Evolution!

I dont think I have ever spoke about my favorite car, but it is Japanese made and lets just say it's the most "evolved" performance car ever. Originally specific to Japan, but due to it's high demand was imported to the UK and then to the U.S. in 2003. What makes it the best in its class is the 2 litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that puts out an average of 300 hp and its super handling four-wheel drive system that dominates any type of weather or road conditions. There have been 10 models since its release and each is denoted a roman numeral. My favorite versions so far have been the 9th and 10th, but I'm sold the 10ths better design appeal.

You can see why this car just dominates.

Collision Course

What do you get when you plaster vinyl decal characters from Japanese animation and video games all over fast cars? I dont know either but they call it "Itasha," the name sort of has a complex background since "Ita sha" has been the short name for Italian cars. The current usage of itasha comes from "itai" the Japanese word for painful or Japanese slang for ugly. Therefore, itasha means "ugly car" and some of them are pretty ugly.

Comically Spaced Out

These mini vans on steroids seem only to come out a night, sporting huge spoilers and fins that could quite possibly send them the next universe. Comic Space Vans which they are dubbed, usually have large air brushed Japanese pop icons, along with disney and comic characters adorned all over the van. Their style is pretty similar to the Decorative Trucks I posted before, but on a smaller scale.

Fine Tuning

To me, I think a big part a Japanese car culture is tuning. For those who aren't familiar with the car term "tuning" it is "an industry and a hobby, in which an automobile is modified in order to improve its performance, handling and presentation and improve the owner's driving style. As most vehicles leave the factory set up for average driver expectations and average conditions, tuning has become a way to personalize the characteristics of the vehicle to the owner's preference. For example, they may be altered to provide better fuel economy, produce more power at high RPM or the ride comfort may be sacrificed to provide better handling."

I just enjoy what people can create out a of a stock car and make it preform better than expected.





"Car Tuning." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 02 Nov. 2010.

It's All About the Angle

Speaking of VIP style there is another trend that is specifically targeted towards VIP style cars, but on more of an edge. They are called "Oni Camber," which basically means demon angle and I wouldn't argue with that after seeing the pictures. The entire weight of the car contacts the road on no more than 2 inches and some even push it over the top by going less than that.

Slammed!

Another unique fad that Japanese car culture features is the "VIP Style." They usually feature luxury Japanese vehicles, (but can also include European cars such as BMW's and Mercedes) with large size rims that sit flush with the fenders.

Cathedral of Speed

Legendary circuit, are the only words that come to mind when you mention Tsukuba to any Japanese car enthusiast. Even thought it is small, Tsukuba circuit is considered one of the most popular race circuits in Japan, located in the metropolitan city called Shimotsuma. Its also know to be as the birthplace of time attack races.

Events are held every week with accommodations to hold over 10,000 spectators. Drivers and fans alike will not be disappointed when they get there, because the track features a variety of hair pin and wide sweeping turns to keep everyone on the edge of their seats.

Hyper Meeting 2010 from Scott Nishi on Vimeo.

Decorated like Christmas

I feel the need to post the slightly weird part of Japanese car culture and its not necessarily a car. In Japan semi truck drivers create works of art on their trucks, which is called "Dekorta" or (decoration truck) but they take it to the extreme by adding massive amounts of neon lights to the exterior and interior of the truck, painting the trucks with elaborate paint jobs, and chrome parts anywhere they see fit. Some of them almost look like transformers from a distance, which makes sense because some of them base their designs off of it.

Aaahhhhh, GODZILLA!

You can't even begin to talk about Japanese car culture with mentioning the most influential Japanese car in the world, which happens to be the Nissan Skyline GT-R. Nicknamed Godzilla by an Australian car magazine, it has dominated Japan motorsports winning 29 straight of 29 races.

Never manufactured outside of Japan, the Skyline GT-R was only exported to Australia and the United Kingdom. The older model GT-R's are rare in United States considering that Nissan never produced a Skyline GT-R to comply with the United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, until 2008 where they released the R35 GT-R worldwide. 

Some of the things that makes this car so unique is its all-wheel drive system and four-wheel steering. It also remains somewhat inexpensive for its class.

JDM Paradise

As with many car enthusiasts, they all want to find a group that tailors to their similar taste in automobiles.
What better place to meet up and show off your car than a huge parking lot, right?
Well, the Daikoku Parking Area is known as one the best JDM(Japanese Domestic Market) meeting areas in Japan, compared to Shibaura parking area, and Tatsumi parking area. JDM enthusiasts of all makes and models come to show-off their cars that they tuned for performance and style.

via speedhunters.com

Drift World

To start off, I want to introduce you to one of the most popular motorsports craze in Japan, which is also catching on in America and through out the whole world. Drifting! It came into fruition as a technique, when rally car drivers would slide or drift around corners through various road conditions. It also allowed drivers to maintain a high speed when turning.

The technique was picked up by Japanese drivers who had to maneuver a series of mountain turns. Drivers soon challenged each other, seeing who could maneuver the turns with more flare. From there drivers developed their own style and the sport was born.

Today, drivers compete on closed streets courses more than mountainous roads and champion drifters are recognized as celebrities in Japan.

Team Orange Triple Drift from The SpeedHunters on Vimeo.