D Car — July 2004

In April, my partner, an S13 Silvia, and I will celebrate our first anniversary. I’m struggling to decide how to mark it. I thought of borrowing a dress and taking a commemorative photo with my partner, but the Silvia can’t go into a photo studio… Hiring a professional photographer would be difficult, too. Still, my Silvia is my precious partner and my support! I hope we’ll always be together. (Emii, Hyogo Prefecture) ★Hi, Emii! Thanks for your lovely illustrations as always. You even included a photo of you and your partner this time—Z is thrilled! Happy first anniversary! Stay together for a long, long time!

I’m Yasumoto, and I drive a B13 Sunny. I was in an accident just before April. There was a lot of blood, and I’m still hurting. That day I was working as usual, replacing a marker light on a four-ton truck with my tools. The riveted part was rusty and wouldn’t come out. I tried different ways to break it free—pliers, a chisel and hammer, and more. I’m usually poker-faced at work, but for some reason I got worked up and gripped a flathead screwdriver, trying from different angles. Then my right hand slipped and the screwdriver went straight into my left nostril—hole in one! My hand kept going and hit me right in the middle of the face. The pain was so intense that all I could do was cling to the ladder and endure it. I thought I’d be fine and kept working. My nose, numb from hay fever, started dripping. I thought it was a runny nose, but when I wiped it with a pocket tissue, it was blood. This shocking incident became a hilarious story that everyone keeps retelling. It’s a reminder to be careful with tools. The ‘Yasumoto stuck a flathead screwdriver up his left nostril’ incident (long title!) may be the most painful thing that happens to me this year. I was born in the Year of the Horse, so I’ll be careful from now on. Bye! ★Yasumoto, are you okay? To let a mere screwdriver take your left-nostril virginity… Z is so worried I could cry! What? Those aren’t tears of laughter!

Sportamin Z

Sport-compact girls—big feature!

Gyaru voices—live!

Raw and unfiltered!

Based on a true story

…turned into comic strips.

Your letters turned into four-panel comics!

Because we love sport compacts!!

This month’s letter is from Yoshitaka Kimura of Aichi Prefecture. ‘Aww, it was supposed to be my dream car with aero, too—what a shame… Wait, why did you hit a fire extinguisher? They don’t just fall in the road, do they?!’

Hello! I’m Emii.

…give it a sport-compact style…

I want to make it a sport compact, but it’s tricky. A Wagon R can’t really do it… and it isn’t even my car. I want a Fairlady Z, but I don’t have the money. (cozaru, Shizuoka Prefecture, age 21) ★Then have someone buy you one! You’re 21, right? You can do it!

My Supra is getting customized, too…

My custom build is underway. When it’s finished, I’ll send a photo so you can feature it! (E, Nagano Prefecture, age 23) ★Definitely send it! I’d love a photo with you in it, too!

By the roadside

Episode: Aero vs. Fire Extinguisher

I finally bought an Impreza, and immediately added aero.

Why do sport compacts always seem like a ‘boys’ thing?

Cars can feel like ‘boys’ stuff,’ can’t they? But I think there are lots of girls like me who got into cars through an ex-boyfriend. I want more women friends who are into sport compacts. It gets lonely! (milk, Fukuoka Prefecture, age 22) ★I understand! Z will keep supporting girls like you!

My dad owns a repair shop, but…

…but I don’t know much about cars. I do like reading D-Car, though. I wonder why?

I wonder why?

(Kumiko Akiba, Saitama Prefecture; homemaker) ★It’s okay! There’s still plenty Z doesn’t know, either—we’re learning every day!

He set off on his drive full of confidence—which was fine up to that point…

Happy first anniversary!!

Then he crashed straight into a fire extinguisher, and his precious aero went CRACK!

The ‘Kamikaze’ decal is his own design. It refers to the kamikaze pilots’ willingness to risk their lives to show their courage, and expresses his wish that good fortune will blow his way, too.

Apparently the rear tires were close to bursting from all the drifting, so for now it’s running stock S14 Q’s parts!

We’re waiting to hear your opinions!!

★Several people on the D-Car editorial team own both, starting with the boss. They’re both fun, so it seems impossible to choose. One piece of advice: if you buy a car first, its convenience may mean you stop riding your motorcycle. Consider the running costs and your lifestyle, and choose what suits you. What do all of you readers think?

I’d love to have my own car soon. I also like motorcycles and got my large-bike license, but I haven’t ridden at all. So I can’t decide whether to buy a car or a motorcycle. I’d like to hear from people who own both: how do you think about it? (Yuki Nishimura, Kagoshima Prefecture)

If you own both a car and a motorcycle, share your thoughts to help someone who can’t decide! Send your entry to the address below.

…the convenience of a car may mean you stop riding the motorcycle…

T110-8578

‘Car and Motorcycle Mentors’ Dress-Up Car Magazine Editorial Department, Naigai Publishing Co., Ltd. Yamaguchi Building, 4-19-9 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo 〒110-8578

…and include the running costs and your lifestyle when deciding what suits you. What do you readers think?

This month’s

Mr. Yasumoto

Maybe because I was trying to be a “re-freshman,” not a freshman…

D Car — July 2004

About this issue

Page 149 — English draft translation