The No-Car Life
Jan 4th, 2009 by Ad Blankestijn
I was pleasantly surprised to find this article, “Japan auto sales plunge as young lose interest,” on Japan Today. It is about the phenomenon of “kuruma banare,” or “demotorization“ among young people, who regard owning a car as more trouble than it’s worth.
I could not agree more, as Japan certainly is the country least suited to cars in the world. I owned a car once too, way back in Tokyo, but used it only infrequently and after a couple of years got rid of it. I have never looked back. Japan’s streets are clogged but trains are efficient and clean. There is no space to park, not near your house and not when you go somewhere – unless you pay through the nose. Car prices are not very high, seen internationally, but gasoline, taxes, insurance, mandatory shaken tests etc. are quite expensive. Driving on Japan’s narrow roads is an extremely unpleasant experience. Now I live in central Kobe, and I can get to most places on foot, or else I take the train.
Only outside the big cities a car is still a necessity even in Japan – but that is the fault of planners: putting huge shopping malls in the middle of nowhere and letting the shotengai, the efficient shopping malls in the town centers, die a slow death (see my post about this matter).
The image of the car has also changed. It is just a thing that you use if you need it, but not anymore a status symbol. Many young people prefer to spend their money on a computer or other communication tools or services.
So it is not surprising that the carmakers in Japan are getting nervous. The population is already declining, due to “demotorization” sales will go down even more – we are already back at the level of 1980. I don’ mind, as I feel there are still too many cars in this country… Perhaps Honda and Toyota can start making household robots instead of cars?
Do you drive a car in Japan?
I must say that I absolutely love being able to get to many places without owning a car in Japan, and I for one am happy to see that many other young people agree that in many cases a car is simply unneeded.
“Only outside the big cities a car is still a necessity even in Japan – but that is the fault of planners: putting huge shopping malls in the middle of nowhere and letting the shotengai, the efficient shopping malls in the town centers, die a slow death (see my post about this matter).”
I’d dispute your points here strongly. You’re really only putting the suburbs into consideration. Once you get out of the Kanto and Kansai areas, out into the real inaka, owning a car is a necessity, but it’s also very pleasant. There are plenty of great places where the trains don’t run and the buses are infrequent. Roads are still somewhat narrow compared with the States at least, and the tolls are high, but I always enjoyed driving in Tohoku.
I think they’re probably selling fewer cars in Japan because there are less people living in the extreme inaka.
Hi Ad,
I can’t agree more. I was very happy myself when I first heard several years ago that young people lost their interest in cars. I gave up my car in 1998. For my work I sometimes need a car, but then I can easily rent one, usually after traveling to the location where I need to be by train. It has not only saved me heaps of money, but also much frustration. And it feels pretty good to know that for the past 10+ years I have had a much smaller carbon footprint.
I have spent a lot of time in rural Tochigi and a car is necessary. And not because we need to get to a shopping mall. People and friends and other places are spread out. Their homes are in diferent locations down quiet streets or rural roads. No trains or subways. Buses would be impractical.
I agree that living in a city you don’t need a car in Japan. But in rural areas. It is not practical to not have one. And it is not because of shopping malls.
Daniel, Tornadoes28,
Your point is taken! Nowadays I come regularly in Fukushima, and you are right, you need a car there, and driving in Tohoku can be quite pleasant. I just wanted to make my remark about the Shotengai, because I am really sad that these are being replaced with soulless Aeon malls that look alike wherever you go…
Adam, Kjeld,
Nice to hear I am not alone in my opinion!
Yeah, totally agree with shotengai – they are perfect for big cities. Have you been to any of the ones in Takamatsu? Some of the ones there are insanely long…something like 5km or so, and covered the whole way!
Yes I do drive a car in Tokyo suburbs, and find it helpful for a family. Many places we go are not near train station and who wants to navigate bus lines with 3 kids? Grocery shopping pretty difficult by bike also unless you have time to go every day.
The strength of the yen could be attributed to the reliable and extensive train infrastructure which the US lacks.
BTW “i’m waiting for cars to drive me”.
Not driving a car is a privilege