Author: Mark Riccioni
Japan’s vast road network boasts 1.2 million kilometres of tarmac across its sprawling landscape. That may sound like so much, however it manages some 82 million vehicles in a few of the world’s most densely populated cities every day. As a rustic, it ought to be at a perpetual standstill. Yet, ever for the reason that Nineteen Fifties, the Japanese have held a tiny little ace up their sleeves… Kei-jidõsha, or ‘kei automobile’ because it’s more commonly known, refers back to the smallest category of motorized vehicles permitted to drive on Japanese roads and highways. For a long time, the…
When Hironao Yokomaku began working at a French restaurant aged 16, little did he understand how much he’d influence Japan’s automobile culture within the many years that followed. Now aged 63, the Tsukuba-based tuner shows no signs of slowing down having just unveiled a brand new project alongside Fast & Furious actor Sung Kang unveiled at this yr’s Tokyo Auto Salon. Because for nearly 4 many years, Yokomaku-san has led the long-lasting Japanese tuning brand VeilSide. Many younger readers might be conversant in VeilSide’s work in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Almost 20 years on, Han’s orange and black Mazda RX-7…
As a nation famed for its patience, discipline, and peace of mind, the Japanese appear to have a habit of restoring essentially the most unforgiving and uncompromised race cars to the road. Probably essentially the most famous – or most documented, at the very least – is Takeshi Moroi’s Porsche 962C featured by Dino back in 2012. Many years earlier, this is able to’ve been thundering down the Mulsanne Straight at over 200mph. Nevertheless, seeing it parked in front of a Tokyo Family Mart is in some way much more impressive. For those who prefer your race cars more suited…
Scattered across Japan is a mythical chain of stores that bring wonder and excitement to all who visit. ‘Up Garage’ reads boldly in blue and red over yellow, a reputation well-known to JDM enthusiasts. But for individuals who think manga is a few latest American political term, a visit to Up Garage seems like visiting eBay Motors in the actual world. Consider it as eBay circa 2008, back when real bargains could still be found. That’s because Up Garage isn’t your average parts shop. Every little thing here is used – wheels, bumpers, headlights, exhausts, and more. Better of all,…
It’s been almost two weeks since we dropped our first Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 story, and as you could be aware, a number of changes are underway here at Speedhunters… We teased a site ‘refresh’ a few days ago, and while we all know the forthcoming redesign may not be for everybody, it’s all a part of an even bigger plan. This update serves a vital purpose as we migrate to a proper CMS and implement additional features all year long. Considered one of the primary big changes is the return of the Speedhunters store, which has been offline for an achingly…
Given how vast the tuning scene is in 2025, it’s hard to assume a time when ordering aftermarket parts to your automobile wasn’t so simple as clicking a button. This shift isn’t limited to the aftermarket world. Nearly every major auto manufacturer now offers a level of customisation beyond just optional extras – think BMW’s M Performance, Mercedes-Benz’s AMG Line, or Toyota’s GR series. In actual fact, today you possibly can order an unpainted carbon fibre bonnet to your 2.5-tonne Range Rover Sport directly from Land Rover as an option in the event you’re so inclined. Whether that’s a superb…