Chapter 3. Mr. Nakagawa’s View on Porsche

3-1: Mr. Nakagawa’s Surprising Side

Are you originally a car enthusiast, Mr. Nakagawa?

No, not really (laughs). Customers who visit our website often say, “You must drive a modified car,” or “You probably go to the circuit every weekend,” but although I have a driver’s license, I’m basically a non-driver and have never owned a car in my life.

Honestly, I’m not that interested in cars themselves, and I apologize for that… But I do understand the feelings of owners who want to keep their precious possessions clean.
Now, I measure cars brought in about every other day, and rather than just admiring cool cars, I get satisfaction from making samples, covering the car, and seeing it beautifully wrapped and hidden under the cover, thinking “This is really great!” (laughs).

Have you always been interested in making body covers?

Yes. Since childhood, body covers have always been around me, so I felt a deep connection to them in my life.
But as a child, I wondered “Why do adults bother putting these flashy, ugly sheets on cars?” (laughs) Over time, I learned that body covers play an important role in protecting cars and preventing deterioration, and I became interested in their depth.

Currently, our covers are silver, but sometimes customers ask for red or black covers. However, we only offer this one silver color. Red or black may look cool, but red and blue are said to attract bird droppings, and black absorbs sunlight, which stresses the car. After research, we settled on the current pearl-grayish blue silver color as the best to minimize risks.

We even considered patterns like cherry blossom petals or camouflage, but they were rejected because they would stress the car and reduce functionality (laughs).

3-2: About Porsche

What is your impression of Porsche, having seen many cars?

I think the design is extremely refined. The aerodynamics, such as air resistance and airflow, have been thoroughly studied to create beautiful designs. Also, they don’t try too hard to look flashy but maintain a simple, elegant design, which is great. And yet, they have an unmistakable presence that immediately says “Porsche.”
When making body covers, Porsche’s simple and refined design makes pattern creation quick and easy. Cars with overly stylized designs can cause tension or fabric shortages, but Porsche’s balanced design allows the pattern to fit perfectly.
This applies to all Porsche models, whether Cayenne or 911.

3-3: Future Outlook

It’s amazing how passionate you are about body covers…

I wonder if that’s true… (laughs) Thank you. The efforts I mentioned are normal for us, but when interviewed, people are often surprised and ask, “Do you really consider things to the extent of using different sewing machines?”
That surprises me too, and makes me realize “What we thought was normal is actually quite amazing.” (laughs)

Recently, someone told me, “Because you used a body cover, my car wasn’t wet at all even during the heavy rain last weekend! You should promote that more!” I’m happy to hear that, but considering seams and breathability, I can’t say “100% rainproof,” so I prefer not to overstate it (laughs). I want to continue humbly and steadily.

What are your future plans?

I want to put more effort into our website. Since most orders come online, I want to make the site easier to navigate and understand, add videos explaining how to order, and keep improving.
But I don’t have very specific visions or goals for the future. More than that, I prioritize delivering covers that satisfy each and every customer who orders. I believe that by focusing on that steadily, new opportunities will come naturally when the time is right.
I want to keep putting my soul into making body covers and keep doing my best.

[Blog Manager Mina’s Thoughts]
Mr. Nakagawa’s story consistently focused on “whether the body cover is truly good for the car.” Rather than company promotion or business expansion, his attitude of “if the customer in front of you is satisfied, the next opportunity will naturally come” is the secret to continuing to make body covers supported by many customers. I’m planning to have a body cover made for my Panamera soon. Thank you very much, Mr. Nakagawa!

[About Nakabayashi Kogyo]
■ Company Name: Nakabayashi Kogyo Co., Ltd.
■ Representative: Koichi Nakagawa
■ Business: Sewing of automotive covers and automotive accessories
■ Location: 4-6-10 Kishi-cho, Tondabayashi City, Osaka Prefecture
■ Phone: (0721) 24-8110
■ Website & Orders: Here

Contact us for interview inquiries here