New Trend Among Japanese Otakus - Doujin Cars Gather at Japanese Auto Shows

Why are they called "pain cars"?

Currently, there is no definitive conclusion about the origin of the term "pain car." There are roughly four explanations:

- It hurts when people get a tattoo, so the car owner calls a "tattooed" car a pain car.

- In Japan, if you want to paint patterns or something on your car, you have to pay taxes. Since many young people drive pain cars, the extra tax burden makes them feel heartache, hence the name "pain car."

- Pronunciation issue: "paint car" (painting the car) sounds similar to "pain car" (a painful car).

- People who are married or in a relationship generally don't continue their anime hobbies. Those who can turn their car into a pain car are naturally single. Alas, but which girl would take a ride in a car covered with cute girly patterns? Once single anime enthusiasts choose to print their beloved characters on their car, they objectively lose the chance for girls to take their car, thus feeling "heartache."