Guide
Japanese Auction Sheet Terminology: A Glossary for Australian Buyers
Short answer: Auction sheets mix kanji, romaji abbreviations and auction-house shorthand — for example A/U/W for scratch/dent/wave repair, RA for repaired accident history, and grades 1–6 plus S. This glossary translates the terms Australian buyers see most.
Japanese auction sheets mix kanji, romaji abbreviations, and auction-house-specific shorthand, which makes them genuinely hard to parse the first few times you see one. This glossary covers the terms that come up most often, grouped by what they describe rather than listed alphabetically, so you can find what you need quickly.
Terms Describing Condition
Shaken (車検) — Japan's mandatory vehicle inspection and registration renewal. A sheet showing recent shaken often (though not always) suggests the car was being maintained for continued use rather than export, which some buyers read as a mild positive signal.
Tama-kizu (玉キズ) — A small, superficial paint chip, usually not affecting the overall grade meaningfully.
Kikan (機関) — Refers to the engine/mechanical systems. A comment referencing kikan issues is worth taking seriously regardless of how good the bodywork grade looks.
Nioi (匂い) — Smell. Inspectors note this specifically for smoking odour, mould, or pet smell, none of which show up in photos.
Terms Describing Repairs and Damage
Hyoumen (表面) — Surface-level, often used to qualify a repair as cosmetic rather than structural.
Itami (痛み) — Damage or wear, a general term that can apply to bodywork, interior trim, or mechanical parts depending on context.
Fukugen (復元) — Restored or repaired back to original condition — the term itself doesn't tell you how well, which is why the surrounding comment matters.
Kotai (交態)/Koukan (交換) — Replacement, referring to a panel or part that's been swapped rather than repaired in place.
Terms Describing Documentation and History
Wagon-sha / Norikae — Terms sometimes used to indicate a vehicle has changed hands or use-type (for instance, from a rental or lease fleet), which can affect wear patterns even on a low-mileage car.
Meisai (明細) — Detail or itemisation — occasionally used to refer to a more detailed supplementary inspection note beyond the standard sheet.
Sougou (総合) — Overall or comprehensive, most often seen as part of "sougou hyouka" (総合評価), meaning the overall grade itself.
Auction House Abbreviations
USS, TAA, JU, ARAI — The major Japanese auction houses, each with its own sheet layout and slightly different grading conventions. If a term or code doesn't match what you'd expect, checking which house issued the sheet is often the reason why — our guide to auction house differences covers this in more depth.
Using This Glossary Well
None of these terms are meant to be read in isolation. A comment combining several of them — for example, noting hyoumen fukugen (surface-level repair) on a specific panel alongside a tama-kizu elsewhere — is far more informative together than any single term is alone. When a comment includes vocabulary not covered here, that's usually the sign to get the full sheet professionally translated and verified rather than guessing from a partial glossary.
Ready to check a car? Pull the original Japanese auction sheet and your Australian PPSR & NEVDIS check in one report — check a car now.