Japanese domestic market


The term "Japanese domestic market" refers to Japan's home market for vehicles and vehicle parts. Japanese owners contend with a strict motor vehicle inspection and grey markets. JDM is also incorrectly used as a term colloquially to refer to cars produced in Japan but sold in other countries.
The average age of JDM cars is 8.7 years, ranking 9th in a survey of 30 of the top 50 countries by gross domestic product. According to the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, a car in Japan travels a yearly average of over only, less than half the U.S. average of.
Japanese domestic market vehicles may differ greatly from the cars that Japanese manufacturers build for export and vehicles derived from the same platforms built in other countries. The Japanese car owner looks more toward innovation than long-term ownership which forces Japanese carmakers to refine new technologies and designs first in domestic vehicles. For instance, the 2003 Honda Inspire featured the first application of Honda's Variable Cylinder Management. However, the 2003 Honda Accord V6, which was the same basic vehicle, primarily intended for the North American market, did not feature VCM, which had a poor reputation after Cadillac's attempt in the 1980s with the V8-6-4 engine. VCM was successfully introduced to the Accord V6 in its redesign for 2008.
In 1988, JDM cars were limited by voluntary self-restraints among manufacturers to and a top speed of, limits imposed by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association for safety. The horsepower limit was lifted in 2004 but the speed limit of remains.

Motorcycle power and speed restrictions

For many years Japan had severe restrictions on the maximum power and speed that motorcycles could have.
All motorcycles for the Japanese domestic market were restricted to.
Power restrictions were as follows

Pre-1993

  • 250cc class:
  • 400cc class:
  • 750cc class:
  • over 750cc: not allowed

    Post-1993

  • 250cc class:
  • 400cc class:
  • 750cc class:
  • over 750cc: allowed, but restricted to

    VIN

Japanese carmakers do not use a vehicle identification number as is common overseas. Instead, they use either a frame number, chassis number, or vehicle ID number and also a model code as well as an emissions code to identify their vehicles. The frame number identifies the vehicles model and serial number. For example, frame number SV30-0169266 breaks down as "SV30" identifying the model as Toyota Camry/Vista and "0169266" being the serial number of the vehicle. The model code designates the vehicle's model number and features. As an example, ST205-BLMVZ breaks down as "ST205", which means it is a third generation Toyota Celica GT-FOUR, and "BLMVZ" which designates a set of features incorporated in the vehicle. The Emissions Code refers to the vehicle's designated emission standard at the time, usually being placed before the vehicle's model number, and with the five most commonly used designations being E, GF, GH, ABA, and CBA. These codes are only seen on JDM models and are not present on exported models of the same type. Examples would include E-EK9 or GF-EK9 from the first generation Civic Type R, E-BNR32 from the R32 Skyline GT-R, E-JZX100 from the eighth generation Mark II. Another useful example to help differentiate between pure JDM models and export examples is the code JHMEEG6 on the European Civic VTi models and E-EG6 on the Japanese fifth generation Civic SiR trims. Correct identification of the chassis code using these markers would help prove the authenticity of the model.

Worldwide popularity

Motorcycles

In the '90s the JDM power restrictions along with license restrictions that made it difficult to be licensed on larger motorcycles resulted in a number of models that were not offered anywhere else in the world, with 250cc and 400cc miniature replicas of the bigger 750cc & 900cc bikes.
At the same time, Japan had particularly tough laws regarding road licensing and sales regulations. Any motorcycle more powerful than 250cc had to take an extensively stringent test every two years.
Combining these factors with a virtually non-existent second-hand market made it economic to export the nearly new bikes abroad where they were eagerly bought and a number of import specialists sprung up to cater for this "grey import" market of relatively inexpensive but interesting motorcycles.
In the later '90s as Japan's economy fell into recession it became less profitable to export and Japanese owners held on to their bikes for longer. The last global crash all but ended the "grey import" industry with the big specialist importers closing down.

Cars

Cars manufactured for the Japanese domestic market have been growing in popularity since the late 1990s.
File:1990 Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon 2.5l Turbo Diesel 4WD JDM US Grey market vehicle.jpg|thumb|right|180px|1990 Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon 2.5l Turbo Diesel 4WD - JDM US Grey import vehicle
Ex-Japan Imports are also very common in New Zealand where 59% of vehicles registered on New Zealand roads originated from overseas markets as opposed to 41% of which were delivered NZ-New. Of this, 94% originate from Japan.
New Zealand imported an average of 134,834 JDM vehicles per year in the period 2015–2019, the majority of which were Mazda 3, Suzuki Swift, Nissan Tiida, Toyota Corolla and Mazda 2. Other models popular for importation in previous years include exotic vehicles, and kei cars. Due to the popularity of used imports from Japan, and their relatively poor crash-test ratings, the New Zealand Ministry of Transport is currently investigating tougher restrictions on imported vehicles, most notably on the importation of the Toyota Corolla, Mazda 2 and Suzuki Swift.
In 2004, importing JDM cars became popular in Canada as highly sought after vehicles, such as the 1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R, became eligible to import under Canada's 15-year rule. In contrast, importing grey market vehicles into the United States is much more difficult. To avoid regulatory problems, most private individuals wait until EPA restrictions no longer apply to the desired vehicle, which is done on a rolling 25-year cycle.

