Taxi Lights of Japan

Hailing a cab in Japan must feel like interrupting a Walt Disney's parade, or at least it was my impression when I first saw a taxicab in Japan by night. The top light aka rooflight, the normal sign that shines "Taxi" in the rooftop is instead a radiant-glowing  mini-sculpture of different shapes and colors.  I have to confess is my wish to pay a visit to this incredible country and  check out with my own eyes the diversity of their unique taxi top lights. For more info visit pingmag.jp

---

Who stole the real cover ?!

While doing a little research about taxi history I came across a book which probably too many already know: “TAXI! A Social History of the New York City Cabdriver”. Written by Hodges, Graham Russell Gao. The book was published in 2007 by Johns Hopkins U. Press and believe me, I can't wait to get my hand on a copy!! However, what triggered my interest was the mismatch of cover art the publisher chose for this book: A contemporary full color night shot of a caravan of taxis clearly displaying their European style rooflight!!! c'mon, you can do better than that!! Any New Yorker knows very well how their cab's top-lights look like. They could have used a truly New York Icon, a Yellow Checker Cab, which by itself represents better the city, the drivers and their taxi history. The title, however, made me research deeply about the book, and I found amazing references as the ones found in Google-book and the New York Times.