Tokyo motor show has long been akin to the Turner prize exhibition for modern art. While other shows pride themselves on revealing production models, Tokyo in all its mind-bending brilliance has long been home to the wackiest and weirdest concept cars imaginable.
Motoring hacks flock to Tokyo to judge how far car designers can go to bring the world of Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin to the car world with outlandish metal art. Of course these cars will never see the light of day, but it's fascinating to watch the designers' minds at play.
And the neon-addicted city is perfect home to such a venture, particularly as it has become so trendy of late, thanks to films like Lost in Translation and fashion styling of Gwen Stefani and her Harajuku Girls.
Yet this year's show was a slightly more strait-laced affair. Of course there was the odd crazy sideshow, with Honda showing a car that offered multiple storage areas for the pet pooch, while Nissan unveiled the quirky - if not exactly unique - idea of a sphere-shaped rotating cabin on a car platform; handy for parking if nothing else.
However, there was a strong concentration on more production-orientated models. Perhaps this is driven by the gloomy outlook of the home market of late, with sales expected to stay flat at four million for the year.
Or perhaps it's driven by a more serious approach from the Japanese manufacturers, suddenly realising that they are effectively in the driving seat of a car industry in the midst of an industry seachange. Where once the powerbase resided in the US, it now has its home in Asia.
For many, the future growth - indeed for the Americans it could be their very future - depends on the likes of China. As with the recent Frankfurt show, the Chinese potential and the adoption of hybrid - where again Japanese manufacturers have the lead - were the chief talking points.
Perhaps the most telling sign of a change in the show's design direction was the fact that most of the talk of radical design revolved around the unveiling of Audi's Shooting Brake concept, billed by most as the new TT.
While the front carries forward certain chunky looks from the current model, the rear could not be more different, taking on something of a hatchback appearance. Opinions were decidedly mixed, but the general impression was that it would take a few more appearances before people would make a final judgement on the design.
At the production end, Lexus revealed its LF-Sh concept, effectively its new LS in all but name - and a minor tweaking to its front grille. Officially the new LS will make its debut in Detroit in January, but it's not expected to be radically different from what's on show here.
Along with a new V8 4.6-litre engine, the new LS will also feature a hybrid version. To be known as the LS600h, it will probably not arrive until 2007 but will somewhat make up for a lack of a diesel option in its flagship range. It will also prove a likely winner in the US, where oil prices are likely to continue to rise and where diesel is not a runner.
Also on show at Lexus was its LF-A concept, a supercar that first appeared at the Geneva show but is slowly making its way to production, though company executives were remaining tight-lipped about its future. However, you would have to be confident that it will eventually take to the road if Lexus continues to grow.
Sticking with supercars and six years after Bugatti first revealed its Veyron as a pre-production model at the 1999 Tokyo Motor show, the car was finally launched as a production car. Called the Veyron 16.4 and offering 1,001bhp from its 8-litre engine, it sits no more than 10mm off the ground and manages a top speed of 406km/h (252mph). Its 0-100km/h time is 3 seconds. Only 300 are being built.
The Veyron is for those for whom oil price spikes have more impact on their share portfolio than their daily expenses. For the rest of us much closer to penury, Mazda offered a concept featuring a petrol-electric hybrid, only this time in connection with its rotary engine. It proves the electric part of the hybrid model can generally fit with any other and the car also
Elsewhere, Subaru showed a new front nose on its Legacy "Blitzer". It's only sold in Japan but the new front may make it on to future Subaru models here, a very welcome development if it comes about.
Its look is reminiscent of the new Fiat Croma, with a larger grille, softer front lines and only the slightest nod to the racing brigade with a rather discrete air vent in the centre of the bonnet.
Over at Honda, and apart from its glorified dog kennel - which in fairness could be adjusted to become something akin to a more functional people carrier - the star was probably the Sports 4, which insiders tip to be a strong pointer towards the next generation Accord, due by 2008/2009.
Of the rest, well perhaps it was time that Tokyo took a more practical approach to the car show format, particularly given the increasing importance of the Japanese brands. Yet for all the serious metal, you do end up longing for the wacky days of Japanese design.
