Old Volvos- Cool or Nah?

You may have heard that Japanese car culture is one of the most vibrant in the world and it's true. Everything from supercars to tiny K cars, Shokotan to Bosozuku, there's a niche for everyone. And when we say everyone, we really mean it. Even those with the most unlikely passions, like old Volvos. My name is Takumi Uchida. I'm an apparel designer. People call me Takehisa. I import and sell surfboards myself. I wanted a Volvo. I wanted a mass-produced car, and it was cheap. When I bought it, there were no young people my age in Japan. So I wanted to be the first person to drive it, and that's why I bought it. I thought it would last a long time. I thought I could drive it forever. Some people really love things that can last a long time. There's a Japanese word, mottainai, which means too much waste is not good. This Volvo fits to the spirit of mottainai. It's very simple and easy to fix. I think about driving it for a long time. The interior is soft, and I think about safety. I also think about driving it with my partner. It's a very kind car. It's like a family car. I don't think I'd buy another family car. I think I can drive it forever. It's not a special feeling. It's a very cool car. It's a car from the 90s. It's a car that you can drive. For example, you can go to the supermarket or go on a date with your wife. I think it's a car that can be used in a variety of ways. So all the people that we've got here are really cool people. Why do you think they're cool people and attracted to the Volvo? Because they're quite boxy. In the UK and in Europe, they're almost not cool. Wow, really? All of them are cool. They're cool because they're angular. The cars we have now are all round because they use CAD. I think that's the only thing that stands out about a car that's angular. They're cool because they're boxy. All of them are cool. They genuinely look a bit different. But what else makes them so attractive? So what is it about Volvos that has developed this slight culture around them? Japanese people really like North European brands like Volvo and Akio. Japanese people think Volvo is really strong and tough. If they have a big crash, you can ride in the Volvo. That's our image. It makes me feel really safe. I don't want to go fast. I want to go slow. I've always wanted a car with a character to do this kind of work. I've been looking for a lot of things, and I've come to this. It makes me feel really good. Whether I'm going slow or fast. This is my first day to drive this car. I feel two things. One is it's really gentle to drive. And the second is I don't think I'm going fast when I drive this car. Do Japanese people like European cars? Is that a thing? Yeah, I think so. Because in Tokyo and big cities in Japan, I see many Mercedes, BMWs and Porsches. So Japanese people really like European cars. It's a classic shape. You can make it in many different styles. I think that's really good. And it's really cheap. Why are the Japanese really into cars? What is it that gives the Japanese that to have good cars? I don't know why, but Japan has many reliable cars. Like Toyota, Nissan, Honda. I think Japanese people are proud of products in Japan as a Japanese car. And that's why this strong Japanese car culture has begun. I think it's because there are a lot of mountains. After Japan, there's manga and anime. Volvo is not a sports car like Initial D. It's a car that enjoys its slow life. So here's the thing. A Volvo brick, specifically from the 70s to the 90s, is about that slow life philosophy. Doing business in as relaxed a manner as possible, being relatively cheap and easy to fix, and having a boxy, unpretentious attitude. And that's the same as the people who drive them. These Volvoisti were warmly welcoming, hugely fun, and even though we didn't speak each other's language, we communicated through our passion for cars. And weird car-based sign language, obviously. But there's something special about being part of a niche, and this is probably the friendliest gang I've ever come across. Volvos mean more than just transport to these guys. Their cars are an extension of their lifestyle and attitude, and that makes the cars, and the people, very cool indeed.