In the mean time, we would like to wish all our Muslim Friends happy holidays!
We have just recently been to Japan and back, so stay tuned for more Dekotora parts to arrive in Singapore!!!!!
The term dekotora is a Japanese loanword from English that is an abbreviated form of the phrase decoration truck. It is used to describe large trucks that have been customized with elaborate artwork, non-structural attachments, colorful lighting, and other modifications. Dekotora have existed in Japan since at least the 1970s, when a number of movies popularized the previously niche vehicles throughout the country. Any type of large truck can be modified into a dekotora, including tractor units, box trucks, and flatbeds. Similarly decorated vehicles also exist in other countries, such as Haitian tap taps, the rustic buses of Columbia and Ecuador, and jeepneys in the Philippines, though these vehicles are typically used for public transport.
Japan has a long history of elaborately decorated trucks, particularly in the northern parts of the country. Some of this was due to a lack of correct replacement parts that resulted in visually unique vehicles, though custom painting and other modifications were also used. Beginning in 1975, a series of movies featuring these dekotora were released that led to an increased interest in the vehicles. Many television shows, manga, and video games have also featured decoration trucks since then, and popular designs have changed throughout the years.
