When there's something about Mini based cars in magazines, they find their way to here from wide and far and wether they are old or new.The latest issue of Car Graphic Classic from Japan did, as it happens to be a Mini special. I was lucky to contribute a piece, but what has to be much more interesting is an interview with Kazuo Maruyama, the caretaker of Mini Maruyama - Tokyo's Mini Valhalla. Apart from that Mister Maruyama is the owner of an incredible number of historically important Minis and Mini derivatives. There was no doubt he was the man to visit when I started writing about these cars and I did that in 2007 and 2008. However, this is the first time I've seen a full feature interview with the man, which was about time. Pity I can't read it, but I'm sure a translation will be possible these days. You can order the magazine here.
Car Graphic Classic is a beautiful magazine with this issue focussing on the Mini and its offspring
Picture Car Graphic / Jeroen Booij
Kazuo Maruyama may well be called Mister Mini derivative. He is interviewed in this issue
Picture Masayuki Arakawa / Jeroen Booij