[SnS_12]

Another interesting trend are the lowrider scooter gangs.

https://youtu.be/tOewrMzRdsc?si=Dp8FEm3BqktyKGPX

A few of my 1:18 model cars from famous tuning companies

[Pkumarblore]

That was an amazing thread. Thanks for the lovely pictures. Knew Japan had its car culture through movies, but never knew so much in detail. Those cars with negative camber look weird and super cool., not sure how it drives. Like @Jeroen asked, would love to see some classic Japanese cars and their festivals. Thanks for sharing.

[subie_socal]

What a thread, true to your user name!��

There's lots on information that even I am hearing of the first time.
.

[jackofsome]

What a thread. Thank you! Feels like we Indians are living in 1951 in terms of cleanliness, road infra and modification rules to our cars. And if you are in Kolkata it feels like 1851.

[cdrajeevkumar]

Thanks for the lovely post!

Simply thrilling to see all the beasts!! A true visual treat! Next time I plan to visit Japan, your post will be a ready reckoner!

[JDMBOI]

Car Group

Kei Cars
Kei car refers to the Japanese vehicle category for the smallest highway-legal passenger cars, with restricted dimensions and engine capacity (upto 650cc) These cars fetch low road tax, gets good mileage and easy to drive in narrow streets of Japan.
The kei category was created by the Japanese government in 1949, and the regulations have been revised several times since. These regulations specify a maximum vehicle size, engine capacity, and power output, so that owners may enjoy both tax and insurance benefits. In most rural areas, they are also exempted from the shako shomeisho parking space ownership requirement (as street parking is usually prohibited in Japan). Japanese government regulations limit the physical size, engine power, and engine displacement of kei cars. Kei cars have also been subject to other restrictions, such as lower speed limits; vehicles are equipped with a warning chime that sounds if being driven too fast.
Autozam AZ1, Honda Beat, Suzuki Cappuccino and Honda Today are the most famous.

Autozam AZ1, Yes, the door goes up (like Mercedes SLS AMG )


Suzuki Cappuccino

Video of Kei Cars -

Steve's POV Kei rally in USA

Scooter
Known as ‘gentsuki’, scooters have always been accessible and affordable mobility for Japan’s crowded streets. But for some, it’s also the first rung of the tuning ladder; a way to express their personalities and make something feel like their own.
Scooter modding really booted off in the late Seventies and early Eighties, when DIY custom car and bike culture reached fever pitch. Being easy to modify, scooters started to be hacked with a couple of hallmark modifications. Notably the complete lack of suspension.

1983 Honda Motocompo




Newly released Honda E mobility scooter

Picture Courtesy - Link

Yakuza and their cars

Yakuza, also known as gokudō, are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media, by request of the police, call them bōryokudan (violent groups), while the yakuza call themselves ninkyō dantai (chivalrous organizations). The English equivalent for the term yakuza is gangster, meaning an individual involved in a Mafia-like criminal organization.
The yakuza are known for their strict codes of conduct, their organized fiefdom nature, and several unconventional ritual practices such as yubitsume, or amputation of the left little finger. Members are often portrayed as males with heavily tattooed bodies and wearing fundoshi, sometimes with a kimono or, in more recent years, a Western-style "sharp" suit covering them.This group is still regarded as being among "the most sophisticated and wealthiest criminal organizations".
Yakuza also were good people who were stealing from evil people and giving to people in need. The level of RESPECT that people used to give them back in 90's was something else but now Yakuza's number has declined drastically after strict Japanese laws against them (Can't open a Bank Account, Can't buy a car etc) Police have arrested people who have worked or connected with them.

Cars
Back in time only way to tell whether someone is Yakuza was by tattoos (all over the body) they were chauffeured in high end VIP cars, Mercedes S600 with AMG body kits (most liked by them as V12 engine with 600+hp) with tinted windows with plate no like 3333 8888 7777 the reason 3 was popular was because Japanese dragon has 3 claws you simply don't want to mess with these dudes.

Steve's POV story on Yakuza -

VINWIKI

Classic Car Shows

Classic car shows take place but they are not prominent as other car shows. Found these 2 videos.

Video - Fukuoka Classic Car Meeting 2022 -

Wasabi Cars

Tokorozawa Classic Car Festival 2019 -

Noriyaro

[oldcontessafan]

What an amazing thread! Put a few in my things to do list for next trip to Japan

[TurboKat]

Excellent thread, dude! You've properly summed up the vast Japanese car culture in a nutshell. Only knew about the Bosozoku bike mods. I wasn't aware of the scooter modifications. It was great knowing about them.

[quadra]

I always had the impression about japan having the nicest culture, nicest people & beautiful landscape but this, this side Japan's legacy is out of the world. Huge shoutout to the people behind managing such events and the people who are car lovers.

Thank you JDMBOI for collating and sharing this. RESPECT

[starke]

Superb thread and a simple but fully understandable explanation covering almost all points of the car culture here.

I go at least once to Daikoku PA and Hakone every month, but as someone mentioned, the car culture is dying due to strict police and most importantly less enthusiastic cars.

Old cars are getting expensive to buy, especially the R32 to R34 due to export to the US and Shaken getting difficult on them (Had to try multiple times to get a Shaken for a friend's M3 last month). cherry-on-top, The less demand for enthusiastic cars, stricter regulations & electrification push kept all the OEMs from this niche segment.

[JDMBOI]

Originally Posted by starke

I go at least once to Daikoku PA and Hakone every month, but as someone mentioned, the car culture is dying due to strict police and most importantly less enthusiastic cars.

Lucky you Mate. Every month means you can speak little Japanese for sure then. (I know 10-15 words )

Old cars are getting expensive to buy, especially the R32 to R34 due to export to the US and Shaken getting difficult on them.

Yes, 25-year USA rule is definitely a factor in soaring cost but this bubble is going to pop.

[krankstter]

Originally Posted by JDMBOI

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Picture Courtesy - Speedhunters

Lovely thread, reminded me of this scene. Damn, wish we had this culture in India.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TILUGyZblU&list=PPSV

[starke]

Originally Posted by JDMBOI

Lucky you Mate. Every month means you can speak little Japanese for sure then. (I know 10-15 words )

Yes, 25-year USA rule is definitely a factor in soaring cost but this bubble is going to pop.

I speak little enough Japanese to talk with people around car meetups or in a random car wash , survival Japanese.

I live near to the base and literally seen the US people getting around these cars with the intention to export later confirmed on casual conbini talks.
With the weak yen, they are trying to grab as much as they can

[ryosuke]

This is a goldmine! I knew bits and pieces of the JDM car scene but this post is exquisite and so detailed. Switzerland and Germany are always there on people's dream destinations but now Japan just got added to mine, and this post will show me majority of the timelines of these events as well. Thanks for sharing this here