It’s very straightforward to fly the ‘every little thing appears higher in Japan’ flag whenever you’re out right here.
And that could possibly be right down to the inflated notion by web sites like Speedhunters, or it may merely be right down to the angle (and aesthetics) the Japanese share in the direction of automotive tradition in comparison with these in different elements of the world.
One factor’s for positive, it’s very straightforward to have a look at sure vehicles and kinds right here with rose-tinted glasses. Vehicles you’d in any other case think about to be a bit cringe or downright bizarre the second they’ve crossed the Pacific. Wikipedia even calls it Japanophilia; the obsession and fixed reward given to something even remotely related to Japan. Simply be very cautious when Googling that time period so to not alert the authorities.
Take the micro world of kei vehicles. Sooner or later, you’ve possible seen an Autozam AZ-1 and declared it to be one of many maddest and coolest little vehicles in existence. As a result of that’s precisely what it’s, assuming it’s parked up on the neon-lit streets of Shinjuku.
However on the Argos multi-story close to Buckinghamshire – with a barely tubby proprietor making an attempt to contort themselves out – it does taint the cool a part of that picture. And I say that as somebody giant who has tried to get out and in of an AZ-1 earlier than rapidly realising they’d seem like an authorized canine botherer if I have been to truly drive one.
Vehicles are extensions of our personalities in spite of everything. You’re unlikely to stumble throughout one thing like an AZ-1 by likelihood or take a fast punt on one, particularly with costs now creeping north of US$25,000. Your native automotive vendor is unlikely to take one in as half trade both, so for those who actually need an AZ-1 it’ll require a little bit of digging round simply to unearth one on the market.
And the extra particular a automotive is, the extra particular the proprietor it appeals to. When you attain this stage of automotive shopping for, not often will you discover somebody whose purchased it by chance or simply as a result of they fancied one thing totally different.
Yup, there’s going to be a narrative behind it. And that’s the harmful bit which will get you hooked, be that kei vehicles, JDM tradition or another automotive area of interest. And whereas I’m not about to recommend that Japanese automotive tradition hasn’t resulted in some actually terrifying creations over time, most of the time you get suckered in by the proprietor’s ardour, dedication and obsession which immediately elevates no matter they’ve constructed as being downright cool.
I’m a sucker for an excellent story. I’ll overlook most shortcomings if there’s an excellent one to inform, and I’ll disregard most pink flags when shopping for a automotive if it’s bought a bonkers historical past. ‘Cus on this age of social media and immediate content material, issues are rapidly forgotten. We see vehicles being teased, purchased, after which offered the second they now not carry hype and visitors to an web persona.
Modifications change into intentionally controversial, and anybody who doesn’t think about it ‘wild’ or ‘cool’ is rapidly labelled a hater quite than being allowed to name a automotive for what it truly is. Like a Lamborghini Huracán with a pink exoskeleton.
That additionally brings us again to Japan. Automobile tradition right here – for essentially the most half – doesn’t really feel prefer it’s been poisoned by this angle simply but. It’s removed from exempt of pushing issues to the intense; we’ve seen Liberty Stroll minimize up a Ferrari F40 and stance tradition produce GS300s with wheels fairly actually mounted horizontally.
However as an entire the tradition right here feels extra real. I’ve misplaced rely of what number of homeowners I’ve photographed who’ve owned their vehicles for years – often off the again of 1 important second that occurred earlier of their lives – who then proceed to stay by the mantra of doing one thing ‘as a result of I prefer it’ quite than chasing hype.
Top-of-the-line examples of this occurred simply after Tokyo Auto Salon 2023; one thing which was triggered by a picture noticed on-line of a B5 Audi A4 decked out in ’90s Tremendous Touring livery whereas (inevitably) carrying a Japanese numberplate.
Identical to seeing a kei automotive on UK roads, seeing a ’90s British Touring Automobile – full with Auto Dealer stickers – appeared fairly area of interest even by Japan’s requirements. What weird sequence of occasions has led to this automotive patrolling the streets greater than 30 years later?
Nicely, it seems the proprietor isn’t alone of their obsession for the Tremendous Touring period of the BTCC, and everyone knows the second a number of associates become involved you flip right into a WhatsApp group of enablers. So, what higher strategy to unravel this than with a daytime cruise across the streets of Saitama… twinned with Donnington Park.
Launched in 1990, the Tremendous Touring components was presupposed to quash the wild spending incurred by the Group A period earlier than it. And that’s precisely what occurred… for a 12 months or two. However with main producers like Toyota on board – adopted by the likes of Williams Engineering bringing F1 tech into Renault’s Laguna – it was by no means going to remain low cost for lengthy.
Due to this angle, it did carry us a few of the best-looking race vehicles of all time. Vehicles which really resembled their road-going counterparts – from the surface at the very least – simply slammed to the bottom on magnesium wheels with now iconic liveries. It captured our hearts right here in Blighty, and after a slight delay in transmission it’s finished the very same for Takeshi Akiyama, Niikura Kousuke and Masahiko Yamazaki in Japan.
