Black Test Car

Set against a period of rapid industrial growth in postwar Japan, the film uses the automotive arms race between Tiger and Yamato to explore the cutthroat world of design, pricing and espionage. The era’s rapid modernization provides a backdrop for corporate intrigue and personal betrayals that drive the plot.

The story unfolds across urban Japan, centered on the headquarters and design labs of rival car companies Tiger Motors and Yamato Motors. Corporate offices, design rooms, hospitals and private residences become battlefields for information, manipulation and surveillance. The backdrop reflects postwar Japan’s booming automotive industry and the high-stakes politics of corporate reputation.

🕵️‍♂️ Espionage

Corporate espionage drives the plot as Tiger Motors uses spies and compromised information to outmaneuver Yamato Motors. The characters deploy surveillance, bribery, bugging hospital rooms and strategic deceptions to uncover a rival’s car specs. The pursuit of confidential data reveals both ingenuity and moral compromise.

💔 Betrayal

Personal relationships fracture under professional pressure. Masako’s involvement with Mawatari strains her relationship with Asahina, while Mawatari and Yamato’s spy network manipulate others to secure an advantage. The betrayals ripple through families and colleagues, showing how ambition corrupts trust.

💼 Corporate Rivalry

Two car giants wage a covert war over design, pricing and market image. The Mypet vs Pioneer storyline highlights how competition fuels questionable tactics, such as price fixing and copying rivals’ concepts. The film uses this rivalry to critique the cost of progress in a ruthless industry.