{{short description|Vehicle decorated with images of fictional characters}} {{italic title}} [[File:Hinagiku Katsura itasha side front 20090726.jpg|thumb|A Nissan Micra featuring Hinagiku Katsura from the manga series ''Hayate the Combat Butler'']] [[File:Yamato's itasha, Kantai Collection 20181208f.jpg|thumb|A Mazda 3 featuring Yamato from the video game ''Kantai Collection'']] [[File:Itasha.jpg|thumb|alt=i|A Triumph Bonneville T100 featuring Flint from ''Girls und Panzer'']]
In Japan, an {{nihongo|'''''itasha'''''|痛車||literally "painful car"<ref name="KDJ">''Nihon Kokugo Daijiten'', entry for ''itai'' available online [https://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%97%9B%E3%83%BB%E7%94%9A-2006336 here], see sense ② (in Japanese)</ref><ref name="DJS"><span class="book">'''1995''', <cite>{{lang|ja|大辞泉}} (''Daijisen'')</cite> (in Japanese), Tokyo: Shogakukan, {{ISBN|4-09-501211-0}}</span>; entry for ''itai'' available online [https://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%97%9B%E3%81%84-432855 here], see sense '''4''' (in Japanese)</ref>}} is a car decorated with images of characters from anime, manga, or video games (especially ''bishōjo'' games or ''eroge''). The decorations usually involve paint schemes and stickers. The cars are seen prominently in places such as Akihabara (Tokyo), Nipponbashi (Osaka), or Ōsu (Nagoya), or Itasha-based events, such as Odaiba Itasha Tengoku.
''Itasha'' only applies to cars. There are different names for vehicles that have features of an ''itasha'', such as {{nihongo|'''''itansha'''''|痛単車}} for motorcycles, {{nihongo|'''''itachari'''''|痛チャリ}} for bicycles, {{nihongo|'''''itabasu'''''|痛バス}} for buses, {{nihongo|'''''itatorakku'''''|痛トラック}} for trucks, {{nihongo|'''''itadensha'''''|痛電車}} for trains, and {{nihongo|'''''itahikōki'''''|痛飛行機}} for aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2017/10/25/fly-the-kemono-friend-ly-skies-with-crowdfunded-pain-plane |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=www.crunchyroll.com |title=Fly the "Kemono Friend"-ly Skies with Crowdfunded "Pain Plane"}}</ref>
== Etymology == In the 1980s, when Japan was at the zenith of its economic might, there were many luxury import cars in Tokyo. Among them, the "itasha"—originally Japanese slang meaning an imported Italian car—was the most desired. Since then, ''itasha'' (as the decorated vehicle) was derived from combining the Japanese words {{nihongo|''itai''|痛い||painful, cringe, embarrassing}} and {{nihongo|''sha''|車||vehicle}}.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tan|first=Lincoln|title=Anime-decorated itasha car fad hits Auckland|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/anime-decorated-itasha-car-fad-hits-auckland/IUJN5WA2KA3QAP5MNY6XEFRGF4/|access-date=2021-07-01|website=NZ Herald|language=en-NZ}}</ref> ''Itai'' means "painful", with additional senses of "painfully embarrassing" → "cringeworthy", "painful for the wallet" due to the high costs involved, or "painful to look at" (an eyesore). The name is also a pun for {{nihongo|Italian cars|イタリア車|Itaria-sha}}, truncated in Japanese slang as {{nihongo|''Itasha''|イタ車}}.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-11-17|title=フェラーリも萌える「痛車」ビジネス|url=http://sankei.jp.msn.com/economy/business/081117/biz0811170842000-n1.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523174414/http://sankei.jp.msn.com/economy/business/081117/biz0811170842000-n1.htm|archive-date=2009-05-23|access-date=2021-06-22|website=Sankei News}}</ref>
==History== [[File:Moesha-ofu, Iga Ueno, 2013 IMG 1141.jpg|thumb|''Itasha'' car meet, Moesha-ofu, in Iga, Mie ]] The subculture started in Japan in the 1980s with character plushies and stickers,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.otakuusamagazine.com/Events/Public/News1/Itasha_and_Intansha_1117.aspx |title=Itasha and Intansha - Tricking your car out is the latest otaku craze in Japan |access-date=2008-06-26 |archive-date=2009-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731003848/http://www.otakuusamagazine.com/Events/Public/News1/Itasha_and_Intansha_1117.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> but only became a phenomenon in the twenty-first century, when anime culture became relatively well known via the Internet. The earliest known report of an ''itasha''-decorated vehicle in convention was in August 2005, in Comiket 68.<ref>[http://blog.goo.ne.jp/tbinterface/4fb6e6cb9bdd72460263bd4da068727a/7d コミックマーケット68 2日目＆痛車]{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
