Japan
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Page creation 20/09/2010
All rights reserved DSinAsia 2006-2012, except otherwise indicated
Above: "Watanabe Jidosha Shokai"
("shokai" standing for "trading") is listed
as one of Nichifutsu's sub-agents for the
Nagoya area, together with others for
Kansai (the Osaka area), Hiroshima and
Sendai, on this advertisement for the
Citroen range under the slogan "Some of
the best cars in the world, born from
front-wheel drive and from rationalism !"
(Jikayosha - The owner driver, March
1966).
Left: a view of the garage's entrance. The
beautiful black DS belongs to
Ikemori-san, who kindly took me to
Watanabe Jidosha one rainy day of
June, 2008. This car is shown in detail
on another page,
("shokai" standing for "trading") is listed
as one of Nichifutsu's sub-agents for the
Nagoya area, together with others for
Kansai (the Osaka area), Hiroshima and
Sendai, on this advertisement for the
Citroen range under the slogan "Some of
the best cars in the world, born from
front-wheel drive and from rationalism !"
(Jikayosha - The owner driver, March
1966).
Left: a view of the garage's entrance. The
beautiful black DS belongs to
Ikemori-san, who kindly took me to
Watanabe Jidosha one rainy day of
June, 2008. This car is shown in detail
on another page,
Watanabe Jidosha, in Nagoya, central Japan, has been
a Citroen agent since the early '60s. It is still one of the
most renowned specialists in the country for classic
Citroens. Indeed, on the day I visited, I could spot a few
gems...
The company initially dealt with motorbikes, when it was
created in 1934 by Yoichi Watanabe; his nephew
Takeshi and his wife are still at the helm today. The
company then threw itself in the imported car business,
American cars first, and then Citroen when they were
approached by Hatsuya-san, head of Citroen's importer
in Japan, Nichifutsu Jidosha, who was looking for
distributors. That must have taken place around 1959.
Sales General Manager Kataoka-san, who has been with
the company since 25 years, regrets that no single
document remains from those early days, but he
estimates that around 50 DS must have been sold by
Watanabe Jidosha.
a Citroen agent since the early '60s. It is still one of the
most renowned specialists in the country for classic
Citroens. Indeed, on the day I visited, I could spot a few
gems...
The company initially dealt with motorbikes, when it was
created in 1934 by Yoichi Watanabe; his nephew
Takeshi and his wife are still at the helm today. The
company then threw itself in the imported car business,
American cars first, and then Citroen when they were
approached by Hatsuya-san, head of Citroen's importer
in Japan, Nichifutsu Jidosha, who was looking for
distributors. That must have taken place around 1959.
Sales General Manager Kataoka-san, who has been with
the company since 25 years, regrets that no single
document remains from those early days, but he
estimates that around 50 DS must have been sold by
Watanabe Jidosha.
Above: no less than a superb 1967 or 1968 Prestige, under maintenance at Watanabe's. Kataoka-san says he
has about a dozen DS owners in his customer base.
Below: A 1959 Type H, brought to Watanabe Jidosha for restoration but already with its Japanese number plate;
and a Traction in very good condition, with a "single-number" plate, showing a very ancient registration in Japan.
has about a dozen DS owners in his customer base.
Below: A 1959 Type H, brought to Watanabe Jidosha for restoration but already with its Japanese number plate;
and a Traction in very good condition, with a "single-number" plate, showing a very ancient registration in Japan.
Honda-san is another loyal customer of
Watanabe Jidosha, who sold him in
2007 this first-hand, pristine 1972
DS21, with an original mileage of only...
27,800 km. Everything is original, from
the body paint (AC095) to the engine
and interior. Honda-san is a
connoisseur: on top of one of the most
complete Citroen miniature collections
in Japan, he also owns a 1963 Ami 6, a
1980 2CV, a 4-wheel drive Kangoo...
He is a very active member of the
Citroen community in Central Japan,
and was the one to start, with a few
others, the "FBM" (French Blue
Meeting) yearly French car event in
Kurumayama.
Watanabe Jidosha, who sold him in
2007 this first-hand, pristine 1972
DS21, with an original mileage of only...
27,800 km. Everything is original, from
the body paint (AC095) to the engine
and interior. Honda-san is a
connoisseur: on top of one of the most
complete Citroen miniature collections
in Japan, he also owns a 1963 Ami 6, a
1980 2CV, a 4-wheel drive Kangoo...
He is a very active member of the
Citroen community in Central Japan,
and was the one to start, with a few
others, the "FBM" (French Blue
Meeting) yearly French car event in
Kurumayama.
Watanabe Jidosha is dealing today with "niche" and
high-end brands (in Japan, that is) such as Citroen,
Jaguar, Maserati, Land-Rover and Saab. A separate
show-room is dedicated specifically to Citroen (pic
below). More about Watanabe Jidosha on their
website, here (Japanese):
high-end brands (in Japan, that is) such as Citroen,
Jaguar, Maserati, Land-Rover and Saab. A separate
show-room is dedicated specifically to Citroen (pic
below). More about Watanabe Jidosha on their
website, here (Japanese):