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I occasionally see forum posts of people in Japan showing off their anime-
styled cars and I saw some whilst in Japan also. I believe there's also groups
of these people who have meetups and such.

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/SPmY1m.jpg) ![enter
image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Ow9arm.jpg)

It's not just cars either, I've seen some boats and a few helicopters
decorated too.

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4m1w2m.jpg) ![enter
image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/iGru1m.jpg) ![enter image
description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vzBHUm.jpg)

Obviously, these weren't around in the early days of anime - but when did they
start appearing on the streets?


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2015-06-13T15:05:56.553
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2019-08-22T07:57:52.063
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culture itasha
When did people start putting anime characters on vehicles?


These type of otaku-owned car are called
[Itasha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itasha) 痛車?, literally _" painful car"_
(painfully embarrassing / painful for the wallet) and started with decoration
of cars in the **80s** when Japan experienced a lot of growth and many wealthy
people started importing many luxury cars. This decoration only really
consisted of plushies, stickers and non-permanent features.

According to Wikipedia, fully-fledged Itasha only really started being seen in
the **21st century** \- when internet culture gave the anime industry a large
growth sprurt - in advertising, greater fan communities and distribution.

[Expert from Itasha article, Otaku USA Magazine,
**2009**](https://web.archive.org/web/20110718225635/http://www.otakuusamagazine.com/Events/Public/News1/Itasha_and_Intansha_1117.aspx)

> Most often, stickers are put on the hood and doors of the car and then
> airbrushed. People who think, "It's kind of embarrassing, but I really want
> to ride in an itasha! ... But I'd have to hide it from my family and at my
> job. [..] can quickly take the design off by attaching and detaching
> magnetic stickers.
>
> Although printing cutting sheets of personal favorite characters and putting
> them on the car is a popular method, people who are really devoted will
> commission a specialist to airbrush their designs.

This article mentions a few owners with itasha cars from **2002**.

**Notable Dates:**

  * In **2007** , the first Autosalone (itasha convention) was held.
  * June **2008** , Aoshima Bunka Kyozai launched "ITASHA" as one of the first offically licensed Itasha.

It's not a purely-japanese phenomenon either, there are itasha to be seen in
[Malaysia](https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1734133) , Taiwan and the
Philippines too. It hasn't become overly popular in the West just yet however.


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2015-06-13T15:05:56.553
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answer