Photos: 50+ years of Japanese concept cars

29 Sep 2010

Here is a selection of concept cars designed by Japanese automakers from 1957-2009.

Concept car --
Toyota Proto, 1957

Concept car --
Toyota Proto, 1957

Concept car --
Toyota Publica Sports, 1962

Concept car --
Nissan Prince Sprint 1900 Prototype, 1963

Concept car --
Toyota Concept, 1966

Concept car --
Mazda RX 87 (Bertone), 1967

Concept car --
Isuzu Bellett MX1600 (Ghia), 1969

Concept car --
Toyota EX-1, 1969

Concept car --
Toyota EX-II, 1969

Concept car --
Toyota EX-III, 1969

Concept car --
Mazda RX-500, 1970

Concept car --
Mazda RX-500, 1970

Concept car --
Isuzu MX1600-II

Concept car --
Nissan 126X, 1970

Concept car --
Nissan 270X, 1970

Concept car --
Nissan 216X, 1971

Concept car --
Nissan Skyline Concept, 1972

Concept car --
Toyota EX-7, 1972

Concept car --

Concept car -- Concept car --

Concept car --
Toyota RV-2, 1972

Concept car --
Toyota F101, 1973

Concept car --
Nissan AD-1 Concept, 1975

Concept car --
Nissan NX-21, 1983

Concept car --
Nissan CUE-X, 1985

Concept car --
Daihatsu TA-X80, 1987

Concept car --
Mitsubishi HSR II, 1989

Concept car --
Nissan Boga, 1989

Concept car --
Nissan Figaro Concept, 1989

Concept car --
Nissan FEV, 1991

Concept car --
Mazda London Taxi, 1993

Concept car --
Mitsubishi ESR, 1993

Concept car --
Suzuki EE-10, 1993

Concept car --
Nissan AP-X, 1994

Concept car -- Concept car --
Toyota Moguls, 1995 // Nissan Hypermini, 1997

Concept car --
Nissan TrailRunner, 1997

Concept car --
Nissan KYXX, 1998

Concept car --
Honda Fuya-Jo, 1999

Concept car --
Mazda Miata Mono-Posto, 1999

Concept car --
Isuzu Zen, 2001

Concept car --
Toyota POD, 2001

Concept car --
Isuzu FL-4, 2002

Concept car --
Honda IMAS, 2003

Concept car --
Honda KIWAMI, 2003

Concept car --
Honda Pro Drag Civic Si, 2003

Concept car --
Nissan Jikoo, 2003

Concept car --
Toyota FINE-S, 2003

Concept car --
Toyota MTRC, 2004

Concept car --
Infiniti Kuraza, 2005

Concept car --
Mazda Senku, 2005

Concept car --
Mitsuoka Orochi, 2005

Concept car --
Nissan Zaroot, 2005

Concept car --
Acura Advanced Sedan, 2006

Concept car --
Mazda Nagare, 2006

Concept car --
Nissan Terranaut, 2006

Concept car --
Acura Advanced Sports Car, 2007

Concept car --
Mazda Taiki, 2007

Concept car --
Nissan Mixim, 2007

Concept car --
Nissan Bevel, 2007

Concept car --
Nissan Pivo-2, 2007

Concept car --
Honda FC Sport Concept, 2008

Concept car --
Mazda Kiyora, 2008

Concept car --
Honda P-NUT, 2009

Concept car --
Infiniti Essence, 2009

Concept car --
Nissan Land Glider, 2009

Concept car --
Isuzu FC-12

Concept car --
Isuzu Fire Fighter 2

Concept car --
Isuzu FL-1/FL-4/FL-10

Concept car --
Isuzu Lunar Rover

Concept car --
Isuzu Super Heavy Dumptruck

Concept car --
Lexus Minority Report Concept, 2054

[Via: NetCarShow, Car Styling, ConceptNissan, Isuzu]

Monster illustrations from Ultraman sonosheet book

27 Sep 2010

These Ultra Monster illustrations by Toshio Okazaki are from 'The Return of Ultraman' sonosheet book (Volume 1) published by Elm in 1971.

