JDM race/drift liveries - mirrored decals

[MidnightRun85]

Hi all,

I've been looking at a lot of Japanese race cars and drift cars recently, and one of the things I've noticed they seem to do regularly is to mirror the logo from one side to the other, usually reading correctly on the left side (passenger side) and mirrored on the right side so that it reads backwards.

Example here, the Top Secret S15, from back in 2004:

I'm just curious to know if anyone knows why they do this?

 

[Nuschel01]

I think it's just for **** an' giggles

 

[Gingerale]

It's for looks, so the design is perfect symmetrical. Plus, You only have to design 1 sticker for the side and can easily just flip it and print again (since real life doesn't work like the livery editor in games)

I also read its superstition now, but don't know if that's true. There are a lot of myths (such as Japanese can't read English or are lazy, thats all nonsense. Although the Latin symbols are less of an issue over there of course).

 

[p78]

I've also noticed that these cars have the backwards decals mostly on the drivers side

 

[Serum]

They read from right to left.

 

[Nuschel01]

They read from right to left.

They don't, at least not sentences. It's just that their books are bound the opposite way of western ones.