Japan Mobility Show 2023
A new concept
The problem with almost every car show is that mainly home-grown carmakers still show interest. And this is no different in Japan, and of the brands present, Toyota is downright dominant with multiple products spread across multiple stands.
On the first stage (see also the panoramic photo), Toyota is merely playing with ideas. These include a possible moon vehicle and two suggestions for electric-powered versions of the Land Cruiser (shown here as a pickup and SUV). Depending on the reactions of visitors to the Mobility Show, Toyota will decide whether the electric Land Cruiser will be developed.

The most realistic of Toyoya's Concept Cars is the "FT-3e" (the grey car at the front of the picture). This SUV is meant to be an electric alternative to the RAV4. The "FT-Se" is a spectacular sports car whose main purpose is to explore how batteries can be made slim and light. In a sports car, this is important to achieve low seating, a low centre of gravity and still a dynamic character.

The KAYOIBAKO is a new-generation minibus that is adaptable to a variety of tasks. Its minimalist design is new to Toyota. Therefore, again, the future of this model depends on the reaction of visitors.
Lexus
Sister brand Lexus also opts for concept cars. The "LF-ZC" can even be called a prototype, as this large sedan will go into production in 2026. The LF-ZC is supposed to be Lexus' new flagship model that offers typical Japanese hospitality thanks to electric propulsion and a new generation of infotainment,

Nissan
Nissan has by far the most eye-catching stand with the most striking concept cars on it. The "Hyper Tourer" (orange car on the left of the picture) is all about self-driving features. The seats can be rotated to turn the cabin into a living room that provides entertainment with audio and video while the computer takes over the controls.

The "Hyper Force" (pictured centre) looks like an uncompromising racing car, but is in fact intended for everyday use. The electric drive is meant to offer maximum performance in a relatively eco-friendly way.
The "Hyper Punk" (pictured right) is intended for creative minds who want to use the car as a driving studio. In addition, AI (artificial intelligence) reads the driver's mood to adjust the music and interior lighting accordingly.
Mitsubishi
In Japan, the "Delica" is a popular commercial vehicle loved in part for its four-wheel-drive off-road version. The D:X is a concept of a new generation of the Delica in which the off-road character is more emphasised. In addition, the D:X is a preview of Mitsubishi's new design language. So this style may also reappear in quite different models.

The quad in the foreground in the picture is not a Mitsubishi, but a product of a Mitsubishi-sponsored newcomer. The four-wheeled vehicle uses discarded batteries from Mitsubishi electric cars.
Honda
Of all the volume brands, Honda is showing the widest range in mobility. The stand features a real aircraft (the Honda Jet), motorbikes, concepts of various drones and a lot of attention to personal mobility in the form of all kinds of scooters and electric "wheelchairs".
Looking ahead to a self-driving car, Honda is bringing the "Cruise Origin". The "Sustaina C" looks like a coupé version of the Honda e, but is in fact a study in using much more eco-friendly materials. There are therefore no production plans for the Sustaina C, it is purely practical research.

The Prelude Concept seems more realistic because of its familiar name and more preserved lines. Yet Honda claims it is only a preview of sporty electric-powered models from the brand.

Suzuki
Compared to the other brands, Suzuki is by far the most conservative brand at the Japan Mobility Show. While it does show motorbikes scooters and cars, its drive for innovation seems nil. So Suzuki is showing an evolution of the Swift (pictured left), where only the equipment has become more modern. Propulsion still comes from a conventional internal combustion engine, making this Swift one of the few non-electric cars at the Mobility Show.

The Suzuki eVX (pictured right) is a possible new electric-powered SUV. Suzuki promises a range of around 500 km.
Mazda
Mazda is emphasising sporty cars at the Japan Mobility Show. The MX-5 will be shown in all generations, including the updated version for the 2024 model year. Yet it is again a concept car that takes centre stage at Mazda: the Iconic SP. A precursor to the next MX-5, the Iconic SP uses a rotary engine to generate energy for an electric powertrain (as in the Mazda MX-30 R-EV).

Subaru
Subaru is taking the new Mobility Show concept seriously, as it is showing a drone for passenger transport in addition to the "Sport Mobility Concept" car.

