Japan
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Page creation 18/06/2011
All rights reserved DSinAsia 2006-2013, except otherwise indicated
This Japanese-language version of a
brochure made by the Citroen headquarters
was printed in France, in September, 1960.
Check the original version on the website of
Piero, who has a huge collection of Citroen
documents of all kinds, here :
This Japanese version only borrows a few
pages from the original one. The text also is
slightly different, somewhat more explicit, less
"conceptual". And there is this curious thing
lost in translation in the title: in Japanese it is
"air and oil", while the original was "air and
water"... I guess that "oil" has been judged
more fit to explain the revolutionary
hydro-pneumatic system. Which, when you
think about it, is not "hydro", because we are
talking about oil, not water... Talk about
Japanese love for precision ?
brochure made by the Citroen headquarters
was printed in France, in September, 1960.
Check the original version on the website of
Piero, who has a huge collection of Citroen
documents of all kinds, here :
This Japanese version only borrows a few
pages from the original one. The text also is
slightly different, somewhat more explicit, less
"conceptual". And there is this curious thing
lost in translation in the title: in Japanese it is
"air and oil", while the original was "air and
water"... I guess that "oil" has been judged
more fit to explain the revolutionary
hydro-pneumatic system. Which, when you
think about it, is not "hydro", because we are
talking about oil, not water... Talk about
Japanese love for precision ?
This later (1964 ?) and green version of the
"4 faces of Citroen" catalog presents the
same models, but some specifications, such
as the maximum speed of the cars, have
been upgraded. The estate version of the
Ami also makes its appearance.
This document, as well as most of the other
ones on this page, come from the enormous
collection of a Japanese amateur, Katsuya
Kihara. A sports journalist living near Kobe,
he has gathered thousands of documents
about Citroen, focusing on the 2CV model.
He kindly accepted to show these DS-related
Japanese brochures on the DSinAsia
website.
"4 faces of Citroen" catalog presents the
same models, but some specifications, such
as the maximum speed of the cars, have
been upgraded. The estate version of the
Ami also makes its appearance.
This document, as well as most of the other
ones on this page, come from the enormous
collection of a Japanese amateur, Katsuya
Kihara. A sports journalist living near Kobe,
he has gathered thousands of documents
about Citroen, focusing on the 2CV model.
He kindly accepted to show these DS-related
Japanese brochures on the DSinAsia
website.
Now this is an interesting one. Probably dating
back to 1962 and specific to Japan, it is titled
"the 4 mysteries of Citroen", in a clear
reference to the "4 faces" series. The first
sentences clarify the purpose of this unsual
brochure: "Any place you drive in Europe, you
will see a Citroen behind you. Why then in
Japan do they remain "mythical cars", almost
never to be seen ? A little bit of courage
towards the "strange" cars is the only thing you
need to become the world's happiest driver."
The so-called four mysteries are in fact detailed
explanations about some characteristics which
probably stood out amongst other brands, such
as relative small engine size, comfort etc.
back to 1962 and specific to Japan, it is titled
"the 4 mysteries of Citroen", in a clear
reference to the "4 faces" series. The first
sentences clarify the purpose of this unsual
brochure: "Any place you drive in Europe, you
will see a Citroen behind you. Why then in
Japan do they remain "mythical cars", almost
never to be seen ? A little bit of courage
towards the "strange" cars is the only thing you
need to become the world's happiest driver."
The so-called four mysteries are in fact detailed
explanations about some characteristics which
probably stood out amongst other brands, such
as relative small engine size, comfort etc.
This 1962 (?) catalog also borrows from
material coming from Citroen's headquarters,
and it is titled "the 4 faces of Citroen". It
shows the four models available to the
Japanese public at the time: DS-ID, ID
"estate wagon" as it redundantly says in
Japanese, Ami 6 and 2CV.
At the bottom of the last page, potential
buyers were invited to give their name and
addresses so that further information could
be sent to them.
material coming from Citroen's headquarters,
and it is titled "the 4 faces of Citroen". It
shows the four models available to the
Japanese public at the time: DS-ID, ID
"estate wagon" as it redundantly says in
Japanese, Ami 6 and 2CV.
At the bottom of the last page, potential
buyers were invited to give their name and
addresses so that further information could
be sent to them.
Another local version of a corporate brochure,
dated March, 1966. Only the cover is different
from what was printed in Europe; see here on
Piero's site:
The different versions of the models available in
Japan are shown in much detail. The DS21 has
been added to the range.
dated March, 1966. Only the cover is different
from what was printed in Europe; see here on
Piero's site:
The different versions of the models available in
Japan are shown in much detail. The DS21 has
been added to the range.
Last but not least, this name-card sized, folding-type advertising
document is a nice innovation. It gives basic information on the
models available in Japan, and the contact details of the
importer Nichifutsu and its distributors around the country:
Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagoya and Sendai. It also bears the stamp
mark "Junko Hiratomi", probably a saleswoman. According to
Suga-san, who kindly sent me these pictures, it was given
during a Motor Show held in Osaka to his father, a Citroen fan,
who has preciously kept it ever since.
document is a nice innovation. It gives basic information on the
models available in Japan, and the contact details of the
importer Nichifutsu and its distributors around the country:
Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagoya and Sendai. It also bears the stamp
mark "Junko Hiratomi", probably a saleswoman. According to
Suga-san, who kindly sent me these pictures, it was given
during a Motor Show held in Osaka to his father, a Citroen fan,
who has preciously kept it ever since.
Several brochures and catalogs have been
made in Japanese, either translated from
standard material coming from France, or
entirely original ones, specifically made by the
importer for the Japanese market.
This beautiful and very unique DS brochure has
been made around 1958 by Nichifutsu, the local
trading company who had just decided to import
this car in Japan. All pages have an English
version, since the majority of the potential
customers were then foreign residents, starting
with American servicemen and diplomats.
Hatsuya-san, who was in charge of Nichifutsu,
mentioned the creation of this very first
Japanese DS brochure in an interview
published many years later, in 1985, where he
explained that it was put together with bits of
information found in American motor
magazines... Read more about it in
Hatsuya-san's interview,
made in Japanese, either translated from
standard material coming from France, or
entirely original ones, specifically made by the
importer for the Japanese market.
This beautiful and very unique DS brochure has
been made around 1958 by Nichifutsu, the local
trading company who had just decided to import
this car in Japan. All pages have an English
version, since the majority of the potential
customers were then foreign residents, starting
with American servicemen and diplomats.
Hatsuya-san, who was in charge of Nichifutsu,
mentioned the creation of this very first
Japanese DS brochure in an interview
published many years later, in 1985, where he
explained that it was put together with bits of
information found in American motor
magazines... Read more about it in
Hatsuya-san's interview,