In the event you’ve seen recent automotive news media from Japan, chances are high it mentioned police crackdowns or the decline of the country’s automotive scene.
While it is likely to be true of Tokyo to some extent, Osaka tells a special story. Through the one recent night I spent with some locals, I witnessed the colourful heart of Kansai automotive culture.
Let’s start at CBC (Automobile Boys Club), a neighborhood garage run by Ikegami-san. CBC is a pure hobby enterprise, where Ikegami-san and his friends devote evenings and weekends to all things Honda.
Parked outside the workshop was Ikegami-san’s B16A-powered and JACCS-liveried EF9 Civic SiR, which was certainly one of my favourite Hondas at this yr’s Attack Tsukuba event. Ikegami-san clocked a formidable 1’02.740 lap, a super-impressive time for a stock-bodied, naturally aspirated automotive.
Inside, the shop mirrors many other Japanese garages we’ve explored: a treasure trove of parts, trinkets, and machinery – some beneficial, some not – but all creating the unmistakable vibe of a JDM automotive workspace.
This trio of Civics are Ikegami-san and his friends’ projects. While you would possibly expect them to be built for the infamous Kanjo Loop, Ikegami-san focuses most of his energy on the racetrack. He’s an everyday at Central Circuit just an hour from Osaka – a favorite amongst Honda enthusiasts and even host to a Honda ‘one-make’ race.
Leaving CBC, we cruised the Osaka low roads, Ikegami-san’s EF9 on the back of his truck, Honoka in her EK9 Civic Type R, and one other friend in a wonderfully easy EG Civic.
Filling up at a neighborhood fuel station, the distant sounds of Hondas, Nissans, and bosozoku filled the air. This was a stark contrast to Tokyo’s late-night automotive culture, where crackdowns have pushed spirited driving to the town outskirts. Even the long-lasting Shibuya weekend gatherings have turn into fewer and farther between.
Kanto (Tokyo) and Kansai (Osaka) automotive styles differ significantly. In Kansai, there’s an enthralling disregard for things like exhaust silencers and front licence plates. It’s what makes the automotive culture here so vibrant. Osaka’s modified automotive owners enjoy making noise and testing driving laws (allegedly) without much fear of retribution.
You might liken the differences to nightlife: Tokyo is a pleasant dinner out with friends, while Osaka is street drinking outside a combini, six beers deep and sharing laughs. Each have their place, but sometimes you crave that raw thrill.
After a transient drive, we arrived at Higashi Osaka Parking Area, Osaka’s version of Daikoku PA. Pulling in, we were greeted by police on-site, leaving little time for photos. Nevertheless, these frames from some videos I shot should provide you with idea of how alive it was.
At a guess, over 250 cars were in attendance – from Kanjo Loop Civics to drift-spec AE86s and VIP land barges – it was the very best parking area show I’ve ever seen in Japan.
After watching the PA empty out in a spectacularly loud fashion, we headed to Downtown Osaka. Amerikamura is a thriving hotspot for all sorts of street culture. By day, it’s alive with skateboarding and art, but by night, it transforms right into a haven for automotive and bike enthusiasts.
Tonight was no exception. Many cars that had migrated from Higashi Osaka PA gathered here, including the founding father of the legendary Kanjo Loop team ‘No Good Racing’ in his Porsche 992 GT3.
On most weekend evenings, you’ll find a mixture of automotive and bike culture in Amerikamura. Satirically, it sits right by a Koban (local police station), yet the road meets rarely get broken up.
Throughout the night, there was a gentle stream of unique and interesting cars and bikes, including this Type R pairing of an NSX and a Civic.
In a landscape of accelerating police intervention, Osaka offers a automotive culture experience that Tokyo cannot match. While Japan’s capital boasts among the world’s best tuning shops and automotive events, its once-thriving street culture is fading under tightening rules and regulations. My night in Osaka reignited a passion for Japan’s automotive scene that Tokyo struggles to take care of; Kansai has truly captured my heart.
Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco
This Article First Appeared At www.speedhunters.com
