Japanese vehicle intelligence, explained from Japan.
Import eligibility, auction documents, model-specific problems, and market data — researched from Japanese primary sources and owner records.
Built for overseas buyers of used Japanese vehicles.
- 46
- Articles Published
- 4
- Research Pillars
- Japan-side
- Sources
What you can research here
We translate hard-to-access Japanese information into practical buying intelligence.
Import Rules (IR)
Verify eligibility by manufacture month, recall build date, and regulation-based timelines.
DOCJapanese Documents (DOC)
Understand export certificates, maintenance books, e-shaken, and date formats used in Japan.
MODModel Issues (MOD)
See common problems by model using Japanese owner records and structured aggregation methods.
MKTMarket Data (MKT)
Research exporter comparisons, auction price logic, and practical buyer-side market context.
Why overseas buyers use this site
- Access to Japanese primary sources
- English explanations of Japan-only documents
- Structured owner-record aggregation
- Built for pre-purchase decision making
Featured guides
Every guide, by pillar
IR Import Rules (IR)
The 25-year rule runs on build month — and Japanese paperwork does not record one.
- How to Narrow a JDM Car's Build Date Using Japan's Recall Registry
Japanese vehicle paperwork does not record a date of manufacture, and Japanese chassis numbers do not encode one. We covered why that matters for the…
- JB23 Type 4 25-Year Rule: Which Manufacture Months Become US-Eligible in 2027｜Month-by-Month Unlock Table
JB23 Jimny Type 4 (January 2002–September 2004) unlocks for US import between January 2027 and September 2029. Only 2002-manufactured cars clear in 2027. Month-by-month eligibility table and manufacture-month verification guide inside.
- JDM Cars Becoming US-Import Eligible in 2027 — By Build Month
Every 2027 eligibility list you can find in English is organised by year. The rule runs on month of manufacture. That gap is where money gets lost, because…
- Mazda RX-7 FD3S Spirit R 25-Year Rule 2027｜1,504 Cars Unlock April–August, Not January 1
Spirit R eligibility runs April 2027 to August 2027 — not all January 1. Type A (1,044 units), Type B (420), Type C (40) decoded by chassis number FD3S-604509 to FD3S-607313.
- Nissan Silvia S15: Which Manufacture Months Become US-Eligible in 2026
S15s built in 2001 are the 2026 unlock cohort. August 2001 cars cross the 25-year line this month. Month-by-month eligibility table inside.
- The 25-Year Rule Runs on Build Month — But Japanese Cars Don't Come With a Build Date
What this guide is: a working method for establishing the actual manufacture month of a JDM vehicle, written from Japanese-language primary sources. Our…
DOC Japanese Documents (DOC)
What the auction sheet and the registration papers actually say, field by field.
- Electronic Shakken Japan 2023: What Changed and What Buyers Can No Longer Read
Since January 2023 Japan's vehicle inspection certificate is an IC-chip card. Key fields — including the region the car lived in — are no longer printed on it.
- Grade R vs RA on Japanese Auction Sheets — What the Standard Actually Says
Search this question in English and you get three mutually exclusive answers:
- Japanese Imperial Calendar on Car Documents: A Conversion Guide for Importers
Japan's vehicle documents use imperial era dates. This guide covers Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa conversions, with a full year table and field map.
- Japanese Maintenance Record Book: What It Proves (And What It Doesn't)
What the 点検整備記録簿 proves to an overseas buyer who cannot inspect the car in person — and the four things it cannot prove at all.
- Japanese Vehicle Documents｜3 Papers Every Import Buyer Must Receive
Three documents appear at three different moments when you buy a car from Japan. This guide explains which one is which, what the fields actually mean, and what a photograph can no longer show you since 2023.
MOD Model Issues (MOD)
Failure patterns counted from Japanese owner maintenance logs, compared against the English buyer guides.
- DC5 Which Year to Buy｜2001-Manufacture Only US-Eligible in 2026 — Price, Grade Fraud & Condition by Year
DC5 Integra Type R buying guide: which production year clears the US 25-year rule in 2026, Type R grade fraud risk documented from 149 Minkara logs, and price ranges from Goo-net N=17 + JDMBUYSELL data, collected 2026-08-21.
