Inside Japan's Tricked-Out DIY Truck Culture

If you find yourself driving down a highway in Japan, you might pass what looks like an actual Transformer. No, you're not crazy. These tricked-out transports belong to a niche DIY semi truck culture called dekotora, in which long-haul drivers add custom graphics, lights and swag to their vehicles on a level that goes way beyond a couple decals. With some dekotora customizations costing up to $100,000, many of these dedicated DIY designers see their vehicles as spiritual extensions of their identity.
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[@alouisschafer7212]

Japan just HAS to take everything to the next level. Never change.

[@EseCuate562]

Wish this was longer

[@dave5194]

TWIN 562 Same, there wasn't enough time to fully take in all the details of the trucks without pausing with how quickly the shots changed. Wish I could see more long slow shots. Can't do that in a video under 3 minutes.

[@ausfyausfy2455]

Then again, no BS content in their video. (and even if it was, it will last only about 2min). It is like a double edged sword. I do wish longer version of it, then again do I have time for it ?

[@kana5s627]

ไทยทำไทยใช้ไทยเจริญ ครับ kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3XRh2eDgraXha8

[@kana5s627]

ไทยทำไทยใช้ไทยเจริญ ครับ kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3XRh2eDgraXha8

[@leroy92TX]

"you can express where your from, your family" reminds me of the car/truck culture in TexAs

[@erikaguzman567]

These trucks make me think of the background to street fighter and other fighting games with those awesome trucks. This is badass in real life.

[@ssjchixken5110]

I think there was a stage like it in street fighter 4, or maybe street fighter X Tekken?

[@francisau8003]

I am a Hong Konger currently living in the UK, I was brought up seeing Japanese trucks in Hong Kong decorated in a way that was inspired by these Japanese Dekotoras. I wish I can build my own dekotora in the UK one day based on a Mitsubishi FUSO or Isuzu truck with decoration parts shipped from Japan.

[@ruven3703]

When I watch this videos I just get so into it I totally forget about everything else around me...

[@steorra15]

It makes me want to learn so much more about this culture

[@gathel8574]

Dekotora is awesome... ...yet underated in Japan subculture

[@Avalon1489]

Those are some badass trucks.

[@PrestigeClips]

I love this channel! All these untold stories coming to life :) If you guys did documentary length stuff that would be amazing. I also think it would help you grow faster and get more views.

[@Johnferrana]

@viceland 😉

[@Squirrels310]

When I get hit by a truck and reincarnated in another world I'd like it to be by one of these trucks.

[@himmelssturmer4329]

Hahaha...brilliant

[@porcupinesauce3872]

😂😂😂

[@kana5s627]

ไทยทำไทยใช้ไทยเจริญ ครับ kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3XRh2eDgraXha8

[@GhostOfDamned]

Lmao

[@Minerva578]

Another day of another what the actual fck

[@timmyt1717]

I'm going to Japan in a matter of weeks and now I have even MORE reason to try and stay awake during the night scene. Huge thanks for this Great Big Story, I'll keep my eyes open to spot these amazing Dekotora!

[@zetadroid]

One of those was Optimus Pride in disguise.

[@MrBtterman]

Great Big Story did it again thank you for this awesome video and your hard work

[@RohitKumar-gd8vu]

Japan looks like a video game, visually and their people seem so nice

[@nobull772]

Their working culture is a little bit scary.

[@hieuphungminh6690]

japaneses are weird but awesome at the same time..

[@user-cr3pn7rk2v]

Japanese are very serious and conformist. Most people are overly "normal". Thats why eccentric people go All the way out crazy lol Also Japanese entertainment is weird as a kind of contrast and relief for serious and bleak Japanese society

[@eggneto]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[@hieuphungminh6690]

brother?

[@rashoietolan3047]

u kiddin me? bitch please that's your other account

[@christiewilley7677]

Love it, great video. I spent 13 months in Japan and loved it!!!

[@nojnoj3069]

You guys are the best!...... Thankyou for building beautiful bright trucks, they are truly outstanding!

