The offering from companies like Toyota and Nissan has always been very diverse. While the rest of the world is in awe of SUVs and other such powerhouses, the Japanese love large sedans, luxury vans as well as their iconic kei cars, tiny vehicles resembling shoeboxes on wheels.
When it comes to the turn to electric, Toyota, Honda and Nissan have also positioned themselves more broadly, working with everything from hybrid to battery to fuel cell, instead of banking on the pure EV.
Make no mistake, Japan's carmakers are committed to taking responsibility for the climate, for raw material cycles and for maintaining the mobility of the country's ageing society.
But in the meantime, they also make sure driving remains fun, as the following five highlights from this year's Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo show. And the best thing about them: Most have the potential to enter series production, and could even make it to other markets outside of Japan.
1. Nissan Hyper Force: Batman would be jealous
Over the decades, the Nissan GT-R has matured into a cult car, and the last generation even managed to gain underdog status among the world's super sports cars.
But the grand tourer, revered in Japan under its nickname Godzilla, is now a biblical 16 years old and therefore more than ripe for a successor.
At this year's Japan Mobility Show, Nissan shows what this could look like with the Hyper Force, a matt grey coupé with razor skirt, gullwing doors and XXL spoiler that could easily become the new Batmobile.
With its 1000 kW/1360 hp, which is transmitted to all four wheels via an unspecified e-drive and is supposed to enable acceleration values of less than three seconds to 100 kph, it would be an understatement to say the Hyper Force is fun to drive.
2. Mazda Iconic SP : Beautiful sports car with Wankel engine and e-drive
When Mazda defines driving pleasure, the Japanese carmaker likes to quote the Japanese phrase "Jinba Ittai," which describes the unity of horse and rider - an experience also aimed for with the MX5 roadster.
While this classic is being displayed in Tokyo with a refreshed design and modernized cockpit, it seems likely that its days as a combustion engine vehicle are numbered.
Celebrated by many as the most beautiful car on display at the Japan Mobility Show, the Mazda Iconic SP, an updated curvy two-seater coupé which comes with a Wankel engine as a range extender in addition to its electric drive, could replace not only the MX5 but also the RX-7 and RX-8 which are traditionally equipped with rotary engines.
While it's still a long way until then, Mazda managers at the trade show promised they would do everything in their power to ensure series production.
3. Honda Sustaina-C Concept: Tapping into the circular economy
After Honda had already sent a modern interpretation of the first VW Golf into the race with the electric supermini Honda e, the Sustaina-C on show at the Tokyo trade fair is reminiscent of the Renault R5.
But the charm of the handy two-door EV is not only down to its successful design but to its innovative material concept.
In order to stimulate the circular economy and facilitate recycling, the little brother of the Honda e is not made of conventional plastics, steel and resins, but of recycled acrylic resin which can be reintroduced into the material cycle after its last ride.
4. Daihatsu Copen: A little ray of sunshine
No other vehicle category is as colourful as the Japanese kei car, the smallest highway-legal passenger car in the country, similar in size to a Smart car.
Besides all the small vans and large, er, tiny sedans, sports cars such as the Daihatsu Copen have long established themselves in the tax-privileged segment.
The world's smallest roadster, which was also available in Europe for a while, is on display in Tokyo as a cuddly-looking convertible equipped with a 1.3-litre petrol engine which allows the manufacturers to reach a few more petrolheads before the roadster goes electric.
In a similar, slightly more angular and sporty version with a little offroad twist displayed next to the Daihatsu Copen the petrol tank has already been replaced by batteries.
5. Lexus LF-ZC : Luxury without a bad conscience
Lexus, Toyota's luxury vehicle division, is one of the few brands that has set a concrete phase-out date for the internal combustion engine, planning to go fully electric from 2035, and the LF-ZC - or Lexus Future Zero-emission Catalyst - shows what that could look like.
The futuristic-looking electric car, a four-door hatchback sedan measuring 4.75 metres, stands on a new skateboard platform developed around the electric drive.
Engineers are working on a new battery with a particularly flat design and a capacity that should allow for about twice the range of current rivals like the Mercedes EQE.
On top of the emissions-free drive, the LF-ZC's interior is decked out with a choice of climate-friendly materials, using bamboo instead of plastic and merino wool instead of leather.
The EV is set to hit the road in 2026 and, like almost all Lexus models, will also be launched in Europe.
