I'm drunk and I'm in Japan. Here's your newsletter anyway

Frankly, it's amazing I'm capable of writing anything right now.

Hooo boy. This newsletter is going to be a little different than usual. Why? Because I’m a few ginger highballs deep after a visit to a Tokyo izakaya. 

Did I mention I’m in Japan? Well, I am. As you may recall from last week’s newsletter, I flew here for the Tokyo Mobility show. Or as I call it: The Plausible Tax Write Off. 

What was it like? I can’t remember. I’m too boozed.

Okay, okay. I’ll try.

I arrived for the first press day on Wednesday, just in time for Subaru’s presentation.

Now, I’m a bit so-so on Subarus. Don’t get me wrong I think they make some cool cars – who doesn’t love the WRX? It’s just their vibe which annoys me. I think they’re cars for suburban parents who’ve given up. The Uniqlo of the automotive industry. Sensible, yes. Joy? No.

Anyway. Where was I? Oh yeah. The car show.

So, Subaru had the stage, but I couldn’t understand what was going. That’s because the presentation was happening entirely in Japanese. 

Some of you might know that I spent a full year of my life intensively learning Japanese at great emotional expense. But unfortunately, if you’re not a beer looking to be consumed, my language skills come up short. 

So imagine my surprise when a flying car came out from backstage. And then imagine my subsequent disappointment when I realised the flying car was – in fact – just on hydraulics.

Don’t go to your Subaru dealership about this one just yet — it’s just a concept machine.

Don’t be a wuss, Subaru. Take it for a spin.

This reveal did somewhat set the tone for the rest of the event.

As is often the case with car shows, they speculate a lot about the future of motoring.

If the Tokyo Mobility Show is to be believed the future is electric, occasionally flying, and often self-driving. In particular, there was a preoccupation with the idea of mobile office spaces. More than one manufacturer presented vans where the front seats pivoted to face the back so that you could stare awkwardly at your fellow passengers, and get a bit car sick as you jetted to one location to the next. 

Nissan’s Hyper Tourer was on display with the weird eye-contact seats

Kind of cool, I guess. But if my future car turns into a self-driving room, you better believe the first thing I’m doing is chucking a bed in there. No way I’m conducting meetings, or having heart-to-heart conversations with my loved ones. I - like every sane person - am sleeping. 

There’s so much from the Mobility Show to cover. More than I can get to here.

Luckily for you, I’ve been churning out short-form videos like a Dickensian orphan working in a factory. Late into the night I’ve been hunched over my computer screen tippy-tapping away. I’ve gratefully taken any Instagram or TikTok views. I lay in bed hoping I can cobble together enough likes and followers to not be buried in a pauper’s grave when the consumption finally wins.

Perhaps you might give me some more…?

If you want to see what Subaru’s flying car in action, check this video out. 

Show highlights can be found here. 

Lowlights here.

And if you want to watch a video which got the following comment “if this is humour I’m the queen of England” find it here. Her majesty certainly enjoyed it.  

Did I mention there was a giant robot there?

That’s it for me.

Enjoy your Monday while I sit, probably hungover, on a bullet train to Osaka. 

Drunken kisses,

Steph