[@crystalstarspark]

I'd hope that when the owners of these trucks retire from work or pass on they start a museum to show off/ display these trucks!

[@gkayohkay]

i love japan they so funky

[@EhRandomGuy]

Now let's see them drift those ;)

[@risingdragon8886]

No harm in doing what you love. They're not oging out to kill people, they just have a passion for what they do, in this case these guys have a serious passion for their trucks. Just like people who have a passion for tricking out their rides, its no different to people spending vast amounts of their income on modifying their cars. I admire their passion, also i love their trucks, so cool looking. :)

[@danalcaria6408]

Japanese Transformers come to life !

[@ArianaChica]

Amazing... pretty original decorations.

[@weaseltown]

I remember seeing trucks like these for the first time in the movie Black Rain and always thought they were badass!

[@clydeboggs2241]

That's actually really awesome.

[@0therun1t21]

I'd love to visit a truck stop in Japan to view these beautiful works of art! Maybe hitch a ride with a nice trucker.

[@Weedwaffles]

Y'all remember the game 18 wheeler? Back in the PlayStation and GameCube? Remember the Japanese truck you had to unlock? 😂

[@daten__]

there was a game called "dekotora densetsu" a long time ago, and it was about dekotora. it was a very popular game.

[@Goon_Lagoon69420]

My favorite kind of style in vehicles, along with bozosoku cars

[@electronicgrinsch]

Could you give a track list? Please..

[@fika8569]

JAPANNNNN Y U SO GOOOODDDDDD AT EBERYTHING!!!!

[@eqbert]

They should've done one on BOSOZOKU cars too, but too bad they've discontinued content.

[@EducatedWalrus]

Wow...... soo beautiful and majestic

[@BoomZhakalaka]

Now i can relate to the ps1 Japanese truck race game, "ART CAMION GEIJUTSUDEN" truck decoration and lights set up... Truly an amazing Japanese culture thank you for this video im so happy.. 😎

[@patrickstarpants8845]

that old guy is cool

[@Yoyoyoyoasshole]

I’m late. What do they haul, or if anything at all??

[@genecoppola4420]

It's a very nice artistic expression..

[@ericrodrigues3749]

so creative! reminds me of the trucks in India !

[@WSNO]

beautiful works of art! thinking about how to interpret the artform onto american models on this side of the pascific .

[@jet-raTV]

Dekotora truck Very cool!

[@leoecrepont35]

could anybody get the tracks? thx

[@FlipSideGarage]

Where do they get all this lighting?

[@dk7541]

Song list for this?

[@stpariah9609]

Is this a re-upload? Swear I've seen this one before

[@JRJapaneserunnerinUK]

Great short story, just one wish that they had smile...lol. I guess, that Japanese way to show how decotora track men's are, I suppose.😈😎😼🚚

[@MinskyDoxsky]

Great culture trucking ❤️

[@androlimanovski7043]

Music from 0:33?

[@DubstepDrifter]

Wonder if they know they made a hot wheels replica of the ryujinmaru my son just got and showed him this video he's very excited 😊

[@joelzimmerman9955]

I played bakusou dekotora densetsu in ps1 and ps2 hahaha remind me so much about my childhood

[@auntjemima1631]

I LOVED THIS ONE OMGGGGGDSJJ

[@machscga6238]

I should do this to my box truck here in Canada

[@tibedog5629]

I'd love to see a apocalyptic show where the main characters are saved by just a bunch of neon punk MadMax truckers decked to the nines.

[@TD-bw6qy]

Dekatora is litter than lit.

[@kittycats2827]

He said his life is fulfilled! I gotta get one

[@kylin3197]

brilliant c:

[@goldenkiller202]

This is fucking sick

[@Reggie21]

I hope you next cover about itasha

[@spoogle621]

Man, these things are fucking awesome!

[@swanbrown]

too much awesomeness to fit on a car!

[@hellcat9]

do they like ship cargo or anything, or is it just like a looks thing

[@daten__]

nowadays, it is only for hobby, or special event.