Railways

Ex-Japan import rolling stocks in all kinds is no exception on this list, although it can be considered as JDM but in special case since this was also intended for Japanese market which were mostly acquired by leading private railway companies across Japan such as Japan Railways, even subways such as Tokyo Metro, Tokyu Corporation, Toei Subway and so forth which was in demand for modernizing railway system in most developing countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar to acquire used trains from Japan rather than procuring brand-new rolling stocks, there are some cases that the management from each respective railway companies in Japan such as Japan Railways are decided to donate them to the oversea country, instead of scrapping them ahead in no time, which is really needed for a major upgrade and sign their agreement that the recipient of the oversea country will pay for its freight expenses and the rest will be free.
Here are different categories of used rolling stocks listed which were mostly shipped and operated overseas in different countries.
  • Electric Multiple Unit
Rolling StockFormer OperatorYears of service in JapanFormer Railway Line in JapanCurrent OperatorCountry in OverseasYear of ServiceRemarks
103 seriesJNR / JR East1980-2005Musashino LineKRL JabodetabekIndonesia2004-2016103–0 series still active in JR West as of 2023
203 seriesJNR / JR East1982-2011Chiyoda Line, Joban LineKAI CommuterIndonesia2011-presentThe last batch of Japanese EMU rolling stock to be donated from Japan in 2010-2011 aside from donation to the Philippines
203 seriesJNR / JR East1982-2011Philippine National RailwaysPhilippines2012-presentServed as push-pull passenger cars hauled by a diesel-electric locomotive
205 series, 205–5000 seriesJNR / JR East1985-2020Saikyo Line,Yokohama Line, Nambu Line, Musashino Line, Yamanote Line KAI CommuterIndonesia2013-presentOver 100 sets in total were shipped to Indonesia from 2013 to 2020, making it the most number of units ever shipped overseas.
Nagoya Municipal Subway 5000 seriesNagoya Municipal Subway1980-2015Higashiyama LineBuenos Aires UndergroundArgentina2015-present
Eidan 500 seriesEidan 1954-1996Marunouchi LineBuenos Aires UndergroundArgentina1996-presentNo specific info since there are other variations such as 300, 400 & 900 series which belong to the 500 series classification
Toei 6000 seriesToei Subway1969-1999Mita LineKRL JabodetabekIndonesia2000-2016It was their first Japanese EMU rolling stock to be donated from Japan in 2000
Tokyo Metro 5000 seriesEidan / Tokyo Metro1964-2007Tokyo Metro Tozai LineKRL Commuter IndonesiaIndonesia2007-2020
Tokyo Metro 6000 seriesEidan / Tokyo Metro1971-2018Chiyoda Line, Joban LineKAI CommuterIndonesia2011-present
Tokyo Metro 7000 seriesEidan / Tokyo Metro1974-2022Fukutoshin Line, Yurakucho LineKAI CommuterIndonesia2010-present
Tokyo Metro 02 seriesEidan / Tokyo Metro1988-presentTokyo Metro Marunouchi Line-Philippines-2 units of Preserved railcars for educational training purposes for Railway Engineering programs currently offered by FEATI University in Manila, Philippines
Tokyo Metro 05 seriesEidan / Tokyo Metro1988-presentTokyo Metro Tozai LineKAI CommuterIndonesia2011-present
Tokyu 8000 seriesTokyu Corporation1969-2008VariousKAI CommuterIndonesia2005-presentStill active in Izukyu Railway in Japan
Tokyu 8500 seriesTokyu Corporation1975-2023VariousKAI CommuterIndonesia2006-presentStill active in other private railway companies in Japan
Toyo Rapid 1000 seriesToyo Rapid Railway1995-2007Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, Tōyō Rapid Railway LineKRL Commuter IndonesiaIndonesia2007-2019Remodeled from Tokyo Metro 5000 series in 1995

Rolling StockFormer OperatorYears of service in JapanFormer Railway Line in JapanCurrent OperatorCountry in OverseasYear of ServiceRemarks
KiHa 11JR Central1989-presentVarious lines in JRMyanmar RailwaysMyanmar2015-presentMyanmar Railway's latest used rolling stock from Japan based on manufacturing year
KiHa 35JNR / JR, Kanto Railway1961-2012, 1986-2010 Various lines in JR, Joso LinePhilippine National RailwaysPhilippines2015-presentServed as push-pull passenger cars hauled by a diesel-electric locomotive
KiHa 38JNR / JR1986-2012 Kururi LineMyanmar RailwaysMyanmar2014-presentRemodeled from aging KiHa 35 railcars by JNR in 1986
KiHa 40JNR / JR1977-presentVarious lines in JRMyanmar RailwaysMyanmar2016-present
KiHa 52JNR / JR1958-2010Various lines in JRPhilippine National RailwaysPhilippines2012-presentServed as a rescue train since 2021
KiHa 52JNR / JR1958-2010Various lines in JRMyanmar RailwaysMyanmar2007-present
KiHa 58JNR / JR1961-2018Various lines in JRState Railway of ThailandThailand1997-unknown end of service
KiHa 58JNR / JR1961-2018Various lines in JRMyanmar RailwaysMyanmar2005-unknown end of serviceThey are also used KiHa 58s which were shipped overseas to Russia & China by the early 1990s-2000s
KiHa 59 seriesJR East1989-2010Gracia, Kogane servicesPhilippine National RailwaysPhilippines2012-2014; 2019-presentRemodeled from KiHa 28 & KiHa 58s by JR East in 1989 which were originally introduced in the 1960s to be converted as chartered trains. Also made the first Chartered Diesel Trainset to be shipped overseas other than chartered passenger coaches.
KiHa 141 seriesJR Hokkaido1990-presentVarious lines in JRMyanmar RailwaysMyanmar2012-presentRemodeled from 50 series locomotive-hauled passenger coaches
KiHa 181 seriesJNR / JR1968-2010Various lines in JRMyanmar RailwaysMyanmar2013-present
KiHa 183JNR / JR1980-presentVarious lines in JRMyanmar RailwaysMyanmar2009-2012
KiHa 183JNR / JR1980-presentVarious lines in JRState Railway of ThailandThailand2021-present

  • Passenger Cars
  • '''Locomotives'''