Cars Are Becoming Interesting Again

In December last year, we published the 2012 edition of 'Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Car.' The 'Mistakes to Avoid...' series is, of course, a renowned bestseller by Ariyoshi Tokudaiji. Although it had concluded with the final edition published in June 2006, it was revived last June as a co-authored work between myself and Mr. Tokudaiji with the publication of the '2011 Edition.' This 2012 edition marks the second installment.

The content consists of about 20 essays on current topics, with each of us writing separately. However, I am solely responsible for all the car evaluations. We haven't consulted or confirmed anything regarding the evaluations or the writing. If that were necessary, there would be no point in having me involved.

That said, we do exchange opinions during our regular meetings. This often leads to new perspectives and discoveries. A casual remark can contain an incredible depth of knowledge. I'm always impressed by that.

The main theme for the 2012 edition is 'Cars Are Becoming Interesting Again.' In fact, for the previous 2011 edition, we expressed concern about 'the future of cars,' particularly lamenting the situation where Japanese cars, often called Galapagos, were falling behind European manufacturers and facing pressure from emerging nations like South Korea and China. However, in the mere six months since then, numerous cars and technologies that hint at a bright future have been announced, and we wanted to convey the sentiment that 'Japanese cars still have a lot to offer.'

The Tokyo Motor Show, which symbolized this shift, also saw us push our deadline to the absolute limit, an unusual move, to include the latest information, as we were eager to convey the excitement and energy. I was anxious while writing, but the editorial staff and everyone at Soshisha must have been even more on edge.

We Want Everyone Interested in Cars to Read It

Most of the featured cars are Japanese, with around 10 imported models. The focus is on noteworthy models released that year. As they are indispensable for discussing imported cars in 2012, we includedVolkswagen BeetleandRange Rover Evoqueamong other recent models.

The strength of 'Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Car' lies not only in focusing on the latest models but also in allowing for side-by-side comparisons of the performance of rival cars. To further enhance this characteristic, we have revived the scoring table that provides a numerical evaluation for all vehicles.

Yasuhisa Shimashita
Motor journalist. 2011-2012 Japan Car of the Year selection committee member. Director of A.J.A.J. (Automobile Journalists Association of Japan).
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1972. His writing covers not only driving performance but also advanced environmental and safety technologies, brand theory, and driving, encompassing all aspects related to automobiles. He also gives lectures on themes such as eco & safety driving. His books include 'Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Car: 2011 Edition' (published by Soshisha) and 'Paradise Gasoline Diet' (published by Nigen-sha).

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