Most cars made after 1993 use R134a refrigerant. The production of R12 (Dichlorodifluoromethane) was banned in developed countries, Japan included, in 1996. That makes R12 refrigerant very hard to find, both in the United States, and in Japan. Unfortunately, that’s the refrigerant used in my recently acquired 1991 Honda Beat. While a convertible is meant to be driven with the top down, I found myself sweating if I put the top up even when I had the A/C set to max. It was clear the A/C system was working, but it wasn’t working well. I hoped recharging the system would rejuvenate it. I had two options, either convert the system to R134a, which would be expensive and would have reduced performance as my A/C system was designed to use R12, or find an auto shop that was still certified to handle R12 and had a supply of the gas they could purchase. I should note that R12 and R134a do not mix. One shop that I contacted told me they had a special hose that allowed them to recharge a R12 system with R134a. That’s not a thing. If I was being generous, I’d assume they meant they could convert R12 to R134a, but I’m not generous and I will never contact them again. Luckily, Toma’s Garage still has R12 equipment and gas on hand. When I spoke with them on the phone, they said they could perform the service immediately, but I should get there before 11:15 so they can recharge and test the A/C system before they take lunch at noon. Their good reviews are well deserved. I sat in the waiting room for about 30 minutes before my A/C was recharged and they’d verified the work with a test drive. When I got back in my car, it was an amazing difference. The A/C actually worked. The only downside was the cost. R12 cost 3500 yen per can through Toma’s It took two cans to recharge my system, plus labor. Worth it.

If you’re one of the other three Americans on Okinawa with a car that needs a R-12 recharge, I’d recommend Toma’s.