660 attractive custom cars gathered
Now it’s time for the 27th Osaka Auto Messe 2024, western Japan’s largest entertainment motor show, to be held for three days from today (10 Feb 2024). This year, a record 286 exhibitors and 660 vehicles will gather at INTEX Osaka. Each hall was filled with the rich customization fun that only Osaka can offer, which differs from Tokyo. However, these snapshots are only a small part of the large venue. If you are a car enthusiast, you will have a blast, so be sure to visit INTEX Osaka!
A feature of the exhibition is the close proximity between exhibitors and visitors
In addition to the Osaka Auto Messe, one of the best car events in Japan, there is the Tokyo Auto Salon held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. So what is the difference between these two events? Simply put, Tokyo is a ‘car show’, while Osaka is a ‘festival’. The former is a glamorous event, whereas the latter is more like a large showroom, with vehicles on display in a flat area.
The shops also use the show as an opportunity to present their products once a year. There is a sense of “let’s build cars for the show” and “let’s stand out at the show and get excited” together with customers, and there are “naughty” and “flashy” cars that are rarely seen in Tokyo. Another feature of Osaka is that there are “naughty” and “flashy” cars, which are rarely seen in Tokyo.
Another difference from the Auto Salon is that you can see flashy customized Honda Civics and mini cars from the Heisei era, which strongly convey the culture of the “Kanjozoku”, the “Circle Tribe” that took the world by storm. In any case, the show covers a wide range of genres and, moreover, the distance between exhibitors, visitors, and visitors is very close. There are likes and dislikes, but I strongly feel that Osaka’s car culture/customization is strongly oriented towards making things cool with one’s own values.
This may be largely due to the development of Osaka’s automobile industry as a ‘manufacturing town’. In particular, Higashi-Osaka is known for its automotive metalworking industry and is dotted with companies and shops of all sizes, with RAYS, WORK, and others at the top of the list. The fact that aftermarket parts such as aluminium wheels, mufflers, and aero parts are still being manufactured, continue to set trends, and support the customization market is also a major factor. One of the attractions of this area is that you can experience the fun of manufacturing.
In recent years, many automobile manufacturers have entered the market, and booths with a glamorous atmosphere have increased, but what lies at the heart of Osaka Auto Messe’s royal road is its own unique and rich culture. It is not stylish, but it is a bit droll, but that is part of the Auto Messe character. It is the right way to enjoy the show with a taste of “fun” as they say in Osaka.
In 2024, a wide variety of vehicles will be displayed, from mini cars to VIP sedans, sports cars, and supercars. We hope you will come to INTEX Osaka!
translated by DeepL
