Tokyo Auto Salon

Tokyo Auto Salon is an annual show of custom cars and related products, held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. The organizers describe it as one of the largest custom car shows in the world. As the first big show of the year, it is followed in Japan and abroad for an early look at that year's custom trends.

The show began in 1983 as the Tokyo Exciting Car Show. It was started by the first editor-in-chief of OPTION, a tuning car magazine, to promote custom car culture beyond Japan. At its fifth edition, in 1987, it took the name Tokyo Auto Salon. The first venue was the Tokyo International Trade Fair grounds in Harumi. The show moved to Tokyo Big Sight in 1997 and to Makuhari Messe in 1999, where it now fills the exhibition halls, the event hall and the outdoor exhibition area.

In its early years most exhibitors were shops that tune and dress up cars, showing new parts and technology. Japanese carmakers began to take part in the 1990s and to time the launch of new models to the show. Makers from Europe and the United States joined as exhibitors in the 2000s. Today many carmakers unveil new cars at the show, and some announce their motorsport programs there.

The halls are lined with cars that exhibitors prepare especially for the show each year. Besides custom parts, the exhibits include car-themed games and fashion items, and many booths sell parts and goods as well as display them. Outdoors, racing cars and new cars give demonstration runs, and popular artists perform on live stages. The show is aimed at families as well as at car enthusiasts.

Since 2013, Tokyo Auto Salon has also held editions abroad, in Singapore, Bangkok and Malaysia. Close to 1,000 media outlets from around the world cover the show. It is regarded as one of the three major custom car shows in the world, together with the SEMA Show in the United States and the Essen Motor Show in Germany.