Welcome to the Tokyo Concours d'Elegance official website.
In October 2007, the first Tokyo Concours d'Elegance was held in Tokyo Midtown, Roppongi, Tokyo. AIthough a number of classic car events are held in Japan, Tokyo Concours d'Elegance represents the gathering of the best available classic cars in Japan.

Concours d'Elegance is an automobile competition that judges the designs and styles of elegant, sumptuous classic cars. It started in Paris in the 1920s, the period just after "Belle Epoque." At that time, Paris, a city full of art and hedonism, became the world's cultural capital. In the up-scale social Parisian circles, people became infatuated with the extravagance of automobiles, the forefront of all the latest technologies. Owners of these new machines would gather at beautiful venues, such as a castle by a lake or a garden with immaculate lawns to show off their gorgeous vehicles. This competition was a product of the unique time in the automobile industry when luxurious cars were either made to order or the production was very limited in number. After Concours d'Elegance won the hearts of people in France, it went over the Alps and reached Italy, which also had a passion for the arts.

French Concours d'Elegance were all about integrated elegant style. Cars were typically accompanied by a beautiful woman in haute couture clothes with gorgeous jewellery, a magnificent dog, such as an Afghan hound or Russian wolfhound, and a white-gloved chauffeur. On the other hand, the focus of the Italian concours was purely the beauty of bespoke cars and cars with a very limited production. These contests provided many carrozzerias (automobile coach builders) that existed at the time in Italy with a great opportunity to show off their craftsmanship.
Concours d'Elegance was very popular all over Europe and the United States until 1960s. Many competitions ceased to exist when bespoke automobiles were no longer popular for many reasons. However, in 1980s, Concours d'Elegance was brought back by popular demand. Today these events have become the most exclusive and prestigious classic car events worldwide.
Tokyo Concours d'Elegance is in the Italian style as are many revived Concours d'Elegance held since 1980s. The focal point of the show is hand-made classic cars, featuring automobiles from the early stage of the automotive industry through to bespoke cars of the 1970s. At the first Tokyo Concours d'Elegance in 2007, knowledgeable judges as well as spectators examined the beautiful and rare automobiles displayed on the lush lawns at Tokyo Midtown. Cars were judged on their level of restoration, originality and design.

There are two notable Concours d'Elegance events in the world; Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este by Lake Como in Northern Italy, and Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on the West Coast in the U.S. Both events have their own unique characteristics and have co-existed with a healthy amount of rivalry. Tokyo Concours d'Elegance hopes to be the newest top quality international competition. As Concours d'Elegance is also known as a celebration of car designs it is hoped that by holding an event in Tokyo it will contribute to the improvement of automobile design in Japan.

It is a little known fact that there are many Concours quality classic cars in Japan. Many of these car owners enjoy the opportunity Tokyo Concours d'Elegance creates to show their beautiful cars in public. Tokyo Concours d'Elegance provides them with this forum.