DekoCar 2026: A Quick Itasha Fix
It feels like its barely been a few months since the last Dekocar Nisei Week event, yet here it is again, and I’m happy I got to check it out.
It feels like its barely been a few months since the last Dekocar Nisei Week event, yet here it is again, and I’m happy I got to check it out.
Honestly, I wasn't planning on going this year— the Nisei Week Grand Parade was the next day, and it’d been a couple of years since I last visited that event. But this year I actually managed to hit both events (kind of a miracle, as a parent of a young child with barely any free time anymore).
That said, I was only able to visit for about an hour, but even so, it was a lot of fun. I've been a huge fan of itasha for years, and I like getting out to see these cars as often as I can. There were a lot of highlights this time around— some returning faces, but also a bunch of new cars (which is a treat, considering how expensive these things can be to build). Even a few of the returning builds had noticeably changed since I last saw them.
First Impressions
One of the first cars on display was Malani Miata’s Kuromiata MX-5. A returning face, but also a fantastic representation of the craft, and as such, a great “first impression” for the event. And as a fun little bonus, there was also a miniature version of the car parked right next to it.
Just past that, was a beautiful pink ZeroTwo Honda bike just leading into the main lot. Bikes aren’t something I see often at these events— every now and then one pops up, but they’re still surprisingly rare.
Personal Favorites
Several of this year’s cars stood out to me, but if I had to pick one, it would probably be the white Toyota Soarer, featuring Misuzu from the OVA Air. That anime had such a special place in my memory— the art was unlike anything I'd seen up to that point, and it still holds up pretty well today. It's more than 20 years old at this point (and somewhat obscure now), so it was really cool to see it represented.
More Standouts
A few other builds that stood out:
Dragon Ball Z Nissan 370Z — back again with even more modifications since I last saw it.
A JDM Classic Car lineup — not itasha, just older stock Japanese cars (some Mazdas, a Datsun) parked together. It was cool seeing these alongside the anime builds and it gave the event a greater “Japanese car culture” feel that you don’t find anywhere else.
Ninomae Lexus LS430 — One of my favorites from last year— it mostly looked unchanged, but I think that was a good thing with this car. It’s wonderfully balanced in its design and I was just as happy to see it again.
Ken Bolito's Toyota Supra — Ken is the host of the YouTube channel Denki, who I’ve been following for a while. It was a pleasant surprise when I learned he was into itasha, and so I was stoked to see his standout car in person. I actually spotted him inside the event hall and got to say hi, which was a cool little experience in itself.
Umamusume Porsche Cayman — Another from last year, also seemingly untouched since I last saw it. Still a favorite.
Highschool DxD Civic coupe — I’ve never seen the anime, but this was a personal fave since it's the same car I drive. I don't see many 10th gen coupes (not nearly as often as the sedan or hatchback), so that was a treat. The overall theme leaned a bit too much into the lewd aesthetic of that series (not the wrap over all, but the stickers and dash gear), but it was still a cool build.
Sanrio Cinnamoroll Subaru — gorgeous paint job with pink heart wheels. Adorable execution.
Chobits-themed Mitsubishi hatchback — Chobits is an older series you don't see represented much anymore, so it stood out. It was beautifully done.
Toyota Corolla AE86 — styled after the car from Initial D, it was nicely done tribute build.
AbstractNine Booth Lexus — I didn't recognize any of the characters plastered across it, and honestly it seemed more like a display piece to promote brands, rather than a tribute to any one series. Still a really cool vehicle to check out.
Wrapping Up
I poked my head into artist alley for a bit, but there weren't any performances or major activities happening at that moment, so I didn't stick around — I had to get going anyway. Still, I left feeling satisfied with my visit. It was awesome getting to see a big collection of itasha in one place again after such a long break.
Btw, I'm on the lookout for more events to check out. Summer was a little hectic, but now that fall's rolling in, I should have more free time to get out and explore.
And of course, there were more vehicles that I haven’t highlighted yet. Keep scrolling to check those out in the rest of my photo batch. And let me know if you checked out Dekocar this year, or if you've got your own itasha memories to share. I’d love to hear!
Dekocar at Nisei Week 2025
I finally made it back out to a Dekocar event at Nisei Week in Little Tokyo. It’s been quite a few years since I last attended—2019, if memory serves—so it felt good to return.
I finally made it back out to a Dekocar event at Nisei Week in Little Tokyo. It’s been quite a few years since I last attended—2019, if memory serves—so it felt good to return. These days it can be tough to carve out time to do anything consistently, but I’m glad I went. It was a chance to see how the scene has evolved, catch up with some familiar styles, and of course, take plenty of photos to share.
