Global Courant 2023-04-25 07:58:01
TOKYO – Mr. Yosuke Takahata doesn’t care what people think of his “itasha” car, which has his favorite anime character – a sexy, red-eyed horse woman – adorned on both sides.
For him and other owners across Japan, sticking cartoon pictures on their vehicles is just another way to pay homage to their two-dimensional true loves.
“Itasha” means “hair-raising car,” a reflection of the misfit image the vehicles had when they first hit the road about 20 years ago.
But perceptions are starting to change, with anime and other hobby subcultures gaining new mainstream acceptance in Japan.
It’s all the same for Mr. Takahata, a 31-year-old car shop employee, for whom it’s not about being cool.
“It’s the character I like, and that’s all that matters,” he said, holding an umbrella to keep the rain off his defiantly old-fashioned mullet.
Riding around with the busty Daiwa Scarlet from the manga and anime series Uma Musume Pretty Derby means he can “always be with the character,” he said.
After all, if he were concerned about others judging his fully bespoke Jaguar XJ saloon, he would have “nowhere to drive”.
Itasha owners can spend thousands of dollars to pimp their rides with huge vinyl decals, turning their cars, motorcycles or even caravans into a canvas.
Mr. Shota Sato, who works at another car shop, describes owning an itasha as “an extension of a character’s picture on your phone”.
The 26-year-old and his friends have all decorated their cars with various cute characters from the Lucky Star anime, and they often drive together.
