Jun Nagao is the editor in chief of ‘Car Magazine’, the definitive reference for enthusiasts of historical cars and sports cars. He talks about the relationship between the real car and the mini car and how it is useful for the readers of this leading car magazine.
「The age you first really become interested in cars is the time you get your driver’s license. Most people focus on practical aspects like horsepower, ride comfort, fuel economy etc. Certainly, these features are useful and necessary to understand but I do not share this viewpoint when it comes to cars. No matter what type of car it is, I see it through the lens purely of how it stirs my imagination.The most probable cause for this that I can rationalize is that I was surrounded by mini cars from my childhood days. Neither of my parents had a driver’s license, but our house was littered with car magazines and mini cars. Perhaps my admiration for cars grew stronger than everyone else’s due to the absence of a real car at home. I test drive a wide variety of cars, and when I do, I feel as if I’m viewing the car through a ‘mini car filter’. For example, people know there is a huge difference in the driving performance of a Lamborghini Countach and an auto three-wheeler. However, regardless of the driving performance of the vehicle, I still see both without distinction. The same applies to an actual bus and a mini car bus. People who have been exposed to mini cars since childhood have this unrestrained view on cars. Whether the car is deemed a failure by the manufacturer or by society, we are able to see them for what they truly are with a ‘heart of mercy’ or ‘through the eyes of a child’… Most of the mini car fans around me also view cars in this way.」
Mr. Nagao believes his love for real cars stems from his love for mini cars. His sensitivity to all cars is different to the ordinary man which he acquired through a childhood surrounded by mini cars and has been integral to his role as editor of automobile magazines.
「A mini car is not a necessity of life. Or to take it to an extreme, life will go on whether mini cars exist or not. But I am a person who fell in love with these so called unnecessary things and my fondness for them grows from their lack of necessity. The truth is my outlook broadened when I became interested in mini cars and to me it is no exaggeration to say that mini cars are ‘a needlessness I can’t live without. If I were to convey the difference between a mini car and a car, I would compare a car to a pet. When you own 1 car, you use it not just as a mere tool and you keep it for as long as you can. On the other hand, mini cars cars can be collected, each with differences in scale and size, comparable to an elephant and a dog. The feeling of owning a mini car collection is like a zookeeper, or to sound more sophisticated, like a museum. Relaxing in the study and immersing yourself in your mini car collection, you can envision the car, its history and the origin of the manufacture in your mind. Still… for me, whether I am looking at a car or a mini car, my love and appreciation of cars doesn’t change.」
Mr. Nagao’s shares his thoughts on the OUSIA Countach LP400. 「Although there is no opening or closing mechanism in this series, its price tag opens the gateway to beginner collectors with an eye for detailed proportion. The OUSIA series position in establishing an introduction to this world is what is so appealing. Considering this, it’s strange that even experienced collectors find enjoyment in displaying these models.」「I don’t believe that ‘more precision, more realism’ is everything for a mini car. In that sense, as long as the collector is happy with the numerous brands Kyosho has (including imports) and the wide range of options, and each series is differentiated by something special, you will definitely find something to your taste.」
In the words of Mr. Nagao, who has test driven many cars as editor in chief of Car Magazine. 「A car is not something that can be defined just by driving it. No matter what kind of car, each vehicle can stir the imagination in some way. I reached this point of view through my mini car hobby. 」
Mr. Jun Nagao
Born May 14th 1962, he joined Neko Publishing in 1985. After working in the car magazine design room, he served as the editor in chief of the mini car and plastic model journal ‘Model Cars’ from 1997 to 2015. Currently, he is the editor in chief of Car Magazine. With a personal collection of approximately 1000 mini cars, his favorites include the Kyosho 1/43-scale Caterham · Super Seven and Daytona · Cobra · Coupe, which are both relatively early models. He acquired his first car in 1986 and to this day still owns the 1981 Caterham Super Seven GT Sprint as well as the Renault Lutecia.
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