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WeeklyAkibaWords: Itasha

June 20, 2008

WeeklyAkibaWords: Itasha

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What a bold car! Is it real? Does somebody drive such a car? I know you think like that. Some cars in the game like "Forza2" (Xbox360) are amazingly painted by an artisan, but that only happens in the game world. If you really have such a car, you are unable to drive around; just to park it at your house would be shameful for you, right? We call those cars "Itasha." Itasha literally means "Painful Car" (Itai=painful). But for this situation, "Itai" is used to describe something pitiful, pathetic, awkward, hideous, or ugly although it is supposed to mean hurt or painful.

It's rare to see such a car; however, we can see those "dream-like" Itasha in Akiba here and there. I guess it's better for me to show some pictures than just to explain in words. You'll understand what Itasha really is!

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Miku Chevrolet Camaro
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Magical Sisters Mazda RX-7
Gull-wing Door!
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A Van Becomes Like This A Truck is Also Haruhi!

Not only exterior, but also, some Itasha that show more fight throw itself into interior of their Itasha. Inside their cars, it's normal to have figures or stuffed toys; some owners even have a sheet or a hug pillow cover with a life-sized illustration of their favorite character. If an owner is more serious, he puts a life-sized figure on the front sheet like if the character were his girlfriend!?

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Interior of Itasha

Nowadays, Itasha has been paid attention- even Itazha magazine was released. Probably, curiosity got the better of fear so people just want to talk about it. The name of the Itasha magazine was used on a car magazine as a parody.

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Itasha Graphics (A Parody of Car Graphics) Itasha Road (A Parody of Champ Road)
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Not Only Magazines, But Also Itasha Became into Plastic Model

Once Otaku take charge of Itasha, a motorcycle or a bicycle become like this:

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D.C.II HONDA NSR
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Monitors on Both Sides!
Played a Game, Idolm@ster (Xbox360) by Using iPod
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Ita-scooter (Motorcycle)
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Little Busters Ita-jitensha (Bicycle) Miku Ita-jitensha (Bicycle) Nanatsuiro Drops Ita-jitensha
Itasha (Wikipedia)

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Reader Comments

1 Comments
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Eduardo Gonzalez:

BAH!
Not even nelson Piquet can drive these things on the track, since they're too painful for the FIA regulations

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