[@hutki_shira]

I want this correction NEED this

[@yogadgsix]

there are itasha and now dekotora

[@belkin54gification]

Cool 😎

[@shirleygriffin7672]

Nice

[@user-ro9tr1kw9n]

I love old japanese trucks.

[@dk7541]

What's the song at the beginning?

[@Ahibasabala]

I'd love to know that too

[@lilflecktarn5498]

Most beautiful I've ever seen.

[@JBKChannel]

I like it... i.m from indonesia

[@SunglassSensei]

我々怖いイメージあるけど、違う... 2:07 「出てるんで」って言った時ヤクザの言い方を使った😂

[@ylloboy]

Damn, I love those trucks. Wish we had shit like this in Europe, damn.

[@thatfatasiankid5701]

I read the tittle and thought this was gonna be about bosozoku

[@sherlockholmes5596]

I like dekotora the most in the world.

[@91185mccoy]

seizure trigger! i need to show this to my mother-in-law

[@C0RNL0RD]

Do they still actually haul stuff around in them or do they just drive them around to show them off?

[@encomium0525]

They mainly carry fish or vegetables, and manufacturers or warehouses usually don't commit the jobs to the truck companies that own those kinds of trucks because they are vulgar.

[@encomium0525]

However, those decoration trucks culture was huge in 1980's and 1990's, so back then more of them were frequently seen as if they had been normal. I am almost 30 years old but I still remember that.

[@kky-jd3xj]

Japan has the best -trucks- things.

[@johnp6636]

You got a light out mate

[@artistic9268]

nah cuz i seen this trucu right now and it really reminds me of the philippines so bad

[@Mark3nd]

They arent scary, but when your driving with them in your car/pickup. Thats another thing, I have 1 year of driving and i still need to get used to driving with them on the freeway.

[@Terrakinetic]

Wait, what about the naka? Naka o misete-kure. Are you really not going to show off the insides?

[@geoff1121]

Dekotora Truck Simulator please

[@imazuedits1522]

geoff1121 there actually are at some arcades lul

[@adityaharryson]

it's on psx games.. it's called "art camion geijutsuden" or art truck battle..

[@benjamincecilio5063]

★ CRASHIN' FRASHIN' BREAKDANCERS!! ★

[@andyroo9806]

japanesse people are crazy. i wish we could have street glow in the states. you can, as long as it isnt on.

[@panzermeyer9944]

it's like a mobile nightclub

[@HerbleFrocks]

Trucks are sweet

[@kunsovannrithy4224]

❤❤❤

[@Dont_be_jeaolus]

I have a hot wheels truck that looks like some of those trucks its called raijin express

[@MrBlues113]

Una chiva

[@pineapplewonho5146]

STAN CREATIVITY STAN JAPAN

[@sacragon]

damn, my man actually does not have eyes

[@far8]

35 years to finish? r u serious dude?

[@gabriellui4356]

i guess they have to build everything by hand piece by piece

[@leelandbaker9540]

Neon drift.

[@MegaKhangkhung]

those truck will transform in to a robot when Godzilla decides to attack tokyo

[@gmkittens5271]

in pakistan its same

[@nickpantalones684]

+GM vlogging Cats, so true. I've seen the same phenomenon in Pakistan, China, India, and the Philippines. Truckers spend so much time on the road behind the wheel of their rigs, that eventually, the rigs literally become extensions of themselves - their origins, their beliefs, even their hopes and dreams.

[@benderbendingrofriguez3300]

whit the difference that they blow up HAHAHA !

[@king-of-the-game]

For ever trucker 🚛🚛🚛🚛

[@SILENTTIIGERFARKWEB]

Art truck battle in real life

[@user-fn1nt1su5m]

if anyone dares to crash them holy

[@Kim_Dayu]

basically the same as indian truckers. trucks are their pride and the show it off

[@chir221]

Truck decorating started in Pakistan, I think you should go to Pakistan

[@Baztation]

Fuckin awesome!!!!! SU KOIIII!

[@rsmith02]

Saikou!

[@f88ohashi81]

The colors are flashy and not inferior to those of Pakistani men

[@bepishepus3506]

rice rice baby