From 240ZG to R35: Hiroshi Tamura Is Coming to JCCS 2026
The longtime Nissan product specialist behind the GT-R and Z will appear at the Japanese Classic Car Show in Long Beach on October 3.
The Japanese Classic Car Show has announced that Hiroshi Tamura, one of the most recognizable figures behind Nissan’s modern GT-R and Z programs, will attend JCCS 2026 as both a special guest and a member of the show’s Shokunin judging panel.
The 21st annual Japanese Classic Car Show takes place Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Marina Green Park in Long Beach, California. For Nissan and Datsun enthusiasts, Tamura’s addition gives this year’s event an especially interesting connection between the cars that established Nissan’s performance reputation and the ones that carried it into the modern era.
A career tied closely to the GT-R and Z
Tamura joined Nissan in 1984, eventually moving into product planning and becoming Chief Product Specialist for the GT-R and 370Z in 2012. Nissan credits him with helping steer the R35 GT-R through much of its long development and production life, while he also played a central role in defining the philosophy behind the current-generation Nissan Z.
That makes him a particularly appropriate guest for JCCS.
Although Tamura is closely associated with Nissan’s newer performance cars, his own enthusiasm predates them by decades. He has described growing up fascinated by both the Skyline GT-R and Fairlady Z, and his personal Z history includes a 240ZG “G-nose” that he modified with an enlarged L-series engine and triple carburetors. He later owned and modified a turbocharged Z31 as well.
In other words, there’s a pretty straight line from the machinery filling the lawn at JCCS to the cars Tamura eventually helped create for Nissan.
More than a guest appearance
JCCS says Tamura will also participate in its Shokunin judging panel, putting his decades of product-development experience to work evaluating some of the craftsmanship represented at the show.
For Z and GT-R owners, that may be the real draw. JCCS regularly attracts important cars, builders and personalities from throughout Japanese automotive culture, but having someone who helped shape Nissan’s modern sports-car identity walking among the cars adds another layer to the event.
And Tamura won’t be the only notable guest this year. JCCS has also announced appearances from figures including OPTION Magazine founder Daijiro Inada, Bisimoto Engineering founder Bisi Ezerioha, drift driver Arisa Mizuhara, and builder Big Mike.
JCCS 2026 visitor information
The Japanese Classic Car Show 2026 runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3 at:
Marina Green Park386 E. Shoreline DriveLong Beach, California 90802
General admission is currently $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the show, while children 12 and under are admitted free with an adult. JCCS says the outdoor event will take place rain or shine.
Show-car registration has already closed for 2026, but spectator tickets remain available. This year’s vehicle eligibility centers on Japanese-brand vehicles manufactured in 1995 or earlier, with stock, survivor, period-style, modified and restomod examples represented.
For Datsun and Nissan fans already considering the trip to Long Beach, Tamura’s appearance makes the argument a little easier.
After all, there aren’t many people who can stand beside a 240Z, an R32 GT-R and a modern Z and legitimately say they’ve had a personal or professional connection to every chapter of that story.
JCCS 2026 takes place October 3 at Marina Green Park in Long Beach. Visitor and ticket information is available through the official JCCS website.
Comments