Tokyo Auto Salon 2017 was all about cars and girls

Tokyo Auto Salon 2017 seems like so many years ago now.  But it was enormous fun, eventually.  I  don’t remember the exact problem, but I desperately needed a dentist on the morning of the show.  So, I got to the venue, Makuhari Messe in Chiba prefecture, very late. I didn’t photograph as much as I wanted, but I got some pictures.  Cars and models were excellent painkillers.

There were so many Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Porsches.  Expensive cars filled the venue. It made my head spin, thinking about how much the whole lot was worth.  But if you were on a budget, there were Toyotas, Hondas, Triumphs, BMWs, Nissans, and a few more!  It was a petrolhead’s dream.

Every car at Tokyo Auto Salon 2017 was a custom creation.   It was all about the bling.  I saw enormous sound systems in vans.  A Lamborghini covered in Pikachus.  Crystals covered a Mercedes.  Gorgeous models were everywhere.  I saw so much, but it’s impossible to write about it all here.

There is one thing I must comment about, and it’s not about the cars. It’s the models. Whenever I go to these events, I love photographing them. It’s not only because many are photogenic; modeling is hard work.  Some of them have an incredible work ethic.  Imagine standing next to a car in some (usually) quite revealing outfit.  Then add high heels.  And you have to pose for some photographers who are probably more interested in you than the vehicle.  Keep doing that until your shift is over.

I’d find that daunting. These girls did it and posed for every photo with great enthusiasm. Their stamina was incredible. I appreciated their efforts. Modeling is not an easy job.

Some big car companies like Nissan and Subaru occupied a lot of space.  But, their displays seemed more mainstream, more conservative.  They lacked that special “bling .” In my opinion, they were more suited to the Tokyo Motor Show (which came up later that year).  With time ticking away, I made a quick judgment about what to photograph, took a few snaps, and moved on.

Business Day for Tokyo Auto Salon 2017 seemed smaller than in previous years.  That didn’t matter because it was still enjoyable. The cars and models were great. I wish I didn’t have to go to the dentist that morning!

Tokyo Auto Salon 2017 camera gear:

  • Body: Pentax K-3
  • Lens: SMC Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR

If you want to see more car show articles, look at:

For external links with great photos from Tokyo Auto Salon 2017

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.  And for those of you who have been to any Tokyo Auto Salon, let us know what you think of it.  It would be nice to hear other people’s experiences.

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