Dekotora
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55)
Fri 2007/10/12 12:54
These trucks are known as Dekotora [デコトラ] which is an abbreviation for "Decoration Truck." These trucks are extravagantly painted with artworks of many kind but I still have yet to come across one with moe characters on it.
Apart from the artwork, many Dekotora are also also covered with lighting and customized with metal bits n pieces - I guess the owner of the truck wants to make a point of "don mess wid me."
You can see these from time to time on the highway but seldom in the city .
If you like the look of these trucks but dont have space for one - you can always try out the Dekotora game below. First image from Isuqe's Flickr pool and the rest from Ztath.
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writing mini thesises
hmm...?! Optimus Prime? LOL
(ID #59262) Posted on 2007/10/12 12:58
College Student
The only thing needed now is for it to transform to Optimus.
(ID #59263) Posted on 2007/10/12 13:00
Wow, they look like transformers in a blade runner kind of way!
(ID #59264) Posted on 2007/10/12 13:00
More like Rodimus Prime. Too flashy for Optimus, lol.
(ID #59265) Posted on 2007/10/12 13:06
Alot of them look very chinese to me. With all those bright neon lights and coloring used on the vehicles, if I saw one in Singapore, I'd think it is used for moving the dead.
(ID #59267) Posted on 2007/10/12 13:15
Robots in disguise!!! Yap they're all decepticons, but without spark yet.
(ID #59268) Posted on 2007/10/12 13:21
mahou kishi
wow most of them looks very nice like pieces of art, but some others looks wrong :D
(ID #59269) Posted on 2007/10/12 13:22
Hobby Store clerk guy thing...
Autobots got a facelift? o_O I want to see one with moe characters XD
(ID #59271) Posted on 2007/10/12 13:37
Custom Pc Builder, Muppet, Pyromaniac, Demolitions Expert, Guitar Slinger,
forget just being able to drive one! Id pay to get hit by one! getting hit by one of those has to be a privalige with more Presteige then being hit by a racing car that costs over half a mil UK Pound Sterling!
(ID #59275) Posted on 2007/10/12 13:54
Plast Processing Engineer
No anime one? I'm fairly disappointed :/
(ID #59279) Posted on 2007/10/12 14:02
Service desk support
They did a small article on this in the BBC show Japanorama a while back. Thought they were wierd then!! But some really did look amazing, but not particularly roadworthy. There were a couple of anime ones too, but the owners of these bad boys don't strike you as major anime lovers...
(ID #59280) Posted on 2007/10/12 14:09
they are really artistic with just a few spray cans with them..
(ID #59286) Posted on 2007/10/12 14:34
Mandalorian in training + Otaku...
Kinda remind me of the truck from GTO ^^...
(ID #59288) Posted on 2007/10/12 14:49
They look like if they were going to transform at any time.
(ID #59291) Posted on 2007/10/12 15:07
Student
oh they look totally cool with the dragon & tiger pics :D
(ID #59292) Posted on 2007/10/12 15:10
Anime Store Owner, artist, Web master
Japan proving yet again that they are the world leaders in art.
(ID #59295) Posted on 2007/10/12 15:17
Animation
is there a purpose to the pipes or is it just a design aspect? if they're horns, i wouldn't want to be honked at by that!
(ID #59299) Posted on 2007/10/12 15:51
they look like transformers
(ID #59300) Posted on 2007/10/12 15:57
I am a bit skeptic about the safety issues... not for those modded trucks, but more for the other cars and traffic elements (look at those HUGE bumpers, they seem designed for pure destruction -road rage warning!-)! I love those graffiti and other art on those pictures, so yeah, I agree that it is aesthetic. (I only love graffiti that look like paintings)
(ID #59304) Posted on 2007/10/12 16:10
waxman in Kiel to Hamburg, Germany.
Hi. Do that trucks really drive on the street? This kind of car/truck would fall in the category fun-show-trucks and so the law would prohibit the drivers to drive on normal streets... german pernicketiness ;)
(ID #59305) Posted on 2007/10/12 17:46
some of theme are very cool ^_^ while others are too over the top -_-
(ID #59306) Posted on 2007/10/12 18:22
Web Design & Development
No way that would ever be allowed on the road here. Can you even see out the windshield with all those chunks of metal sticking out in ever direction? :S
(ID #59307) Posted on 2007/10/12 18:44
anime/cosplay events organizer
lolz XDDD truck decorating taking to the extreme XDDD
(ID #59308) Posted on 2007/10/12 18:45
mahou kishi
Danny Choo made popular in digg again http://www.dannychoo.com/blog_entry/eng/1153/Dekotora/
(ID #59309) Posted on 2007/10/12 19:05
mahou kishi
This is the correct url http://digg.com/offbeat_news/Pimp_my_Trailer_Trailers_Modded_and_Painted_like_pieces_of_Art_PICTURES
(ID #59310) Posted on 2007/10/12 19:07
D Blade, lol, its not called Graffiti, its called airbrushing. It is also called a graphic. Its pretty popular out here with people and all their customized cars/trucks/bikes/boats/planes/helicopters. I work near and airport and there is a Heli that has photo-realistic flames all over it. These trucks though? Too much chrome. Looks like a retired guys harley davidson.
