifics on the pass, they avoid the (extreme) embarrassment of mis-identifying Jim Grey’s gender.
Enjoy your trip!
Wow — have a great time! I can’t meet up there (obviously), but I agree that the Tokyo show would be the most appealing of the major auto shows… can’t wait to hear about it in a few weeks.
Jim, I hope you give us a full report from the show’s Mitsuoka display!
What’s the secret to getting press credentials? CC really needs an on-the-scene report from SEMA, and we know a guy who lives in Vegas 🙂
Perfect, we can all stay with you then; yo, the party’s at Evan’s! 🙂
There’s no big secret to it, being an editor or frequent contributor for a publication such as CC is usually enough, sometimes you are asked for examples of your work or they will go and look it up. I think even a contributor that writes regularly would/could qualify. It depends on the event too most likely and things seem to change from year to year. The first year that I got a badge for the Denver Auto Show for example was simple, I just had to ask and stated where I wrote, the next year they wanted me to join an association and jump through a bunch of hoops (I skipped that and paid $6 like everyone else on the public days) and then earlier this year I got invited to their press day without even having to ask. Sometimes the public days are actually better, there’s always somebody who decides they need to shoot a half-hour video for YouTube while sitting in the driver’s seat of the car you really want to check out; it’s not like the place is deserted and you have the run of it either.
Could be a bit far the only CC member I’m likely to see is the Skyliner since I’m currently based in his town and only them if hes exercising his Sierra there arent many around now so it could only be him.
Wow, this would be great, what with our relatives and friends in Japan. I even have those days already booked for holidays. But, and there is always a but, the reason I have those holidays is we are moving. Pack on the 28th, load on the 29th and unload on the 30th. Our next trip to Japan will be in 2021. So jealous, and looking forward to detailed reports! Have fun and hopefully no typhoons (there is one for this weekend that may impact the F1 race and rugby world cup).
Earmarked the weekend of 26 / 27 October for a Tokyo trip. See you there, Jim-san.
And happy birthday!
Thank you, looking forward to it!
Well, this sounds like a fabulous way to celebrate a birthday. Will this be the first meetup you have not driven to? Maybe you could take a rental Corolla and drive it onto an air transport carrier, then continue to the show in Tokyo upon arrival. Though probably not for $403. Oh well, sacrifices must be made.
I will look forward to dispatches from Tokyo.
I didn’t drive to the St. Louis one, but as you may recall was forced to drive home…I’m using a non-US carrier this time, hoping to avoid a similar outcome.
Hi Jim! My lurvly wife & I are going too, already have accommodations booked close to Tokyo Big Sight though we haven’t decided on the specific days we’ll attend. I lived in Japan from ’99-’00 and attended the ’99 Tokyo Motor Show, what a surreal and awesome time! Also as the stay will span Halloween, we’re bringing our Mighty Boosh costumes: Old Gregg and Howard, woo!
Great! I’ll be over in the Shinjuku area but can get anywhere from there I think. I’ll send you an email offline in the next couple of days and perhaps we can work something out.
Hi Jim. Our northern Japan leaf viewing trip is 20-22 Oct so will be back in Tokyo for the Motor Show – I’m looking at going on fourth or fifth day as crowds tend to thin out then..
If you’d like to get together in the Shinjuku area close to your hotel, let me know. There are a number of good “Tonkatsu” places nearby…very tasty and inexpensive if you haven’t tried. Jim
Tasty and Inexpensive are two words I like to live by so yes, that’s a go! Thanks and enjoy the leaves, I do want to hear more about that as well, it sounds interesting and I’m assuming it has nothing to do with looking at a bunch of electric Nissans…