JDM & Beyond - The Worldwide Influence of Japanese Automobiles

Presented by

In terms of cultural recognition, Japanese Domestic Market cars (JDM) are among the most popular genres of vehicles in all corners of the world right now. In the US, the 25-year import rule unlocked a treasure trove of automotive nostalgia, granting enthusiasts access to iconic models previously out of reach. In Japan, there has been serious automotive enthusiasm in the country for decades, and through popular movies like the Fast & Furious series, the world has the same obsession for the special and unique cars that come out of Japan.

Brands like Honda and Subaru have humble beginnings producing cars mainly for Japan but became known internationally with efficient economy cars such as the Honda Civic and Subaru 360. In the decades that followed, the major Japanese brands extended their reach into every realm of the automotive world.

 After years of engineering progress, the Nissan Skyline GT-R and Toyota Supra quickly became two of the world's most popular cars after showing dominance over major German and Italian sports cars. From there, the popularity of Japanese cars (and motorcycles) skyrocketed.

With incredible enthusiasm for Japanese cars, the people behind them, and the many different corners of Japanese car culture including drift cars and tuner cars, the cars of this nation stand among the most fascinating in the world today.