- Honda Civic Type R EP3 — What Japanese Owners Actually Report
151 maintenance logs from Japanese EP3 Civic Type R owners, classified and counted. K20A fault clusters before you import.
- Honda Integra Type R DC5 Common Problems｜149 Japanese Owner Logs
149 DC5 Minkara logs classified by fault type. Reveals a widespread Type S→Type R conversion practice no English guide covers. Plus K20A timing chain, rust, suspension wear, and what to check before buying.
- Honda S2000 AP1 common problems before importing Japan｜7 checks from Japanese owner logs
135 Japanese S2000 AP owner maintenance titles, checked for AP1 import risk. What to inspect before buying from Japan.
- Honda S2000 AP1 high mileage how many km is too many｜160,000 km inspection line from 12 owner pages
AP1 S2000 high-mileage guide for import buyers: N=12 Japanese owner pages, 91,850-245,000 km, oil-use and rebuild evidence.
- JB23 Automatic vs Manual: Which Holds Value Better in Japan
JB23 AT vs MT retail and auction prices from CarSensor and Goo-net, with July 2026 auction data. Which transmission holds value — and what it means for import buyers.
- JB23 Death Wobble Real Cause and Fix: What Japanese Owner Data Shows
47 Minkara suspension logs, 13 death-wobble-related. Japanese owners never say 'death wobble' — they post by part name. Here's what those parts are.
- JB23 High Mileage: How Many Km Is Too Many?
Minkara owner posts on JB23 high mileage: N=12 posts, 83k–300k km range. Failure patterns by km band and a practical import threshold for overseas buyers.
- JB23 Parts Availability 2026: What Suzuki Still Supplies and What to Source Elsewhere
JB23 OEM parts status in 2026: discontinued lines, still-available parts, and verified aftermarket alternatives for this 25-year-old platform.
- JB23 type differences — all 10 revisions compared
JB23 type differences: all 10 revision types compared by mechanical changes, parts compatibility, and US/Canada import eligibility by revision.
- JB23 Which Year to Buy: Price, Condition, and Revision Type
JB23 used prices by revision type with market data from Japanese retail listings. Which type fits your country's import rules, budget, and condition tolerance.
- JZX100 Which Year to Buy: Price, Condition, and Revision
JZX100 Chaser/Mark II used prices by variant and year with Japanese market data. Tourer V vs NA, full US eligibility from 2021-2026, condition risks by production year.
- K6A Engine Problems and Reliability: What Japanese JB23 Owner Data Shows
90 Minkara engine-bay logs, 10 pages. Oil leaks, turbo failures, ISCV faults, overhauls: K6A weak points from Japanese JB23 owner data, collected 2026-08-11.
- Mazda RX-7 FD3S — What Japanese Owners Actually Report
300 maintenance logs from Japanese FD3S RX-7 owners, classified and counted. 13B-REW fault clusters before you import.
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII (CT9A) — What Japanese Owners Actually Report
153 maintenance logs posted by Japanese Evo VII owners, classified and counted.
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII CT9A — What Japanese Owners Actually Report
165 maintenance logs from Japanese CT9A Evo VII owners, classified and counted. 4G63 and ACD/AYC fault clusters before you import.
- Nissan Caravan E25 Common Problems｜3,429 Japanese Logs Ranked by Engine Type
Engine-type-first guide to Nissan Caravan E25 common problems, built from 3,429 Japanese owner maintenance logs. Covers ZD30DDTi repair costs, the YD25DDTi myth, DPF clogging, the 2015 recall covering 35,334 units, and a seven-point pre-purchase checklist.
- Nissan Silvia S15 — What Japanese Owners Actually Report
147 maintenance logs posted by Japanese S15 owners, classified and counted.
- S15 Which Year to Buy｜1999–2001 US-Eligible, 2002 Waits Until 2027 — Price & Condition by Year
S15 Silvia buying guide: which production year clears the 25-year rule (US/Canada), Spec-R vs Spec-S price spread, condition risks by year, and a decision table. Data from 147 Goo-net domestic + 176 JDMBUYSELL listings, collected 2026-08-21.
- Subaru Impreza WRX GC8 — What Japanese Owners Actually Report
160 maintenance logs from Japanese GC8 Impreza WRX owners, classified and counted. EJ20 fault clusters before you import.
