---
title: "Japan’s ‘Dekotora’ Custom Trucks Combine Giant Gundam Cosplay, Light Shows, and Edo Art"
description: "Dekotora 'Decoration Trucks' is Japan at its best."
date: "2017-05-24"
modified: "2017-05-24"
authors:
  - name: "Danny Choy"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/danny-choy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/article/10578/japans-dekotora-custom-trucks-combine-giant-gundam-cosplay-light-shows-and-edo-art"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Trucks"
---

# Japan’s ‘Dekotora’ Custom Trucks Combine Giant Gundam Cosplay, Light Shows, and Edo Art

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/05/dekotora-lowstyle-japan.png>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

When did Japan's love affair with car customization begin? We don't have a clue, but before we saw [street drifters](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BggHmiYDALs>) in the '90s, [*Shakotan*](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUZG0rZAos4>) cars in the '80s, and [*Bosozoku*](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C5%8Ds%C5%8Dzoku>) tribes in the '70s, there was a subculture called *Dekotora* that began 50 years ago.

The Japanese term *Dekotora* is a portmanteau of "Decorated Truck," and despite the massive size of these machines, the information available regarding the subculture's origins is rather thin. In a documentary short by [Great Big Story](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7YETRPILaQ>) embedded below, *Dekotora* veteran Junichi Tajima said the wild truck movement started almost 50 years ago, while he as built three *Dekotoras* over the span of 35 years himself.

Though customizers in the States tend to worry more about things such as how much power they can get by supercharging their hot rod, Japan's *Dekotoras* are purely aesthetic in nature. Enthusiasts combine massive amounts of chrome, neon lights with flaked paint jobs, and extravagant Edo-period style hand-painted murals across the length of the box. In the cabin, lavish upholstery and even chandeliers on the roof make *Dekotoras* just as special inside as they are on the outside.

"You can't worry about money when you modify a truck like this. the value of a *dekotora* is more spiritual," Tajima-San said. "You can express your way of life, your hometown, your family all through the decorations."

On Tuesday, YouTube channel [lowstyle.japan](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NtsRrT-sBU>) shared a group of *Dekotora* trucks pulling into a VIP car meet and completely stealing the show. Check out the incredible trucks below:

https://youtube.com/embed/z7YETRPILaQ

https://youtube.com/embed/8NtsRrT-sBU

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