Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Two Japanese-market cars show why “Japan-only” can mean very different things: the Toyota GR Yaris RS is a hot-hatch trim Toyota explicitly labeled “Only available in Japan” in 2020, while the Toyota Copen GR SPORT is a tiny two-seat convertible Toyota introduced for Japan’s minivehicle class. Neither claim means a car is impossible to import, and the available evidence does not establish that the Copen remains in production today.
What “you can’t buy in the U.S.” means
Here, the phrase means a car or trim was not offered as a new U.S.-market model in the cited evidence. It does not mean no American can ever own one. Import eligibility is a separate, vehicle-specific question involving the exact variant, its age, and other federal and state requirements.
The strongest Japan-only claim in this article applies to one grade, not an entire model family: Toyota’s September 2020 GR Yaris lineup announcement called the RS “Only available in Japan.” Toyota’s current Japanese catalog presents the GR Yaris and special editions, but that presence alone does not prove that every version is excluded from the U.S. market. Toyota’s 2020 GR Yaris lineup announcement and its Japanese GR Yaris catalog provide the relevant context.
Two Japanese-market cars with very different personalities
| Car | Format | What the source establishes | Time context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota GR Yaris RS | Hot hatch | Toyota labeled the RS grade “Only available in Japan.” | Availability wording comes from Toyota’s September 2020 lineup announcement. |
| Toyota Copen GR SPORT | Two-seat convertible | Toyota launched it as a sports car meeting Japanese minivehicle standards. | Toyota’s announcement is from October 2019; it does not establish current production or a full U.S. sales history. |
Toyota GR Yaris RS: the explicitly Japan-only trim
The GR Yaris RS is the clearest fit for this list because Toyota itself attached a Japan-only label to the grade. Keep that claim precise: the announcement identifies the RS trim, not every GR Yaris version or every special edition. Toyota’s later Japanese catalog includes editions such as the MORIZO RR and the Sébastien Ogier 9xWorld Champion Edition, but a Japanese catalog listing is not proof that every one of those versions is unavailable in the United States.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- Tamiya Nissan Skyline
- GT-R R34 V-Spec Model Set
- Scale 1:24
- Plastic model kit
Toyota Copen GR SPORT: a tiny convertible in a different class
Toyota announced the Copen GR SPORT on October 15, 2019, as a two-seat convertible sports car built to Japan’s minivehicle standards. Toyota also described it as the first sports car in its GR series developed by Toyota GAZOO Racing. That makes it a striking contrast to the GR Yaris: a compact open-top car rather than a rally-inspired hatchback. The launch announcement is historical, so it should not be read as confirmation that the Copen GR SPORT is still being made or sold today. Toyota’s Copen GR SPORT announcement describes the original launch.
How to think about importing one
Not being sold new in the U.S. does not settle whether a particular Japanese-market car can be imported or registered for road use. Eligibility depends on the exact vehicle and the applicable rules; do not assume that a listing for one version automatically covers a related trim.
Rank #2
- We will ship from Tokyo, Japan
- It will take 7 to 14 business days as your goods arrive since your payment.
- Plastic model that requires assembly and painting. Separately, tools, paint etc are necessary.
Check the exact model and variant
NHTSA publishes eligibility information for specific vehicles and variants. Its 2014 document, for example, names particular Nissan Skyline GT-R entries, including specified R32 and R34 versions. That document illustrates the need for exact model-and-variant matching; it is an older list, not a current, comprehensive answer for every Japanese car. Consult NHTSA’s current vehicle-import guidance and verify the precise vehicle you are considering.
Understand the 25-year safety-standard threshold
A 2017 Federal Register final rule explains that a vehicle more than 25 years old no longer needs to comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to be lawfully imported under that rule’s framework. This is a federal motor-vehicle safety-standard exemption, not a blanket guarantee that a car can be registered or driven anywhere. It does not resolve state registration, emissions, customs, vehicle-condition, or other requirements. Read the 2017 Federal Register rule and check current federal and state requirements for the exact car and build date before making plans.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Part of the J-Imports series popular Hot Wheels range with Japanese vehicles
- HONDA ODYSSEY AS MODELLAUTO Unusual Minivan in scale 1:64
- Collector's number 149/250 (2026) part of the current Hot Wheels collection
- Eye-catching JDM design with anime/comic-inspired graphics and racing look
- Cult factor among JDM FANS minivans in tuning style are very popular in the scene
Japan-focused small cars may attract overseas interest, but that is not a U.S. launch
Honda’s 2026 Super-ONE feature notes that kei cars are not typically sold overseas and discusses exploration of overseas markets for that compact electric vehicle, including right-hand-drive markets. It does not announce a U.S. launch. The example is a reminder that a car developed for Japan can prompt overseas interest without becoming a U.S.-market model. Honda’s 2026 Super-ONE feature describes that exploration.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Doors Open
- Pullback Action
- Die Cast Metal Body
- PULL BACK ACTION WITH FREE ROLLING WHEELS
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
