In October last year, Yokohama City joined forces with Japanese automobile manufacturer Nissan for a special project dubbed Choi-Mobi Yokohama. Furnishing the historic port city with a small fleet of rentable, ultra-compact electric vehicles, Nissan set out to examine the feasibility of making such modes of transport commonplace in urban centres. Allowing anyone with a valid license to zip around the city – emission free, of course – for just 20 yen (US$0.19) per minute of use, ultra-compacts like the Choi-Mobi are tipped to be a useful replacement for taxis and private vehicles in urban areas in future years.
The concept alone was enough to have tech-heads and environmentalists alike grinning from ear to ear, but on April 1 this year, Nissan asked a group of Choi-Mobi renters to use their time together inside the vehicle to convey important messages to one another, telling not April Fools but “April Truths”.
Nissan’s tiny cars are about the size of an chunky ATV/quad-bike, but can seat two people and, thanks to their fibre-glass roofs and semi-open reinforced surrounds, offer far more comfort and safety. They’re all-electric, and designed to be rented by both urbanites and tourists, allowing them to move around the city and drop the cars off at any of the dedicated parking areas, meaning that unlike a regular rental car, there’s no need to return it to the place it was picked up, make reservations, or plan ahead.
Photo: Nissan
On April 1, though, Nissan installed cameras inside a number of the special vehicles and invited people to take a ride, using their time together to say the things that they were never able or couldn’t find the time to say before.
Here are some of the confessions that took place during the day.
There were proposals,
expressions of brotherly love,
a friend who decided to say “thank you” through song,
another proposal! (though since he’s already wearing a ring it can’t have been that much of a surprise…),
displays of gratitude from husbands,
and this young man’s genuinely touching display of filial piety as he thanks his mother for everything she has done for him.
There are more “April Truths” to be enjoyed in the video below. It’s entirely in Japanese, but really, when it comes to human emotion, the language they’re speaking doesn’t really matter. Enjoy!
Perhaps there’s something about being in a private bubble with someone special, yet not having to look them directly in the eye, that helps people convey their feelings better? Either way we think this was a pretty cool promotion on Nissan’s part. And, lest we forget that this is a promotional video for an eco-friendly, ultra-compact vehicle, did anyone else notice just how fast those little things can move!? To hell with taxis, we’ll take a fleet of those in our city, too, please!
A self-driving car that delivers ramen is Nissan’s newest automotive innovation【Video】
We take the Toyota i-Road electric vehicle out for a spin, find out it’s awesome 【Video】
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japanese hair salons going bankrupt in record numbers
Foreign tourist needs ambulance to pick him up at Mt. Fuji after hiking closed trail
Is Mister Donut’s all-you-can-eat Donut Buffet still worth it?
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Beard Papa goes beyond just matcha with its new premium green tea cream puffs
Shogun Cultural Experiences merges a walking tour, sweets, and the music of traditional Japan
Looney Tunes is now an adorable anime series with Looney Tunes Gokko[Videos]
Seaweed bread is one of the most unusual baked goods in all of Japan
Uniqlo’s high-end sunglasses are a fashion minefield for anyone who isn’t Mr. Sato
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Studio Ghibli releases new anime keychains that are like miniature figurines
Studio Ghibli releases crystal glass paperweights featuring Totoro and the Catbus
Dorayaki from 89-year-old Japanese confectionery shop is one of the best sweets hidden in Tokyo
Retro-style Evangelion T-shirts coming to Uniqlo sister brand GU[Photos]
Sega opening 65th anniversary store in downtotn Tokyo with deep-cut game merch
Samurai Coffee: Try Edo period coffee once enjoyed by Japanese warriors
Viral tweet suggests Japanese convenience store ripping off customers with donuts, so we investigate
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says