Magari yaliyotumika ya kijapani

• Nchi: Fiji
• Tarehe: 2018-04-04

Bula from Fiji! From the Southwest Pacific..... CARS FROM JAPAN are a common thing in Fiji! As I grew up, I am used to seeing the old Japanese car brands as I go to my Secondary school in town, Nausori.

These are Mazda, Honda and Toyota.
In my school, Central Fijian Secondary School, now Sila Central High School, our male Senior athlete and 100 metres sprinter in 1989 who won that year's Coca Cola Games Etuate Gusuivalu, from Nadroga province was nick named Honda.

Etuate Honda Gusuivalu later became a Policeman. Because of his exceptional speed and being a natural Sportsman and rugby player, he was named in the Fiji 7s team of the early 1990s. And at the famous So Kon Po ground in Hong Kong, he was the new find for Fiji and for the tournament.
Such was the famous school mate of mine at school and all over Fiji and was a buzz name on all Fijian lips for those years ..HONDA.....ETUATE HONDA GUSUIVALU!
My village of Cautata in the district of Bau in the province of Tailevu had a Bus Company business which started in 1962 I think (I was born 1961). My father was its Manager and we were regulars at the bus garage. The most common bus makes were Bedford, Albion
Mitsubishi trucks were also a common sight and was considered a tough truck in Fiji.
Today, the majority or about 85% of all cars and trucks or vehicles in Fiji are Japanese models. This is due to the vehicles toughness in all aspects apart from the mechanical artistry, precision and finesse.
As for me personally, I don't have nor have had a vehicle. I am now a 56 year old Retired School Principal and want to have a Mitsubishi twin cab...which I believe will materialise soon or sooner than I think.
Even though I kmow how to drive. I have had to have a Drivers Licence yet.
Japanese used cars are also common in Fiji due to their toughness and durability to Fiji's rough road conditions... which is about 70% gravel. The major islands have circular roads encircling them and one or two insular roads opening up their interiors. Since Fiji is a mountainous and volcanic country, the Japanese used cars adapt very well to them...a testimony to their mechanical, electrical , gadgetal or whatever " al" there is as related to vehicles.
Further, the readily available vehicles spare parts all over the country and its cheaper costs are a plus and major contribution to Used Japanese vehicles highest sales in the nation.

Fiji being an agricultural country, especially In the rural areas ie outlying islands and the interior, farmers go for the tougher Japanese twin cab brands. Since public transport is not so regular in these areas, farmers buy their private vehicles... mostly Japanese Mitsubishi or Toyota. Vans , single or twin cabs.
Fiji being a former British colony had British vehicle models in the years before the 1970 independence and a decade after. Since then, the Japanese new and used vehicles was predominant. Just very lately from 2009 onwards, the European vehicle brands started to slowly make their presence known. Peugeot, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Porsche, Fiat are just starting to fill up Car showrooms in the towns and cities.
As you stand on the nations roads and streets kerb's, a court of the passing 10 vehicles will give you an 80-90% Japanese vehicles return..
Come to think of it, Japan is also a volcanic and mountainous country, but has a more modernised Road system even to it's interior and outlying islands. With this in mind, the Japanese vehicles were built for that. However, their adaptability, durability, suitability and a whole host of other "bilities" gave these Japanese vehicles a " Fijian " hone touch endearing them to the Fiji motoring industry just as Honda was associated with Fiji Sevens during Etuate Gusuivalu's rugby playing days in the early 1990s.

This motoring phenomenon - the influx of the Japanese models- as compared to other countries is an amazing issue indeed.

Vinaka Vakalevu/ Thank You.