Chrysler scored a massive sales hit with its original K-platform-derived minivans of the middle 1980s, and the Japanese automakers decided to jump into the North American small-van game with their popular-in-the-home-market rear-wheel-drive vans. Mitsubishi had the Delica (called the Mitsubishi Van here), Nissan had the Vanette (called the Nissan Van here), and Toyota had the LiteAce/TownAce/MasterAce (known as the Toyota Van here). Clearly, the Japanese companies' marketing departments weren't particularly creative when it came to names. Toyota's Van was by far the best-selling of the three in the American market, and it proved to be a reliable machine. Here's a Colorado Toyota Van with a quarter-million miles on the clock and a lot of exciting stories to tell.

The Japan Coast Guard reports that two Chinese patrol ships have been in Japan's territorial waters for two days. This is the longest intrusion into the waters in eight years.

Officials say the two vessels entered the waters off the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea shortly before 11 a.m. Sunday and tried to approach a Japanese fishing boat.

The Japan Coast Guard says two Chinese patrol ships have entered Japan's territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, and are repeatedly trying to approach a Japanese fishing boat.

Coast Guard officials say two of the three Chinese vessels that had been sailing just outside the territorial waters made the intrusion off Taisho Island shortly before 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide says the government will make its best efforts to patrol territorial waters, after commenting on two Chinese patrol ships that remained for more than 39 hours.

Two Chinese patrol ships entered waters off the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on July 2, and approached a Japanese fishing boat.

Two patrol planes of Japan's Self-Defense Forces will leave Japan for the Middle East on Saturday to help ensure the safe navigation of commercial vessels.

Defense Minister Taro Kono ordered the dispatch of the aircraft and one destroyer at a meeting with senior ministry and Self-Defense Forces officials.