Like last time, the event took place at the Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo. The venue is a bit removed from the hustle and bustle of Japanese Village Plaza and Weller Court, but after the hard time I had finding parking for Nisei Week, I can appreciate the separation. The show felt a little smaller in terms of cars compared to 2019, but also bigger in other ways. Inside the temple’s auditorium, there was an artist alley, vendors, and even a small stage for performances, adding more variety to the experience.
Highlights from the Car Displays
Returning Motifs
One car that really caught my eye was a white Mitsubishi Evo with a Boosette-themed design. Back in 2019, I photographed a similar car, and I found myself wondering if this was the same one. As it turns out, it is! The styling has definitely changed—this version features new wrap designs and is heavily modified with a body kit, spoiler, and custom hood. The look is different enough that I didn’t even recognize it at the Taste of Japan Dekocar event in May. It's only here (where I first encountered it) that my memory was finally jogged. Regardless, it was cool to see an “old face” make a comeback. In a way, it made it feel like maybe I hadn’t been gone that long from the scene. (Owner @king_boo_rider on Instagram)
Other Standout Designs
Kuromi Mazda Miata
A clean black Miata featuring the Sanrio character Kuromi. The vehicle had a striking design and it definitely stood out. (Owner @MelaniMiata on Instagram).
Tifa Lockhart BRZ
A bold Final Fantasy–themed build. It’s always fun to see game culture blend into the itasha world. Personally, I’ve always been more of an Aerith guy, but Tifa seems to be the more popular of the two. (Owner @lex.lao on Instagram)
Dragon Ball Z x LA Dodgers 370Z
One of the most unexpected mashups I’ve seen. It feels so strange, but considering the two franchises here, there’re probably A LOT of people who would be into this. Either way, I love a good Z, and that Vegeta design on the side was sick so this was definitely a favorite of mine.
Umamusume Porsche Cayman
I favor JDM above all else, so its ironic that my personal favorite of the show was this Porsche. The base paint was a striking turquoise, with a partial wrap that left much of the original color shining through. The artwork featured Twin Turbo, with a sort of pop-graffiti design. I know nothing about Umamusume, but this beautifully designed piece makes me a little curious. Between this, and all the RWBs out there, I’m starting to look a little closer at German cars now… (Owner @minhp765 on Instagram)
Gundam 00 Subaru Impreza
Gundam designs are always a staple at these shows. While I’m more familiar with older entries like Gundam Wing or 08th MS Team, it was great to see the franchise represented. (Owner @00_subaru_ on Instagram).
Ninomae Lexus LS430
I feel like Luxury cars are rare in the itasha scene, so this one stood out. It kept much of its elegant feel while also sporting a clean, modern art style on the wrap. Dropped stance, tasteful execution—definitely a highlight. (Owner @zzwderick on Instagram)
Classic JDM Presence
Not every car at the event was an itasha. There were a number of clean, classic JDM cars, including an immaculate blue Civic Si with a restored engine and minimal cosmetic mods. It was a reminder that sometimes simplicity and preservation make just as big of an impression as flashy wraps.
There were also, what appeared to be a few older rotary engine cars on display (they look like Mazdas and Datsuns?). I’m not too sure on the models, since pre-90s vehicles are a bit outside my area of familiarity. That said, they were absolutely gorgeous, and I went down a rabbit hole in trying to learn more about them.
(There were many more cars, of course. The rest of the images I took are located at the end of this article.)
Beyond the Cars
To my surprise, the event wasn’t just about vehicles. Inside the hall, there was an artist alley with merch and prints, plus a live stage. One standout moment was a performance by Hamu Cotton, a dance performer known for her anime-inspired routines. She drew an enthusiastic crowd, with plenty of fans cheering and dancing along. This added a new energy to the show compared to last visit, making it feel more like a cultural gathering than just a car meet.
Final Thoughts
Attending Dekocar at Nisei Week reminded me why I love covering these events. Even after being away for so long, there was a sense of continuity—familiar motifs mixed with new creativity, plus more variety in things to see. Compared to other events like Taste of Japan, which hosted itasha indoors with tougher lighting, I appreciated that this one was outside, where the designs could really shine.
If you’re interested in following the itasha scene, check out Dekocar on Instagram (@dekocar). They regularly post cars from events around the world and are a great resource if you want to see more.
For me, this was a refreshing return to the culture, and I’m looking forward to the next chance to document it. Stay tuned for more photo stories and coverage—both from new outings and from my archives.
In the meantime, enjoy some more car photos from the event.
