Photos of the insane, pimped out trucks that Japanese drivers spend 100k on
Benson explained that the 1970s comedy-action film series "Torakku Yaro," which followed a pair of truck drivers running from the law, popularized the Dekotora Trucks (short for "decoration truck").
Benson attended one of the biggest Dekotora Truck events in Japan, in the city of Choshi.
"All [the trucks are] functional and driveable — they use them for work," said Benson. "What’s not functional, or what doesn’t serve a purpose, really, is all the chrome and bells and whistles," he said.
!["All [the trucks are] functional and driveable — they use them for work," said Benson. "What’s not functional, or what doesn’t serve a purpose, really, is all the chrome and bells and whistles," he said.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-53948748,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1451348/all-the-trucks-are-functional-and-driveable-they-use-them-for-work-said-benson-whats-not-functional-or-what-doesnt-serve-a-purpose-really-is-all-the-chrome-and-bells-and-whistles-he-said-.jpg)
Benson compared the trucks' cabs to an airplane cockpit — because of the many neon lights added to the vehicles' exteriors, their cabs are filled with buttons and switch controls. However, when driving on roads, the lights must remain turned off.
[The owners] take pride in their work," said Benson. "[It's] over the top, and they spend a lot of money on what they do.
![[The owners] take pride in their work," said Benson. "[It](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-53948752,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1068863/the-owners-take-pride-in-their-work-said-benson-its-over-the-top-and-they-spend-a-lot-of-money-on-what-they-do-.jpg)
Going into it, I didn’t know if [the truckers] were going be nice, or kind of a rough crowd or what — but they were all very, very nice, and happy to be there," he said. "They wanted me to photograph them and their trucks.
![Going into it, I didn’t know if [the truckers] were going be nice, or kind of a rough crowd or what — but they were all very, very nice, and happy to be there," he said. "They wanted me to photograph them and their trucks.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-53948755,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1246895/going-into-it-i-didnt-know-if-the-truckers-were-going-be-nice-or-kind-of-a-rough-crowd-or-what-but-they-were-all-very-very-nice-and-happy-to-be-there-he-said-they-wanted-me-to-photograph-them-and-their-trucks-.jpg)
There were only [about] 500 people there, and I was the only foreigner there, which is unusual," said Benson. "Usually I like to blend in and quietly do my thing, but being the only foreigner there, I got a lot of attention.
![There were only [about] 500 people there, and I was the only foreigner there, which is unusual," said Benson. "Usually I like to blend in and quietly do my thing, but being the only foreigner there, I got a lot of attention.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-53948757,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1261148/there-were-only-about-500-people-there-and-i-was-the-only-foreigner-there-which-is-unusual-said-benson-usually-i-like-to-blend-in-and-quietly-do-my-thing-but-being-the-only-foreigner-there-i-got-a-lot-of-attention-.jpg)
To photograph these massive trucks, Benson used two different cameras — one medium format digital camera, which captures detail extremely well, and a DSLR Canon camera. Two flashes illuminated the scene, making the chrome and colors pop.
The bizarre nature of these trucks is what attracted Benson. "[Nothing like] these trucks exist in America or anywhere else in the world," he said.
![The bizarre nature of these trucks is what attracted Benson. "[Nothing like] these trucks exist in America or anywhere else in the world," he said.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-53948764,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1378317/the-bizarre-nature-of-these-trucks-is-what-attracted-benson-nothing-like-these-trucks-exist-in-america-or-anywhere-else-in-the-world-he-said-.jpg)
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