Tokyo Auto Salon

The Tokyo Auto Salon (東京オートサロン, Tokyo Ōto Saron) is an annual auto show held in January at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba City, Japan for Performance and custom dress-up parts and technology display. Hosted by the Nippon Auto Parts Aftermarket Committee (NAPAC).

Mercedes at Tokyo Auto Salon 2010

The Tokyo Auto Salon is one of the top motor shows globally for modified and tuned cars. The 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon featured 802 vehicles, 452 exhibitors, and 3,608 booths that offered aftermarket accessories for purchase. There are also after-market parts manufacturers, custom shops, care manufacturers, automotive businesses, and automotive vocational schools. There are not only custom cars and after-market manufacturers, there is also live entertainment. Top musicians from around the world and talk shows hosting famous drivers and celebrities can be seen at the Tokyo Auto Salon. One of the more popular forms of entertainment are the “booth babes” who are popular among the spectators and photographers alike. “Booth babes” tend to have a following of fans from various other auto shows throughout the year. The 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon saw manufacturers such as Toyota showcase a range of modified vehicles, from a Land Cruiser with 46-inch tyres to a Gazoo Racing GT86.^[1]

Honda EV-STER at Tokyo Auto Salon 2012

The Tokyo Auto Salon has been held for the past 27 years. The exhibition takes place every year in January. On the opening Friday, entry to the exhibition is permitted from 9am to 6pm for those with business or press invitation and includes a special preview at 1pm (TASA, 2013). On Saturday, the show is open to the public from 9am to 6pm, and on Sunday from 9am to 5pm. The main promoter for the Tokyo Auto Salon is the Tokyo Auto Salon Association (TASA). The affiliate co-promoter is NAPAC (Nippon Auto Parts- Product After-Market Promotional Committee). The Chiba Prefecture government, Chiba City government, Avex Entertainment Inc., San-Eisyobo Publishing Co., Ltd., Idea Inc., and the Option-Land Global Communications Association are all affiliate sponsors and supporting organizations.

The Tokyo Auto Salon takes place at Makuhari Messe. The Tokyo Auto Salon’s popularity has grown resulting in an increases from 8 halls to 11 halls at the Makuhari Messe. The 2012 Auto Salon required a space of 54,000sqm, while the 2013 Auto salon increased to a space of 72,000sqm (Wijayasinha,2013). Makuhari Messe is one of the leading comprehensive convention facilities in Japan. It is a full-scale convention complex with three large-scale facilities, which are the International Exhibition Hall, International Conference Hall, and Makuhari Event Hall. It also contains a parking lot that can facilitate 6,000 vehicles. There are also six international hotels located within walking distance from the convention center. The convention center host tradeshows, exhibitions, international conferences, ceremonies, parties, symposiums, concerts, sports events, and fashion shows all year round. [3]

Access to Makuhari Meese: -To Makuharihongou station: Take JR Sobu-line from Shinkuku area -To Makuharihongou station: Take Keisei Chiba-line from Ueno area Take the bus (to Makuhari messe Marin Stadium) from Makuharihongou station. It takes about 15 minutes. -To Kaihinmakuhari station: Take JR Keiyou-line from Tokyo station -Kaihinmakuhari station: Subway (Yurakucho line) connects JR Keiyo-line It is about 5 minutes walk from kaihinmakuhari station to makuhari Messe (TokyoAutoSalon.com, 2013)

In 2012 the Tokyo Auto Salon held a show in Thailand. This marked the first year the Tokyo Auto Salon granted a license to a Thai enterprise to host the Auto Show under its brand. This was also the first automotive performance and custom parts show held in Thailand. The show featured more than 30 award-winning concept cars imported from Japan, as well as other premium and eco friendly vehicles (Santivimolant, 2012). For the 1st time in its illustrious 30-year history, Tokyo Auto Salon will be coming to the shores of Singapore. With the full support of the Tokyo Auto Salon Association (TASA) of Japan, Singapore’s leading media company MediaCorp and Muse Group will jointly unveil “Tokyo Auto Salon Singapore 2013” at the Marina Bay Sands resort from April 12–14, 2013. The Singapore exhibition’s purpose it to create a healthy culture for cars that promotes legal modifications. Organizers of the Singapore show hope to hold future shows that show modifications that would be legal for car enthusiasts(Jek, 2013).

At the 2013 Auto Salon, car manufactures introuduced new concept features to older models. Nissan introuduced modified versions of their 2012 line of Juke, Note, Fairlady Z, and GT-R models. The new modifications kept with the “green” trend in vehicle features, which included increased engine output and improved aerodynamics. Nissan’s highlight debut for the 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon, was the unveiling of the NV350 Caravan Rider Transporter. The caravan was specifically made for the Tokyo Auto Salon and is a cross between a commercial can and a leisure cruising vehicle. Nissan also showed up to the Auto Salon with race cars like the Motul Autech GT-R (Bowman, 2012). Honda, a Japanese motor company, showed up to the Tokyo Auto Salon with a series of 10 vehicles in the N-One mini family. Models included the N-One Modulo style, Mugen Racing N-One Concept, and an N-One model created by the Japan Nailist Association. Honda also brought with them an “exhibition model” S2000 Modulo (Bowman, 2012). This model reflects an old roadster. This is the first time this model has been seen since it left production in 2009. A design study is being presented on Honda’s CR-V as well as the CR-Z Mugen RZ. The later of which will only produce 300 units (Lienert, 2012).

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tokyo Auto Salon.

• Official Tokyo Auto Salon website
• http://www.napac.jp/ NAPAC (Japanese)
• http://www.ccb.or.jp/e/makuhari/index.html
• https://www.facebook.com/TokyoautosalonSG/

References