===Conventions=== In 2007, the first {{nihongo|Autosalone|あうとさろーね|Autosarōne}}, an ''itasha''-oriented convention, was held in Ariake, near Comiket. Since then, the subculture has grown and allows people to express themselves and show off their customization to fellow friends and competitors. In 2019, Odaiba Itasha Tengoku, which took place in Odaiba, Tokyo, was also held. Another Itasha-JDM event was held on March 27 named "Itasha Tengoku JDM Paradise".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Odaiba|first1=Itasha Tengoku|title=Odaiba Itasha Heaven 2022|url=https://www.byocosplay.com/1000-itasha-from-all-over-japan-gathered-in-odaiba-painful-car-heaven-2022-held-for-used-carsgoo-net/|website=www.byocosplay.com|date=7 March 2022|access-date=4 May 2022|archive-date=7 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307072253/https://www.byocosplay.com/1000-itasha-from-all-over-japan-gathered-in-odaiba-painful-car-heaven-2022-held-for-used-carsgoo-net/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===International movement=== Similarly decorated vehicles have been found in Taiwan,<ref>[http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/109/109681/ 痛車 in 台北! 世界は痛車に毒されはじめた……] (Itasha in Taipei! The world started to poisoned by itasha...), Ascii.jp report, Feb 2008</ref> the Philippines<ref>[https://www.philanime.com/2009/03/philippine-itasha-cars/ Philippine Itasha Cars] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085820/http://www.philanime.com/2009/03/philippine-itasha-cars/ |date=2016-03-04 }}</ref> and in Italy.<ref>[https://kurukura.jp/article/35615-20240409-60/ 『イタリア発 大矢アキオ ロレンツォの今日もクルマでアンディアーモ！』第48回── ITASHA（痛車）は僕の人生を変えた！ イタリア版クラブのメンバーに聞く], KaraKura.jp article, April 2024 </ref>
==Vehicles owned by character rights owner== The executive director of ACID Co., Ltd. (parent company of game developer Âge), Hirohiko Yoshida, was reported to own a ''Muv-Luv''-themed Lamborghini Gallardo,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/11/hentai-fans-air.html |title=Hentai Fans Airbrush a Mangallardo |access-date=2008-11-18 |archive-date=2018-01-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125043737/https://www.wired.com/2008/11/hentai-fans-air/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Lancia Stratos,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ridelust.com/ridelust-daily-fail-japanese-itasha-fad-makes-me-cry/ |title=Ridelust Daily Fail: Japanese Itasha Fad Makes Me Sad |access-date=2008-11-24 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180601/http://www.ridelust.com/ridelust-daily-fail-japanese-itasha-fad-makes-me-cry/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and BMW M5.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://weblogsurf.com/humor-from-japan-bmw-m5-lamborghini-gallardo-and-lancia-stratos-itasha-decorated-in-style/ |title=Humor from Japan: BMW M5, Lamborghini Gallardo and Lancia Stratos Itasha decorated in style! |access-date=2008-11-24 |archive-date=2009-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713043019/http://weblogsurf.com/humor-from-japan-bmw-m5-lamborghini-gallardo-and-lancia-stratos-itasha-decorated-in-style/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/15/age-soft-chairman-shows-off-manga-lambo-m5-and-stratos/ Age Soft Chairman shows off Manga Lambo, M5 and Stratos]</ref> The cars were unveiled in 2008 âge×Nitro+ in Akihabara UDX Gallery.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}}
Good Smile Co. has sponsored Super GT GT300 cars with liveries featuring ''itasha''-like illustrations of Hatsune Miku since 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=会社案内 |url=https://www.goodsmile.info/ja/post/534/%e4%bc%9a%e7%a4%be%e6%a1%88%e5%86%85.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.goodsmile.info |language=ja}}</ref> In 2010, they spun off from their sponsored team to start their own team called Good Smile Racing. These cars are often also featured at conventions like Anime Expo. In 2019, Good Smile partnered with Type-Moon and TRIGGER to field cars with ''itasha'' liveries for Miku, ''Fate'', and ''Promare'' at the 2019 24 Hours of Spa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=株式会社インプレス |date=2019-07-22 |title=「Fate」「プロメア」「初音ミク」デザインのマシンが「スパ24時間」を走る！ "グッスマ"が「Black Falcon」のアートディレクションを担当 |url=https://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1197462.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Car Watch |language=ja}}</ref>
<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px"> File:博麗靈夢痛車7118-VY 20161204.jpg|An ''itasha'' in Taiwan with Reimu Hakurei from ''Touhou Project'' on a Mitsubishi Savrin File:Xpeng P7 in Miku wrap 03.jpg|An ''itasha'' in Shanghai, China with Miku on a Xpeng P7 next to a regular Xpeng P7 </gallery>
==Vehicles from automotive manufacturers== [[File:Kiana Kaslana itansha 20171125.jpg|thumb|An ''itansha'' in South Tangerang, Indonesia featuring characters from ''Honkai Impact 3rd'' on the body]]
In ''Nagoya Auto Trend'' in 2009, a ''Phantom of Inferno''-themed Chevrolet Corvette, a Melonbooks-themed MINI Cooper, and a ''Chaos;Head Noah-''themed Toyota Estima were unveiled.<ref>[http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/400/400479/ 痛車天国？ ナゴヤ オートトレンド！【出展企業＆メーカー公認車編】]</ref>
==Licensed model vehicles== Officially licensed ''itasha'' cars can be found both in display and R/C car models.