“Once I was little, I watched motorsports at my grandma’s home as a result of she had a international TV satellite tv for pc,” explains Alfa 155 proprietor, Akiyama-san. “WRC, Le Mans and BTCC. To see vehicles that appeared my father’s being raced gave me a dream to at some point do the identical.”
“Within the late-’80s and early-’90s, motorsport turned very fashionable in Japan. Not solely did you could have Honda and Nakajima in Formulation 1, however Toyota, Subaru and Mitsubishi in rally too. Britain gave the impression to be a vital place for racing, nonetheless. Many F1 groups got here from there, and specialists like Prodrive would develop vehicles too. So, after I found the British Touring Automobile Championship on TV – and noticed vehicles which weren’t Japanese racing – I turned obsessive about the look and velocity.”
Lack of assets meant that Akiyama-san would by no means be capable to go precise racing – regardless of dabbling with the world of hill climb in a Subaru Legacy briefly – however the subsequent smartest thing could be to have the feel and appear of a “combating” machine on the street as an alternative.
“I realised when doing hill climb that, as a lot as I benefit from the quick driving, I take pleasure in the feel and appear of the vehicles much more,” Akiyama-san provides. “I all the time thought the BTCC Alfa Romeo was a wonderful machine, so six years in the past I purchased my first Alfa 155 with the concept of customising it into my favorite racing automotive of the period.”
“Sarcastically, I’ve by no means seen the precise race automotive in actual life – solely footage and movies. So, that is one of the best I can do with my assets. Whereas it’s a street automotive beneath, it isn’t comfy or quiet as a result of I run it so low with no inside. Nevertheless it appears like a particular combating machine, and on a winding street you’ll all the time smile. I get to really feel like a racing driver at any velocity, any day of the week!”
For Niikura Kousuke, who has the unenviable activity of saying ‘Rydell’ each time he tries to explain his Volvo S40, he too shared a dream of changing into a racing driver from a younger age.
“Once I was younger, my father really took me to an abroad race which was the British Touring Automobile Championship,” Kousuke-san explains.
“I used to be so shocked! I couldn’t imagine there was such an attention-grabbing race with road-looking vehicles. The velocity, sound and odor is addictive, and when rising up I needed to change into a racing driver. Nevertheless it’s not straightforward to do with out some huge cash, even for those who drive very quick. The urge to race by no means goes away, and I nonetheless needed to journey in a racing automotive.”
“After a while, I bought my driving license and rapidly determined to make a racing machine that I may additionally take pleasure in on the street. The Volvo S40 was my favorite from the Tremendous Touring period of BTCC, and each drive appears like an incredible expertise.”
Whereas Akiyama-san and Kousuke-san shared the same path rising up, Mashahiko Yamazaki – and his B5 Audi A4 – wasn’t initially impressed by the world of motorsport. However as an alternative, the world of console racing video games.
“My mother and father owned an Audi within the ’90s, and after I noticed the Tremendous Touring A4 on the PlayStation sport I didn’t imagine they have been the identical automotive beneath,” Yamazaki-san recollects. “Many individuals love Japanese racing video games due to the bizarre Japanese vehicles. Nevertheless it’s true that right here, we take pleasure in them due to the bizarre European vehicles that characteristic. Particularly when there are racing machines included.”
“Race vehicles will all the time be one of the best for my part. They exist to be pushed very quick by the bravest drivers. And to create a automotive which has the identical model and feeling of the ’90s may be very nostalgic. I’ve a protracted strategy to go till I’m full – I would like the efficiency to match the visible. So, improvement will proceed into a correct racing machine.”
All three vehicles could have prioritised model over velocity initially, however what unites these associates is the sensation they get when leaping behind the wheel – be that cruising the streets of Saitama or just commuting to work each morning. Requested whether or not any of the newer BTCC vehicles curiosity them, all three rapidly agree that trendy race vehicles (and trendy vehicles usually) battle to seize their creativeness in the identical method these constructed within the ’90s and ’00s did.
“In fact, I benefit from the velocity of recent racing vehicles, however they’re additionally very totally different visually to the street vehicles they’re based mostly on,” Akiyama-san provides. “We now have misplaced many iconic drivers, sponsors and liveries. However perhaps they may change into iconic once more in years to return? The ’90s will all the time be my period as a result of it’s what I grew up with. Newer race vehicles begin to all look the identical as a result of the foundations are so tight and improvement so related. They’re quicker, however not as emotional.”
Akiyama-san’s final level is a crucial one. New vehicles are arguably one of the best they’ve ever been, however that doesn’t all the time seize somebody’s creativeness both. On the earth of music, you possibly can take heed to any tune, wherever on the earth by means of noise-cancelling headphones for an uncompromised expertise. But vinyl gross sales are at an all-time excessive; a format with imperfections which degrades over time and requires effort to seek out.
It’s human nature to gather and kind attachments with belongings. And as we get nearer to full autonomous driving, the will for an unfiltered driving expertise solely will get higher, too. As a rustic which nonetheless embraces the fax machine as an acceptable communication format, don’t anticipate the Japanese to surrender their inner combustion race vehicles simply but.
Mark Riccioni
Instagram: mark_scenemedia
Twitter: markriccioni
mark@speedhunters.com
