Meanings
plural itashas
- slanglifestyleA car decorated with anime or manga artwork, including custom decals, dashboard ornaments, and seatcovers.
But others have taken to drawing and applying their own itasha decals.
2009, Patrick W. Galbraith, The Otaku Encyclopedia: An Insider's Guide to the Subculture of Cool Japan, page 1082 more examples
They claim this is the world's largest gathering of itasha and we have no reason to doubt it (even because, let's face it, such things could only happen in Japan).
2017, Gianni Simone, Tokyo Geek's Guide: Manga, Anime, Gaming, Cosplay, Toys, Idols & More, page 123The larger footprint will also allow for a car show with anime-covered itashas and Fast & Furious-like JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) vehicles; […]
2024 December 19, Geoff Carter, “New Moon over Chinatown”, in Las Vegas Weekly, page 29
Origin
Borrowed from Japanese 痛(いた)車(しゃ) (itasha, “painful car”), from 痛 (ita, “pain”) + 車 (sha, “vehicle”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 痛車 /痛车
- 痛車 /痛车 (tòngchē)anime- or manga-adorned car
Indonesian itasya
- itasyaanime- or manga-adorned car
Japanese 痛車
- 痛車 (itasha)anime- or manga-adorned car
Cite this entry
itasha. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/itasha
“itasha.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/itasha. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “itasha,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/itasha.
Source: itasha on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.