In June 2008, Aoshima Bunka Kyozai launched "ITASHA" as one of their model car product lines.<ref>{{in lang|ja}} [http://www.carview.co.jp/news/0/64705/ 青島文化教材が痛車のプラモを発売、車種とキャラは] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206072009/http://www.carview.co.jp/news/0/64705/ |date=2008-02-06 }} (Aoshima Bunka Kyozai sells a model car of itasha, the car and the character is...), carview.co.jp report, retrieved on June 7, 2008.</ref> Since then, many model companies have produced various ''itasha'' versions of their car models. Fujimi, Kyosho, HPI and Tamiya also sell models with ''itasha'' decorations.
Recently, combinations between models and actual ''itasha'' are increasing, wherein models based on the original ''itasha'' were made afterwards. <!--In November 2009, Aoshima released an itasha model based on the actual ''Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS''–themed itasha built by RE Amemiya. Tamiya also released the Hatsune Miku Studie GL@D BMW Z4 RC featuring the livery in 2009 Okayama race.-->
==Derivative uses== [[File:Hibiki Kancolle bicycle itasha.jpg|thumb|An ''itachari'' in South Tangerang, Indonesia featuring Hibiki from ''Kantai Collection'' on the frame]] The ''itasha'' decorative style has also been found on railway cars, aircraft,<ref>[http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/flights/pokemonjet/main.html ANA's Pokémon Jet Home Page]</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=NieR:Automata Plane |url=https://wsyntax.com/flying/nier-plane/ |website=wsyntax technologies |accessdate=21 February 2019}}</ref> computer cases,<ref>[http://mashiro5721.blog126.fc2.com/blog-entry-10.html 3/3 痛機殼...] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710230942/http://mashiro5721.blog126.fc2.com/blog-entry-10.html |date=2011-07-10 }}</ref> and other products.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pcadv.com.tw/?p=759 |title=「痛機殼」改造你的電腦主機外觀 |access-date=2008-02-06 |archive-date=2008-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804170210/http://www.pcadv.com.tw/?p=759 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The ''itasha'' equivalent in apparel is the "''ita''-bag", a bag covered in fandom-related badges, buttons, etc. At Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, ''ema'' are small wooden tablets that are usually inscribed with a wish. The ''itasha'' version, ''"ita-ema''", describes ''ema'' featuring usually hand-drawn illustrations of characters.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yamamura |first=Takayoshi |date=2015-01-02 |title=Contents tourism and local community response: Lucky star and collaborative anime-induced tourism in Washimiya |journal=Japan Forum |language=en |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=59–81 |doi=10.1080/09555803.2014.962567 |s2cid=143690685 |issn=0955-5803|doi-access=free }}</ref>
In-vehicle electronics, such as navigation systems, were also reported to be customized with character voices.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cuhkacs.org/~alanlee/blog/archives/2008/08/itai_carnavi.php |title=【Gadget】古谷徹、池田秀一、若本、釘宮等聲線的車內導航即將發售 |access-date=2009-08-20 |archive-date=2009-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205095906/http://www.cuhkacs.org/~alanlee/blog/archives/2008/08/itai_carnavi.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 28 March 2008, Maplus began to offer character voices for its Maplus Portable Navi 2 GPS system, beginning with Shūichi Ikeda (Char Aznable from the ''Gundam'' franchise).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://maplus-navi.jp/index/info/id/49 |title=【ご連絡】「MAPLUSポータブルナビ2」用音声に池田秀一さんを追加！ |access-date=2009-08-27 |archive-date=2013-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029213509/http://maplus-navi.jp/index/info/id/49 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Automotive consumables such as motor oil have also been customized. On 20 June 2009, T&E, a tuning shop, began to sell scented semi-synthetic motor oil under the Itayu brand,<ref>[http://www.itayu.net/ TandE page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822041212/http://www.itayu.net/ |date=2009-08-22 }}</ref> with the first product being a ''Lucky Star-''themed motor oil, unveiled at the 48th Shizuoka Hobby Show 2009.<ref>[http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/421/421525/ 痛車乗りに朗報！ 痛いエンジンオイルが登場！]</ref>
==See also== *Art car *''Moe'' *''Ita-bag'' – decorated bags *''Dekotora'' – decorated trucks *''Dekochari'' – decorated bicycles
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} * [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/07/29/2003418832 "Japanese 'itasha' gain in popularity in Taiwan"] – article describing ''itasha'' in Taiwan, July 2008 * [http://www.geibunsha.co.jp/mook/ita/ ''Itasha Graphics''], the ''itasha''-oriented magazine by Geibunsha {{in lang|ja}} * [http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/131/131556/ 富士スピードウェイに痛車がっ！ 世界一痛いカーイベント！] ("Fuji Speedway hosts itasha! The most painful car event in the world!"), Ascii.jp report, May 2008 {{in lang|ja}}
Category:1980s neologisms Category:2000s neologisms Category:Anime and manga fandom Category:Anime and manga terminology Category:Art vehicles Category:Japanese subcultures Category:Japanese slang Category:Decorated vehicles Category:Cars of Japan category:Vehicle modification