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Dekotora (Sekino)
von • by Todd Antony, London

www.toddantony.com

Dekotora, which translates to decorated truck, explores an unusual

aspect of Japan's culture, which is essentially the practice of adding

bling-upon-bling to everyday working trucks. The tradition of dri -

vers decorating their trucks originally stems from a 1975 Japanese

movie that drew its inspiration from American films such as

Smokey & the Bandit. The first Torakku Yaro Truck Rascals movie

was released, and nine more followed through the end of the de -

cade. Each Torakku Yaro installment followed a duo of Dekotora-

driving heroes on a different, lovelorn wild goose chase. And while

the crazy plots and affable characters certainly spoke to audiences,

it’s the glittery, light emblazoned trucks that inspired the movement

of Dekotora. Drivers started decorating their trucks in the hope of

being cast in the movies, and the Utamaro-Kai association of Deko -
tora drivers was started. Things have evolved since then, and now

the truck designs can be quite personal to each driver and can cost

anywhere up to and over 100.000 Dollar, the price of a small house

in Japan. The rule of thumb is that you should spend at least as

much of the cost of the truck again for decorating. Todd Antony