[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/japanese-vanning\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/japanese-vanning\/","headline":"Japanese Vanning: Modifying Gone Wild","name":"Japanese Vanning: Modifying Gone Wild","description":"Caution: spoilers ahead Minivans are great for many things. Airport runs, parties, late night taxi rides and so on… What you wouldn\u2019t expect them to be good for is looking cool, but there are plenty of people in Japan that would disagree with that. Heavily modifying your van, or \u201cvanning\u201d, may sound ridiculously silly but in the land of the rising sun, it\u2019s a whole subculture of its own. We\u2019re here to introduce you into the magical world of vanning […]","datePublished":"2018-09-25","dateModified":"2018-09-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Japanese-Vanning-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Japanese-Vanning-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/japanese-vanning\/","about":["Imported Cars","LATEST CAR NEWS","Modified Cars"],"wordCount":442,"keywords":["japanese imports","Japanese Vanning","modifying"],"articleBody":"Caution: spoilers aheadMinivans are great for many things. Airport runs, parties, late night taxi rides and so on… What you wouldn\u2019t expect them to be good for is looking cool, but there are plenty of people in Japan that would disagree with that.Heavily modifying your van, or \u201cvanning\u201d, may sound ridiculously silly but in the land of the rising sun, it\u2019s a whole subculture of its own. We\u2019re here to introduce you into the magical world of vanning where 2 wings is considered laughable and if you can still fit in a multi-story car park, you haven\u2019t modified it enough.\ufeffThe most popular minivans used in the \u201cvanning\u201d community are the Toyota HiAce and the Nissan Caravan. Both of these vehicles are great for carrying tools, furniture and people but you\u2019ll find that the owners have no intention of using them for any of these purposes. Instead, they morph them into their own works of art with large fixings on the front, back and top. They also often feature airbrushed paintings of pop culture characters such as Batman, Winnie The Pooh, Hello Kitty, various anime characters and even film characters and pop artists.As well as airbrush paintings and massive front and rear bumpers, most of these vans feature spoilers and wings that look like they\u2019ve been ripped straight out of anime. Not only do they extend 5 feet from the van, but there can also be around 10 \u201cspikes\u201d on a single van. The only limit is their imagination.The style of modification can sometimes be referred to as \u201cBosozoku\u201d which describes the style of extreme features such as huge spoilers, bumpers and exhausts. The term originally described a style of motorcycle modding, but has since developed as a term to also describe the crazy style of extreme customisation on cars and vans as well.Despite them looking like extreme road hazards, these beasts are surprisingly road legal! Perhaps the laws haven\u2019t adapted for this specific style of van modification, but the law only requires for mechanical parts to be a certain distance away from the ground. The rules say nothing about cosmetic parts being 2 centimetres off the floor, or having multiple giant wings.Some of the work done on these creations are DIY garage projects, but there are also some businesses in Japan that specialise in creating these pieces that look like they\u2019re from a movie set. Custom bodywork, specialist lighting, professional airbrush art and luxury interiors, these minivans may look atrocious but you can\u2019t help but admire the work and craftsmanship put into them.Photos taken by Miguel Varella-Cid, Newera Imports"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Japanese Vanning: Modifying Gone Wild","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/japanese-vanning\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]