(ID #59311) Posted on 2007/10/12 19:25
Kayla in central FL, USA
I haven't seen any pictures of moe characters either-however I do have a photo(not taken by me) of a truck with the cast of One Piece on it. When I first saw it I was like 'Luffy?' haha
(ID #59312) Posted on 2007/10/12 20:36
daydreaming and planning to take over the world
wooops never heard or saw something like this before........lol can hardly imagine the face of our law-enforcers back here should they stand eye-to-bumper with one ;))
(ID #59313) Posted on 2007/10/12 20:49
Did anybody else looks at a few of those pics and think "Damn somebody has pimped Optimus Prime!"
(ID #59314) Posted on 2007/10/12 21:09
Goodness no. I rather drive itasha than dekotora. Clean and simple rides > all
(ID #59316) Posted on 2007/10/12 21:29
Student Engineer
I would absoloutly hitch a ride on one, totally. This is something you could actually do with a camping van. You are giving me ideas on how to travel around Japan when I get there ^^.
(ID #59317) Posted on 2007/10/12 21:33
Transformers anyone?
(ID #59322) Posted on 2007/10/12 22:18
they've good paintworks but those metallic "stuff" is pretty eh.. dunno, gross? :E and the game looks so boring that it made me yawn 8-D
(ID #59324) Posted on 2007/10/12 22:26
IT, Programmer, Otaku, ...
These trucks were featured in an episode of the third season of Jonathan Ross's Japanorama tv show. I think there was one in it with an anime theme. Cool trucks ;p They did this because these truckers were on the road a lot, so they needed something to pass the time or stand out ;p
(ID #59326) Posted on 2007/10/12 23:10
Kinda funny that you posted this. I bought my 3 year old son an Ultra Magnus a couple of weeks ago. As I was checking it out I couldn't help but think of these trucks. The latest Ultra Magnus is by no means a stretch. In fact, it is on the conservative side, compared to these trucks.
(ID #59327) Posted on 2007/10/12 23:20
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
Looks ok, and I would drive one... but if I were a truck driver, I'd never spend money on that. Personal taste I guess. I'm not into car modding/tunning, though I think it's great to put one's creativity out there (as long as it doesn't hurt others).
(ID #59332) Posted on 2007/10/12 23:51
I won't mind driving one of these, especially those with Yakuza-ish designs at the back. >:) We should dress our jeepneys like that :)
(ID #59338) Posted on 2007/10/13 00:39
oddly enough it reminds me of transformers
(ID #59342) Posted on 2007/10/13 01:03
4th Year Business Economics Student
Dokotoras are totally not my thing, they look rediculous. Why on earth do they spoil a truck with loads of metal cr*p in the worst shapes and put lights on every corner? Beautiful air brush work, stylish lights and some chrome are more than enough to alter the look of a truck. That's why I love the way most European and American trucks are customized.
(ID #59343) Posted on 2007/10/13 01:04
Visual Communications and Web 2.0
oh wow this is very cool. i thought it was made to look like a transformer, but they have some great art works on it. Indeed a great art work, I never seen such a thing before. ^^
(ID #59347) Posted on 2007/10/13 01:20
NEET (no, student, AND employed min. wage)
omfg, pimp my ride! no, I don't want to drive this...
(ID #59357) Posted on 2007/10/13 02:55
Sometimes I can't tell if they're gaudy, or awesome. They recently had one driven by Ken(I think that's his name, Gekichopper.) on Gekiranger...when I saw that I was like "Ha, that's awesome." Also, for some folks that mentioned Transformers and Ultra Magnus, the Car Robots(2000, JP)/Robots in Disguise(2001, US) release was based off a Dekotora truck. It's mostly the front bumper, though. Awesome vehicle mode, but really shabby robot mode and transformation. T
(ID #59359) Posted on 2007/10/13 03:57
Animator/ graphic designer
tahts some awesome designs there that wouldnt look out of place in super robot shows...
(ID #59363) Posted on 2007/10/13 05:21
The Imperial Army's new Supply Transports? All that needs now are the drivers in Stormtrooper costumes. *Imperial March plays*
(ID #59384) Posted on 2007/10/13 09:42
iron2000
Somehow when it lights up it reminds me of the getai of Singapore.
(ID #59398) Posted on 2007/10/13 12:19
They look like some sort of siege machine and not a truck.
(ID #59418) Posted on 2007/10/13 19:59
So when do we get to see them gattai?
(ID #59422) Posted on 2007/10/13 22:02
.NET/Web Developer
REminds me much of transformers. Cool looking trucks. ^^
(ID #59450) Posted on 2007/10/14 10:24
codename:v in Malaysia
Road bullies would do anything to intimidate other drivers, don't they? Even the Hell Angels don't stand a chance against them!
(ID #59548) Posted on 2007/10/15 09:51
DRAGUN, thanks for clearing that up. Got confused in the terms.
(ID #59602) Posted on 2007/10/15 20:36
Part trooper, part -timer, 100% loser...
LOL, shiny...
(ID #70289) Posted on 2008/01/21 16:36
lol you could cause so many crashes by distracting/blinding people with one of those.
(ID #156112) Posted on 2008/03/14 16:26
オタク all day long
Autobot, transform and roll out!! XD I love to see one with moe character on it.
(ID #173504) Posted on 2008/04/22 05:41
Web Designer, Boxer, StreetFighter, Anime Collector and Gamer
Reminds me of Sodoms (FinalFight/StreetFighter Alpha) truck.
(ID #263853) Posted on 2008/08/12 22:32
They made a movie about these guys back in the late 70's. I forget what it's called. Something about "Fighting Truck Driver" or something.
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