Daihatsu
Daihatsu is no longer active in Europe, but therefore all the bigger in Japan. In fact, it builds cars tailor-made for the local market, from small trucks (including the "Uniform Cargo" pictured right) to convertibles. At the Mobility Show Daihatsu is showing two possible successors to the Copen: the petrol-powered "Vision Copen" and the electric "Osanpo". As far as Autozine is concerned, the Vision may be skipped and the Osanpo can go straight into production!

Sony Honda Mobility
Sony and Honda feel the hot breath of competition and are therefore collaborating on a car under the working title "Afeela". Honda handles the mechanical part, Sony the electronics. The concept car at the Japan Mobility Show shows the "intermediate stage", but nothing is final yet. Even about the type of car (sedan / hatchback / SUV) no final decision has been made yet. On a date for the market launch of the first model, the companies are not making any statement at all. Therefore, it looks like Afeela will be long undercut by its (Chinese) competitors before the first product appears on the market.

Renault
Renault recently announced that it continues to believe in car shows and is putting its money where its mouth is with a stand at the Japan Mobility Show. After the extended-wheelbase Kangoo was recently introduced at the "Kangoo Jamboree", it is now the turn of the standard models. The right-hand drive Clio (called "Lutecia" in Japan) has not yet undergone the facelift for model year 2024.

Mercedes-Benz
Japanese often have an "all or nothing" mentality. In Tokyo, for instance, people drive either a tiny kei-car or a huge SUV. A Mercedes-Benz G-Class, on mud tyres and with off-road package, is a favourite. This is precisely why Mercedes-Benz is bringing the "Concept EQG" to Japan: a concept for an electric-powered G-Class. In addition, Mercedes-AMG is showing the "C63 Performance" in Tokyo.

BMW
BMW is present in Tokyo with a medium-sized stand showing the concept Neue Klasse alongside its existing range. A real first is the all-new X2, shown here as an electric iX2.

BYD
While the Chinese are rapidly conquering the European market, the share of Chinese manufacturers in Japan is minimal. Only BYD is present at the Mobility Show. Besides the now familiar Atto 3 and Seal, it is showing the U8 in Tokyo: a very large SUV. For the time being, there are no plans to bring the U8 to Europe.

Accessories and newcomers
The name "Tokyo Motorshow" has been replaced by "Japan Mobility Show" to give space for a wider range of products. Therefore, there is a hall with motorhomes as well as a hall for suppliers and newcomers. With creatively decorated stands and games, even companies supplying "boring" products such as shock absorbers or seats still manage to appeal to the audience.

Favourite among the newcomers is "AIM" showing the "EV Sport 01". This overtly Bughatti-inspired mini sports car from Japan is electrically powered (two motors on the rear wheels with a combined 490 hp / 740 Nm) and is expected on the (Japanese) market in 2025.

The organisation shows real creativity in the themed exhibitions. "Mobility and disaster relief" shows how customised vehicles and robots can provide assistance in difficult terrain. "Car and food" shows a fully autonomous driving version of the Toyota e-Palette that can pick up produce from a farmer and then deliver it to customers in remote areas. A camera sees who is delivering or picking up which produce, then the computer processes payments.

Finally, there is "Car and Entertainment" where visitors can get into a Pacman game in a go-kart with VR goggles on, among other things. For those who can't get enough of it all, the cars from the Mobility Show have been incorporated into the online game "Cluster" and it is even possible to drive them (virtually)!.
Conclusion
Was it a good idea to adapt the concept of the Tokyo Motorshow and rename the event "Japan Mobility Show"? Yes, without a doubt. The new format is broader with not only cars but also motorbikes, drones, motorhomes, accessories and more. In the process, it has managed to appeal to that audience with original themed presentations. This is partly why there are an above-average number of exhibitors from outside Japan (Renault, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, BYD and Aston Martin).
In addition, it is interesting to see how the Japanese market differs from the European one. At the Japan Mobility Show, there is hardly any focus on AI or hydrogen. Electric propulsion is already seen as quite a step forward. China's influence is much smaller than in Europe, as the Japanese product is still central.
Despite Japan's name as an innovative country, the Japan Mobility Show shows the opposite. No solutions to real world problems are shown and instead they ignore the environmental issue, economic decline or congestion in big cities. In Japan, perfection is not the aspiration, but the norm. As a result, people innovate in small steps and so a new concept is big news.