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Takkong, Ultraman, Twin Tail [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Zazahn, Sadora [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Kingsaurus III, Alien Zarab, Geronimon [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Jirass, MAT Arrow 1, MAT Arrow 2 [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Gorbagos, Suflan, Kiyla [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Keronia, Dada, Shugaron [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Mognezun, Kemular [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Seagoras, Seabozu, Dodongo [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Dorako, Ultraman, Gomora [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Skydon, Earthtron, MAT Arrow 2 [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Dangar, Gabora, Gyango, Alien Baltan [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Antlar, Pigmon, Gudon [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Pestar, Ultraman, Gabadon, Alien Zarab [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Detton, Zambolar, Telesdon [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Gamakujira, Stegon, MAT Vehicle, Kanegon [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Alien Mephilas, Hydra, Jamila, Ultraman [+]

Monster illustration by Toshio Okazaki --
Gesura, MAT Sub [+]

[More: Ultra Monster paintings by Toshio Okazaki]

Evolta mascot robot walking from Tokyo to Kyoto

22 Sep 2010

As a publicity stunt to demonstrate the durability of Evolta batteries, Panasonic's mascot robot is hiking the historic 500-kilometer (300-mi) Tōkaidō Road from Tokyo to Kyoto.

Evolta robot -- Evolta robot --
Evolta World Challenge III: Kyoto or bust! -- Photos via Sankei News

The Evolta humanoid, whose new design is meant to resemble an ancient highway traveler pulling a two-wheeled cart, measures 17 centimeters (7 in) tall and 40 centimeters (16 in) long. Constructed mostly of lightweight plastic, carbon fiber and titanium, the robot weighs about 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs). It is powered by 12 AA batteries and operated by remote control, and it can travel at a rate of 3 to 5 kilometers per hour (2-3 mph). If all goes according to schedule, the robot will complete the journey on December 10, after 49 days of walking.

Tokaido route --
On the 500-km Tōkaidō Road from September 23 to November 10, 2010

The Evolta robot is no stranger to endurance challenges. In May 2008 the battery-powered mascot climbed a 530-meter (1,740-ft) rope suspended from a Grand Canyon cliff, and in August 2009 it drove non-stop for 24 hours around the Le Mans race circuit, covering a distance of 23.7 kilometers (14.8 mi). Each feat earned the robot a Guinness World Record.

Evolta robot -- Evolta robot --
Evolta robot at Grand Canyon (2008) // Evolta robot at Le Mans (2009)

The current and previous versions of the humanoid were created by renowned roboticist Tomotaka Takahashi, founder of Kyoto University's Robo-Garage. The new robot features a hamster wheel-like design to facilitate movement over uneven surfaces, as well as a handcart that holds batteries. The batteries will be recharged once per day throughout the course of the journey.

Evolta robot --
Artist rendition of Evolta robot on Tōkaidō Road (2010)

The 500-kilometer (300-mi) Tōkaidō Road, which runs between Nihonbashi bridge in Tokyo and Sanjō Ōhashi bridge in Kyoto, served as Japan's most important transport artery during the Edo period. During its heyday in the 17th to 19th centuries, the road was one of the busiest highways in the world. In those days, it typically took travelers about 10 to 12 days to walk the route, weather permitting.

Tokaido road, 1865 --
Tōkaidō Road photographed by Felice Beato in 1865

In the 17th century, the Tokugawa shogunate set up 53 post stations along the route, where travelers could find food, shelter and other services. These stations are perhaps best known through "The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō" series of woodblock prints by the great ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige, who first traveled the route in 1832.

Shinagawa on the Tokaido, ukiyo-e print by Hiroshige --
Shinagawa, the first station on the Tōkaidō Road (print by Hiroshige)

The landscape has changed a great deal since then, and many of the old post stations have developed into towns and cities. The Evolta robot plans to pass through at least one station per day during the trek.

All of the action is being broadcast live on Ustream (morning to afternoon, Japan time).

The robot will also be tweeting its progress (in Japanese) at @evoltatoukaidou.

[Link: Evolta World Challenge III]

Video: 100

22 Sep 2010

This video -- directed by Kousuke Sugimoto, with music by Takayuki Manabe -- was created in celebration of the 100th issue of IdN magazine.


+ Video

Cyber-Shinto videos by AUJIK

21 Sep 2010

AUJIK, a mysterious Shinto group that believes all things in nature -- including the products of human technology -- possess a soul, have created a series of videos showing organic/synthetic artifacts intended to bridge the gap between the natural and artificial worlds.

