THE 1963 JAPANESE MOTOR SHOW -- BIGGEST IN ASIA -- OPENED IN TOKYO THIS WEEK WITH THE ACCENT ON SPEED, GREATER SAFETY AND MORE COMFORT. MOST POPULAR MODELS WERE MEDIUM-SIZED FAMILY CARS, ALTHOUGH NEW SPORTS CARS CREATED WIDE INTEREST. HIGHLIGHT OF THE SHOW WAS A 500 c.c. SPORTSCAR BY HONDA, MAKERS OF THE RENOWNED MOTORCYCLES THAT HAVE WON MANY TOP INTERNATIONAL HONOURS.

THE TWO-WEEK SHOW OPENED TO REPORTS THAT JAPAN'S CAR MAKERS WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW TRADE LIBERALIZATION POLICY THAT WILL ALLOW AN INFLUX OF EUROPEAN AND U.S. CARS, NOW IMPORTED IN LIMITED NUMBERS. ANOTHER BIG HEADACHE FOR MANUFACTURERS: TIGHTENING OF PARKING LAWS IN TOKYO AND OTHER BIG CITIES WHICH HAS CAUSED A DROP IN SALES.