- Subaru Impreza WRX GC8 Which Year to Buy｜Price by Revision, Condition Risk by Variant — 2026 Market Data
GC8 WRX which year to buy: all 1992–2000 production is US-eligible. Price data from CarSensor and Goo-net (collected 2026-08-31), revision type comparison, and condition risk from 160 Japanese owner logs.
- Suzuki Jimny JB23 — What Japanese Owners Actually Report
141 maintenance logs posted by Japanese JB23W owners, classified and counted.
- Suzuki Jimny JB23 Rust Map — Where They Actually Rot, and How to Check When You Can't Touch the Car
Every English JB23 guide says "check for rust." None of them tell you where, how, or what to do when the car is 9,000 km away and you have four photos and…
- Toyota Alphard ANH20 Common Problems｜6 Issues Japanese Owners Actually Log
90 maintenance records from Japanese ANH20 Alphard owners, classified and counted. Engine oil consumption, sliding doors, alternators — with repair cost ranges and the engine serial number check no English guide mentions.
- Toyota Chaser JZX100 Common Problems｜147 Japanese Owner Logs
147 JZX100 Minkara logs classified by fault type. Electrical and ECU failures dominate — the issue English buying guides miss. Covers rust, suspension wear, modification history, and the 1JZ engine.
- Toyota Land Cruiser Prado J90 High Mileage｜How Many km Is Too Many — KZJ vs KDJ Risk Table from 20,813 Service Records
KZJ90/95 (1KZ-TE) and KDJ90/95 (1KD-FTV) have different failure profiles at every mileage band. Engine-by-engine risk table built from 20,813 Japanese Minkara service records and 193 Goo-net listings.
- Toyota MR2 SW20 common problems before importing Japan｜4 faults from 117 Japanese owner logs
117 Japanese SW20 MR2 owner maintenance logs, classified by engine type. Power steering relay, speedometer gear, AC cascade, and rust — what to check before you bid.
- Toyota Supra JZA80 2JZ owner reported issues Japan｜7 checks before you import one
144 Japanese A80 Supra owner maintenance titles, counted for import buyers. Starter, fuel, charging, lighting, and seal issues to verify.
MKT Market Data (MKT)
Public Japanese price and export data your exporter has no reason to show you.
- BE FORWARD vs SBT Japan — What the Review Data Actually Shows
Search this comparison and you get two things: exporters' own "top 10 exporters" lists (which invariably include the exporter publishing them), and…
- Japan's Auction Market, Published Monthly and Free — The USS Data Nobody Outside Japan Reads
When you ask an exporter what a car should cost, you get their price. What you don't get is the wholesale market they bought it in. That asymmetry is the…
- Japanese Auction Prices｜3 Free Tools, 3 Traps, and 1 Method That Takes 20 Minutes
How to research Japanese car auction prices for free — the three tools that actually work, the three ways the data will mislead you, and one calculation every buyer should do themselves.
- Japanese Car Exporter Fees: What's Hidden and What's Standard
A neutral breakdown of Japan-side handling, documentation, inspection, auction, and freight fees that overseas buyers routinely miss — with sources and collection dates.
- Section 232 Tariff and Japan Car Import Costs in 2026 — What the 25% Actually Hits
Section 232 imposed a 25% tariff on imported vehicles from April 3, 2025. Whether it hits your JDM import depends on one number: the vehicle's age at entry.
- What Japan Actually Sells Used Cars For, By Country — Reading the Trade Statistics Yourself
Your exporter knows what cars leave Japan for your country and what they average. You don't. That gap is worth money to them.
How the research works
Source
Japanese laws, MLIT references, vehicle documents, owner logs, and auction context.
Verify
Cross-check terminology, dates, classifications, and practical buying implications.
Explain
Publish buyer-friendly English guides with context, examples, and limitations.
Start with your question
Can I import this car yet?
Check eligibility by manufacture month and regulations.
DOCWhat does this Japanese document mean?
Decode export certificates, auction sheets, and more.
MODWhat problems does this model usually have?
See common owner-reported issues by model.
MKTHow do I compare exporters and prices?
Understand price logic and exporter differences.
Buying soon? Start with market pages.
Use our exporter comparison and auction-price research guides before requesting quotes.