Friday Cab Roundup – Japan Edition

Whoa Nellie, it’s gonna be a barnburner. Today we set our speculatory gaze east. Not to east county San Diego, but east east, to the land of the rising sun, where loyal DuelingBarstools reader J.Love recently ventured specifically to photograph Japanese taxi cabs for this week’s cab roundup.

First up, Blue Cab.  I’m pretty sure this is the Japanese equivalent of “Yellow Cab,” which is to say the most boring, blase cab around.

Next, Fukuoka Kotsu Taxi. J-Love took this picture in Fukuoka. Kotsu apparently translates into knack or skill. Knack Cab, Skill[ed] cab, both good names. It lets you know know that Fukuoka Kotsu Taxi is particularly skilled at transportation services. Love the red racing stripe, too.

This is a dooozy, with at least three, maybe four, “o’s”. Gaiko Taxi My online translator failed to deduce what Gaiko is, but who cares. Look at how awesome Gaiko Taxi is. Bright colors, stripes, a rabbit decal – this cab screams “pick me.” According to J.Love, “Gaiko taxi is part of the Nagasaki garage of Lucky Group taxis.” That’s insider information, people. I wish, so much, that San Diego would permit its cabs to distinguish themselves from one another as creatively as Gaiko Taxi.

Last, but certainly not least, King Taxi. Look at the unique cab-light on top, the forward mounted side view mirrors, the subdued yet classy white paint job, all of which serve to highlight the fact that King is a tremendous taxi name. Who doesn’t want to ride in King Taxi? I wonder if this is part of a “garage” of taxis with monarchy related names, such as Queen, Prince, Princess, Jester. By the way, the first country in “modern” times to appoint an official court Jester is . . . wait for it . . . Tonga. Really. Google “Jester Tonga Wiki.”

Tonga was the first royal court to appoint a court jester in modern times, Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, the King of Tonga, appointing JD Bogdanoff to the role in 1999. He was later embroiled in a financial scandal.

Cabs