Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 (JAPAN)

Tokyo Auto Salon 2025, held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City for three days from January 10 to 12, 2025, was a major event in the domestic and international automotive industry, and this year ended with great success. The event, which began in 1983 as the Tokyo Exciting Car Show, will celebrate its 43rd anniversary in 2025 and is now widely recognized as one of the three largest custom car shows in the world. This year's number of visitors was a total of 258,406 people over the three days, far exceeding the previous year's success. In addition, online distribution was also actively carried out, with a total of 290,708 views in Japanese and English. At this event, domestic automakers including Toyota set up large booths to show off the latest technology and custom cars. Overseas manufacturers such as Volkswagen, BMW, Hyundai, and BYD also participated, attracting car fans from all over the world. In particular, the surprise unveiling of Toyota's GR Corolla Rally Concept attracted much attention, and Takuma Sato's demonstration run in the famous Honda F1 car RA272 was a highlight that made the fusion of history and technology a reality. Through these announcements and exhibitions, Tokyo Auto Salon has established itself as a place that shows the future of motorsports and automotive culture, going beyond being just an automobile exhibition. In the outdoor exhibition area, the D1 Grand Prix drift run was held as a regular content, attracting many spectators. In addition, the event featured not only tuning and custom cars, but also a wide range of fields related to automobiles, such as fashion and games, making it enjoyable for a wide range of visitors. Taking advantage of the fact that it was held in the new year, the event was full of entertainment, with announcements of activity policies by each manufacturer and motorsport team, artist performances on the live stage, and the Japan Race Queen Grand Prix award ceremony. The uniqueness of Tokyo Auto Salon lies in its appeal as a "festival of custom car culture" that goes beyond being a mere commercial event. When it was first established, the purpose was to hold the event in conjunction with a motorsports event, but gradually custom and tuned cars began to attract attention. At the time, the area around the venue was filled with unique custom cars such as low-riders and bamboo spear mufflers, and was filled with a unique atmosphere. Later, as specialist magazines and media featured tuning shop owners and mechanics as "stars," the event further developed as a place for car fans to interact. From the late 1990s, domestic car manufacturers actively entered the event and began to announce new cars and concept cars in conjunction with the Tokyo Auto Salon. In the 2000s, the number of exhibitors from Europe, the United States, and Asian countries also increased, which became an opportunity for Japan's custom car culture to be recognized worldwide. In particular, the fact that it has come to be praised alongside the SEMA Show (USA) and the Essen Motor Show (Germany) symbolizes the global influence of the Tokyo Auto Salon. Through its 2025 run, the Tokyo Auto Salon has reaffirmed its commitment to embodying its traditions and innovation and continuing to attract a diverse range of car fans. The next event is scheduled for January 9th to 11th, 2026, and we hope to see an even more evolved custom car culture being showcased.
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