* * * * *


+ Polygon Graffiti: an Uguisu Morph

This video features a selection of computer-generated artifacts at various locations around Japan.

* * * * *


+ a Forest within a Forest

This video, narrated by a masked AUJIK member named Nashi, explores some of the group's thoughts on technological singularity and artificial selection. AUJIK suggests that the tension between "original" nature (trees, rocks, animals, etc.) and "refined" nature (human technology) is decreasing, and that the two are converging. The group believes it is possible to accelerate this convergence by creating organic/synthetic artifacts such as the ones that appear in the video.

* * * * *


+ YUKI

This video shows two children interacting with a robotic tree in a snowy landscape.

* * * * *


+ KIIA

This video shows an organic robotic artifact growing from a tree trunk. The music was created from the sound of cicadas.

* * * * *


+ an Anomalous Garden

In this video, an AUJIK member named Madoka explains her thoughts on pattern recognition and how it relates to emotions and consciousness.

[More: QNQ/AUJIK]

Japanese cityscapes with monster-sized wildlife

17 Sep 2010

Artist Shuichi Nakano's "Searching for Paradise" paintings depict Godzilla-sized animals towering over the urban sprawl of Japan.

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
夢の途中 (In the midst of a dream)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
初秋の風、夏の余韻 (Early autumn wind, lingering memory of summer)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
5時25分の寒気 (Chill at 5:25)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
真昼の記憶 (Memory of noon)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
荒天の予感 (Premonition of storm)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
帰り道を忘れて (Forgetting the way home)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
(Title unknown)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
春の園 (Spring garden)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
楽園を捜して (Searching for paradise)

Fade Out: Laser-excited luminescent image display

16 Sep 2010

Fade Out, an eye-catching visual display system developed by media artists Daito Manabe and Motoi Ishibashi, uses laser beams to "print" ephemeral glow-in-the-dark images on a wall-mounted screen coated with photoluminescent paint.


+ Video

After the computer receives and processes a digital image (in this case, a webcam snapshot), ultraviolet laser beams are fired at the photoluminescent screen to produce square pixels of glowing green light. Subtle gradations are created by controlling the timing of the laser shots and allowing the darker portions of the image to fade. The completed image gradually disappears as the glow of the screen grows dim.

The novelty of the system seems to make it well-suited for use in entertainment and advertising, and the creators are now looking at ways to create glowing images in liquid and on irregular surfaces.

Here is some video of the system being tested on a human face.


+ Video

[Via: World Business Satellite]

HRP-4: Athletic robot worker

16 Sep 2010

Kawada Industries and Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) have updated their 10-year-old line of HRP humanoid robots with an athletic machine they hope to develop into a menial worker.

HRP robot -- HRP robot -- HRP robot --
HRP-4: Menial worker of the future?

The blue and white humanoid -- named HRP-4 -- stands 1.51 meters (5 ft) tall and boasts the body of a track-and-field athlete. The robot's 34 joints are more flexible than those of previous models, and at 39 kilograms (86 lbs), it weighs 4 kilograms (8.8 lbs) less than last year's entertainment-oriented HRP-4C fembot.


+ Video

At the unveiling on Wednesday, the agile robot demonstrated a range of skills that may come in handy in the workplace, such as the ability to stand on one foot, twist its waist, strike poses, follow spoken commands, recognize faces, and track objects by moving its head. Its five-fingered hands are also more dexterous than those of its predecessors.

Kawada and AIST plan to begin selling the robots to universities and research institutions in January 2011 at a starting price of 26 million yen ($305,000) each.

[Sources: Nikkei, AIST]

Mecha art by Naochika Morishita

15 Sep 2010

Hagane Bito, a book of collected works by freelance artist Naochika Morishita, is teeming with illustrations of anime robots. Here are a few.

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Gundam heads

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Daijyushin

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Gundam

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
GM Custom

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Gundam vs. Elmeth

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Jaburo

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Jaburo-2

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Z Mobile Suit-2

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Dom

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Wing Gundam Zero Custom

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
MagiDragon

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Scopedog and Berserga

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Dom Tropen

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
V Gundam RX-93 Nu Gundam (Thanks, Ian!)

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Cockpit

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Scopedog

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
GM vs. Zaku

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Gouf

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
GM Cold District Type

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Gundam RX-78-2

[More: OZKai, ! * `n@men!cht ]