Made in Japan: The Eastern view

Racing through the famous Aqualine – a multi-billion-dollar road tunnel under Toyko Bay – is almost as culturally revealing as eating a bar meal at the Ettamogah Pub.

The cars that Japan builds, the history behind its powerhouse trend-setting automotive industry and even the way Japanese car culture has evolved are as intriguing as they are instructive.

After consuming our body weight in onigiri, quaffing litres of miso and getting sweaty (and almost nude) in the odd onsen, we feel we're now well qualified to present to you, dear viewers, our inaugural Made in Japan.

As the legendary Nissan GT-R turned 50 years old, we jump into the deep end with Nissan, going behind the scenes to document how – and crucially where – the giant-killing V6 turbo engine is built.

The lengths to which the brand goes to ensure high levels of precision, under the guidance of its Takumi master craftsmen, is mesmerising

At the other end of the auto performance spectrum, we test drive a super-compact car with a motorcycle-sized engine that delights and dispirits in equal measure.

Of course, we couldn’t go to Japan without examining the people-moving splendour common on its roads.

Think about it and you’ll sign on immediately – a V6-powered lounge room on wheels that makes watching Boiling Bath, AK Bingo, The Bum Game and Human Tetris TV shows remarkably easy and entertaining.

A trip to Japan examining all things automotive wouldn’t be complete, however, without driving a classic Nissan muscle car.

When we weren't drooling over immaculately restored Datsun and Nissan cars at the Zama Nissan Heritage Collection, the priceless array of cars spanning almost 100 years (lovingly maintained by an army of white-gloved octogenarians), we were eating Nissan-powered clean-and-green ice-cream.

Oh yes, it was an adventure for the ages.