With the 40th Tokyo Motor Show officially opening Saturday, Japanese automakers are hoping the biennial event will encourage visitors to buy new cars and help curb the domestic sales slump.
The show, however, is expected to do little to stimulate the sluggish market, which is near saturation.
Well aware of the tough conditions at home, Japanese carmakers, especially Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co., have successfully expanded market share in the United States at the expense of their American rivals.