The Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show returned in 2021
The Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show returned for its pre-30th time in 2021. Pre-30th? Yes, with the event canceled in 2020, it seemed like the best name. No one likes to see great car events wasted. I was very happy to be back there.
But it meant I was up at 4 AM for the train to Pacifico Yokohama. That was quite hard, especially as it was a cold morning. And getting a local train there was a little taxing. Maybe one year, I’ll go a little later!
What can I say about the show? The hotrods were mind-blowing. Their creators had put so much time and effort into them. Many were true classics. Of course, modern designs were there, too.
This year, with restrictions still in place on visitors to Japan, there were no foreign cars. That was a real pity. I wanted to catch up with some whom I hadn’t seen since the 2019 show. Hopefully, I’ll do that in the future. It would be nice to see their new works.
And the best car? Like every show, that is a tricky question to answer. I saw a lot I liked. There were some awesome motorbikes and caravans too. But if you twisted my arm and forced an answer, I’d probably say the 1950 Buick. The lines and color of the car captivated me. Its owner must be proud of it.
As always, it was one cool hot rod among many! I guess a few escaped on my camera on the day. That couldn’t be helped as many cars and bikes were at the Pan Pacifico convention/exhibit center. I hope the event gets more exposure to help Tokyo/Japan tourism.
The Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show started thirty years ago, in 1991. At that time, they started with only thirty cars. Only a tiny part of the exhibit center was used. Now there isn’t any space left! How much more can it grow?
I’d like to thank the organizers, Mooneyes Japan, for inviting me to the event. It was appreciated! Next year’s 30th-anniversary event should be a blast. We’ll see what happens! I hope I can go. Leave questions and comments below.
Hot Rod Custom Show event photo gear:
- Camera Body: Fujifilm X-T3
- Lens: Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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