Dekotora: Japan's Extravagant Decorated Trucks

Fascinated by Japanese culture, we at Neoteo are always on the lookout for the strangest customs of the Land of the Rising Sun. We've covered everything from crazy inventions called chindogu, female pro wrestling, the wild architecture of their public baths, the art of sleeping on the job, and the world's most adorable and colorful café, among other things. Now it's time for the dekotora, Japan's extravagant decorated trucks.

The origin of the dekotora

Around the world, people love to decorate their motor vehicles. Cars, motorcycles, pickups, buses, and of course, trucks. That's nothing new. But the way the Japanese do it, as always, goes off the scale. Outlandish and extreme to the max for the exterior, dekotora uses giant illustrations, LED lights, neon lights, custom parts, and chrome, among other things. The interior often features colorful upholstery, cushions, dolls, and many other cute things. All very kitsch, as you'll see in the images.

This artistic movement began in the 1970s, inspired by a TV series called Torakku Yaro ("The Men of the Truck"), starring very funny truck drivers. Produced by Toei, Torakku Yaro aired from 1975 to 1979 and spawned 10 films, gaining millions of fans across Japan. And when animated mecha series like mechas in the style of Gundam started airing in the 90s, the influence was undeniable.

Beyond its clear film and television inspiration, dekotora also owes a lot to the scarce accessibility of transport vehicles in Japan in the early 1970s, mostly in fishing regions. Those who needed a cargo vehicle had to build their own from parts of other vehicles, such as tour buses, military trucks, large pickups, etc. So, since everyone had to build their own truck, nothing stopped them from doing it with style.

Now let's take a look at the spectacular photographs of the best dekotora in Japan. The credits for each image are below, and most belong to Robert Benson, Carters News Agency, and The Grosby Group.