Japan’s car industry is full of surprises — origin stories that start nowhere near automobiles, engineering bets nobody else would make, and quirks of Japanese law that quietly shape the cars the rest of the world now covets. Here are 15 genuinely surprising things about Japanese cars, each one true and sourced. A few of them even explain why imported JDM cars are such good buys.
## 1. Toyota started as a loom company The world's largest automaker began making weaving machines. Toyota grew out of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, and the capital to build cars came from selling the patent to founder Sakichi Toyoda's automatic loom. (We tell the [full story here](/blog/how-toyota-started).)2. “Toyota” is spelled differently from the family name on purpose
The founding family is named Toyoda. The company is Toyota — changed in 1937 because it was considered luckier and is written in eight brush strokes, an auspicious number in Japan.
3. Honda began with engines bolted to bicycles
In postwar Japan, Honda’s first product was a small engine designed to attach to a bicycle, giving people cheap transport when cars were unaffordable. Honda built motorcycles for over a decade before its first car in 1963 — then entered Formula 1 the very next year.
4. Mazda won Le Mans with a rotary engine — the only company ever to do so
In 1991, the Mazda 787B became the first Japanese manufacturer to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and remains the only car with a rotary (Wankel) engine ever to win the race. Mazda bet on the rotary when almost no one else would.
5. The Mazda MX-5 Miata is the best-selling two-seat sports car in history
The little roadster, on sale since 1989, holds a Guinness World Record as the best-selling two-seater sports car ever made — proof that lightweight and fun beats big and powerful.
6. Japan invented a whole class of car defined purely by law
Kei cars aren’t small by taste — they’re small by regulation, a class created in 1949 with strict size and engine limits in exchange for tax breaks. The rules literally shape the cars. (More on why Japan built kei cars.)
7. “Shaken” is why used JDM cars are often so clean
Japan’s strict vehicle inspection system — shaken — applies to vehicles over 250cc and gets expensive as cars age. It pushes owners to maintain cars meticulously and often to sell them young, which is a big reason imported Japanese used cars tend to be remarkably well-kept and low-mileage.
8. Japan’s first supercar was built with Yamaha — and starred in a Bond film
The Toyota 2000GT of 1965 was Japan’s first true supercar, developed with Yamaha. Only 351 were built, and two were converted to convertibles for the James Bond film “You Only Live Twice.” It’s now one of the most valuable Japanese cars in existence.
9. The Subaru 360 was nicknamed the “Ladybug”
Japan’s first mass-produced kei car, the 1958 Subaru 360, earned its nickname from its rounded, bug-like shape. It helped put postwar Japan on wheels and was Subaru’s first passenger car.
10. Drifting started on Japan’s mountain roads
The motorsport of drifting grew out of late-night runs on Japan’s touge (mountain passes), popularized by Keiichi Tsuchiya — the “Drift King” — before spreading worldwide through anime, games, and film.
11. A video game made Mitsubishi launch a car in America
The Lancer Evolution was Japan-only for several generations, but its popularity in Gran Turismo (and the Fast & Furious films) helped convince Mitsubishi to officially sell the Evo in the United States.
12. The Toyota AE86 — a plain economy Corolla — became a drift legend
One of the most worshipped JDM cars is, underneath, an ordinary 1980s Corolla. Its lightweight, rear-wheel-drive simplicity made it perfect for drifting, and anime like Initial D turned it into an icon.
13. Japan drives on the left — which is why JDM imports are right-hand drive
Japan drives on the left side of the road, so its cars are right-hand drive. That’s why imported JDM cars have the steering wheel on the “wrong” side for North America — part of their character, and something to confirm your state registers (most do).
14. The 25-year rule is why these cars are suddenly everywhere abroad
Many JDM legends were never sold outside Japan. They become legal to import to the US only at 25 years old — which is why right-hand-drive Skylines and Silvias are appearing on American streets now. (See how the 25-year rule works.)
15. Japan has long been one of the world’s largest vehicle producers and exporters
For decades Japan has ranked among the top vehicle-manufacturing nations, exporting a huge share of its output. That scale, plus a reputation for reliability, is why Japanese used cars flow to markets all over the world — and why the import trade exists at all.
Why so many of these facts point back to importing
Notice how many of these come together around one thing: Japanese cars are reliable, often meticulously maintained (thanks to shaken), frequently Japan-only in their best forms, and now reaching importable age. That’s the whole case for importing a JDM car — the surprising facts aren’t just trivia, they’re the reasons these cars are such rewarding buys. If any of these legends caught your eye, see which are eligible to import in 2026, how the 25-year rule works, and run the numbers in the Landed Cost Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most surprising fact about Japanese cars?
A favorite: Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, began as a loom (weaving machine) company, and used the proceeds from a loom patent to fund its move into cars.
Why are used Japanese cars so well-maintained?
Largely because of shaken, Japan’s strict and increasingly costly vehicle inspection system, which encourages meticulous maintenance and selling cars relatively young — leaving many exported Japanese used cars clean and low-mileage.
Why are JDM imports right-hand drive?
Japan drives on the left, so Japanese-market cars are right-hand drive. Imported JDM cars keep that configuration; most US states register RHD vehicles without issue, but confirm with your state.
Did Mazda really win Le Mans with a rotary engine?
Yes. The Mazda 787B won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991 — the first win by a Japanese manufacturer and the only victory ever by a rotary-engined car.
Surprising cars, sound reasons to import
The best Japanese-car facts tend to circle back to the same truths: clever engineering, real reliability, strict upkeep, and a lot of legends that were Japan-only — and are now reaching importable age. That’s why JDM imports are having their moment. Start with the 2026 eligible legends and the 25-year rule explained.
Sources
- Top Gear — Toyota 2000GT, Mazda rotary history
- Guinness World Records — MX-5 Miata best-selling two-seater
- Public corporate records — Toyota and Honda founding history
- Kei car regulatory history (cross-referenced public records)
WATTSHIP intelligence is for reference and general interest. Facts are drawn from public records; verify specifics independently where it matters. See our Disclaimer.