Short Video Documentary Explores Japan’s Flashy Art Truck Subculture · Global Voices
Nevin Thompson

‘Dekotora’ trucks in Japan. Image by Flickr user Kanon Serizawa. Image license: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
They are flashy, visually compelling and look like they're a hobby that costs a lot of money: anyone who has ever been to Japan has probably come across Japan's “art truck” subculture. Known as dekotora (デコトラ, short for “decoration trucks“), Japan's art trucks are tricked out with flashing neon lights, airbrushed murals and lots and lots of chrome.
Great Big Story has just released Inside Japan’s Tricked-Out DIY Truck Culture, a short video documentary about dekotora. The video features English subtitles, and lots of images of flashy trucks.
Like any other subculture, there is also a vibrant dekotora community on Instagram. Here are a few shots of Japan's “decoration trucks.”
#JDM #Dekotora #ArtTruck #Bippu #HotRod #Kustom #Lowrider #KaliforniaLook #Hardcore #HardcoreJDM #デコトラ #ビップ
A post shared by KaliforniaLook (@kalifornialook) on
While dekotora is dominated by hard-core hobbyists, it's not unusual to see freighters, dump trucks and other vehicles livened up with striking decorations on Japan's streets and highways.
Here is what looks like a stylized dump truck cruising up the Tohoku Expressway:
Typical Japanese truck art. #bonx #gomakenoise #菅原文太 #仁義なき闘い #東北道 #デコトラ
A post shared by Takahiro Miyasaka (@takahir0miyasaka) on
Not all dekotora are particularly flashy, but all display the unique personality of their owner:
#プロフ画 #プロフィール画像 #トップ画 が前の #インパラ のままだな！w と指摘されたのでとりあえず変えてみましたwww #kurustagram64 #kurustagram64_photography #Photography #プロフ画 #海坊主参上 #いかつメン #ごっつメン #関東み組 #美道丸 #仕事車 #デコトラ
A post shared by 海坊主 (@kurustagram64) on
#ProfilePhoto It looks like a Chevy Impala from the front! #worktruck #dekotora
It was once not unusual to see delivery trucks decorated with murals. This truck features a triptych mural (on its sides and on its rear cargo doors) that depicts a scene from the 2001 animated film “Kai Doh Maru” (怪童丸):
三面絵画アート車って減って来ましたね〜。 #三菱ふそう #fuso #ファイター #fighter #デコトラ #arttruck #翔龍水産 #怪童丸
A post shared by Dice Kobarn (@slow_cedric) on
There aren't as many delivery trucks with murals as there used be, huh? #MitsubishiFuso #fuso #FusoFighter #dekotora #KaiDohMaru
This owner of this truck is visiting a temple in Inuyama, north of Nagoya. The has been outfitted with chrome grills and rails, as well as a mural featuring popular cartoon hero Anpan Man:
#いい天気 #アンパンマン に食いつく #安全祈願 #デコトラ  またよろしくお願いします( ´͈ ᗨ `͈ )◞♡⃛
A post shared by さとこ (@satokonbu1122) on
#sunnyskies Taking a bite of #AnpanMan. #sayingour prayers #dekotora #thanksforlookingatmyphoto ( ´͈ ᗨ `͈ )◞♡⃛
Many truckers practically live in their rigs. Here's a shot looking out the windscreen, below curtains typical of many working trucks in Japan:
#おはようございます #めっちゃ雨#天気 #現場近くで #待機丸 #今日も１日 #よろしくお願いします  #安全運転で#仕事終わったら#洗車#笑 #デコトラ #プロフィア
A post shared by 真央 杉浦 (@mao.s.9) on
Good morning! It's totally rainy today! #waitingtoload #anotherday #pleasedtomeetyou #safedriving #whenwork'soveri'mwashingmytruck #lol #dekotora
Japan's dekora art trucks can be explored on Instagram using the hashtag #デコトラ