Dekotora

Dekotora

The Dekotora or Decotora (デコトラ, dekotora^?), an abbreviation for "decoration truck", is a type of loudly decorated truck in Japan. Commonly having neon or ultraviolet lights, extravagant paints, and shiny stainless or golden exterior parts, such decorations can be found on both on the exterior and the interior. Dekotora may be created by workers out of their work trucks for fun, or they may be designed by hobbyists for special events. They are sometimes also referred to as Art Trucks (アートトラック), ātotorakku)^?).

1970s era

In 1975, Toei released the first entry in a series of 10 movies called Truck Guys (トラック野郎, Torakku Yaro^?) that featured as the protagonist a costumed trucker who drove his garishly decorated truck all over Japan. This movie was a big hit with both old and young, and caused a wave of dekotora popularity to sweep the country. While dekotora were present throughout the 1970s, before the movie they were restricted to the north-eastern fishing transport trucks. It is possible that the movie was an attempt to popularise these kinds of trucks. In those days, ready-made parts for trucks were not easily available, so these trucks freely utilised parts from sightseeing buses or US military vehicles.

Modern times

Since the late 1990s, dekotora have been heavily influenced by the art of Gundam. In addition to the Gundam-influenced designs, it is common to see decorations that are more akin to modern art, or even retro designs that closely resemble those found in the movie Trucker Guys.

Styles

• Kansai-style
• Kantō-style
• Retro-style

Media

After the hit movie Trucker Guys, the dekotora is referred to in various films and TV series. There are also various video games and model cars dedicated for the genre. There are two monthly magazines published, namely Camion by Geibunsha and Truck King by Eiwa Publishing.

Films

• Films include Trucker Guys, Bakusō! Trucker Gundan, Bakusō! Moon Angel — Kita e, Supermarket Woman, Dekotora no Washi, and Bakusō Trucker Densetsu. The American film Black Rain features a couple brief scenes that include Dekotora trucks.
• In the film Initial D, the "Emperor" Race team carries one of their cars around in a Dekotora truck.

TV

• TV series include Nagareboshi Ogin, Tantei Ikka, Yo nimo Kimyō na Monogatari, Hotel, and Gokusen (the 2nd series).

Manga

• In the later parts of the Great Teacher Onizuka manga series, Eikichi Onizuka ends up living in a Dekotora-styled Garbage Truck.

Video Games

• Zenkoku Dekotora Matsuri - a Dekotora design simulator has been released in Japan in the spring of 2008
• In the Street Fighter Alpha series, japanophile Sodom is shown to own a stylishly decorated truck.
• Bakusō Dekotora Densetsu
• Art Camion Geijutsuden

See also

• Dekochari
• Itasha
• Jeepney
• Jingle truck
• Rustic bus
• Tap tap

External links

• (English) Aoshima Bunka Kyōzai: A model car maker who coined the word dekotora.
• (Japanese) Camion: From Geibunsha official website.
• (Japanese) Truck King: From Eiwa Publishing official website.