My son is interested japanese mod cars

[Jonny TVR]

Although I'm interested in cars, I know nothing about JPM cars. My 15 year old son is and I want to take him to an event/ meet (we are in devon and appreciate difficult with covid) or at least get him some magazines or something for his birthday. What would you guys suggest?

[Wadeski]

No idea if there are still meets with COVID a thing, but a few issues of Banzai magazine will pass the time.

However, above magazines, I would have a look on eBay for some Japanese car shows on DVD:

- Best Motoring (Japanese version of Top Gear)
- Hot Version (same guys, but focus on tuner cars)
- Initial D (its a cartoon, but a bit of a right of passage for kids into Japanese cars)

[samoht]

I'm not aware of any more events this year, seems Japfest 2020 is cancelled. There have been some events this summer tho, so probably will be more coming next Spring/Summer. Generally I tend to find info on events on forums like https://fdoc.co.uk/forum/forums/events-and-meets.3...

Unfortunately the last Japanese tuning magazines, Japanese Performance and Banzai, seem to have closed down this year, judging by the Publisher messages here:
https://www.magazine.co.uk/motoring-and-transport-...
https://www.magazine.co.uk/magazines/japanese-perf...

[TommoAE86]

The thing with most events now is there are no spectators, Action Day Finale at Castle Combe is still happening but no public - that could change so you could keep your eye on that venue?

Tried ebaying some pre-owned magazines/sales brochures? Or you could try buyee.jp and see if you can get some from Japan - I get my VIP Style issues from there.

If not can he check out some websites? https://shakotantoday.com/ is one I enjoy, speedhunters also has good articles too on JDM stuff.

[samoht]

Looks like Modified Live is still running early Oct at Snetterton. Not Japanese specific but likely to have a heavy JDM flavour I think.

https://snetterton.msv.com/SN-20-Modified

[siman05]

banzai magazine was pulled just after the lock down.

[trickywoo]

Mighty car mods on YouTube have some pretty good JDM content.

Turbos and temples is well worth a watch.

[Truckosaurus]

Wadeski said:

- Best Motoring (Japanese version of Top Gear)
- Hot Version (same guys, but focus on tuner cars)
- Initial D (its a cartoon, but a bit of a right of passage for kids into Japanese cars)

The Best Motoring YouTube channel has a load of their old content uploaded.

You can get the 'Initial D' graphic novels in English, but printed in the Japanese back-to-front style which adds to the fun.

The Initial D live action film is not especially kosher as it was made in Hong-Kong rather than Japan (and I believe is in Cantonese).

[griffter]

I’m in a similar boat with my 11 year old son (although I’ve only got myself to blame as I bought an S2000). I love the car but the JDM scene is really not my thing.

Anyway last year we did JDM combe at castle Combe and Japfest finale at Santa pod. I think given the way things are now the best bet is to plan events for next year.

As above there’s lots on YouTube including some footage of night meets in Tokyo (which even I’ll admit is quite enjoyable).

[aka_kerrly]

Truckosaurus said:

Wadeski said:

- Best Motoring (Japanese version of Top Gear)
- Hot Version (same guys, but focus on tuner cars)
- Initial D (its a cartoon, but a bit of a right of passage for kids into Japanese cars)

The Best Motoring YouTube channel has a load of their old content uploaded.

You can get the 'Initial D' graphic novels in English, but printed in the Japanese back-to-front style which adds to the fun.

The Initial D live action film is not especially kosher as it was made in Hong-Kong rather than Japan (and I believe is in Cantonese).

Definitely this, Best Motoring shows what a car show for car enthusiasts could be instead of a TopGear comedy special. The technical aspects covered and the track tests are superb - the multi car 5 lap shoot outs around Tsukuba are great fun to watch and pick up on some dam good driving techniques!


Also there are some really good Youtubers based in Japan who speak excellent English which allows them to give a really good insight into the car culture with plenty of show and track action. Two of my favourites are Nori Yaro, Alex attends LOADS of car meets & track days is a rather good drifter who quite often has live streams from drift events & provides commentary . He also has a few different project cars on the go.

Another is JDM Masters, hosted by Kapt who is a automotive engineer/racing driver/driving instructor with astonishing knowledge and gives incredibly detailed reviews of classic JDM cars.

[Jonny TVR]

Thank you all.

I've been busy on ebay and will go to some of the events next year if covid allows.

Will also show him some of the videos

Thank you again

[Gompo]

I'm not sure if you'd be allowed to just have a look around but you could see if Torque GT would let you in for a gander? https://www.torque-gt.co.uk/

[TommoAE86]

griffter said:

As above there’s lots on YouTube including some footage of night meets in Tokyo (which even I’ll admit is quite enjoyable).

They’re so much better than our videos of a bunch of Eurotrash in McDonalds car park

OP tip for YouTubing: try with google translate the cars name, for example my Crown I’ll also search the Japanese kanji to bring up more results.

[AnhBanhBao]

In addition to the YouTube channels already mentioned; try YourCarBro’s old videos - American guy who used to be based in Japan and used to trawl the auctions sourcing JDM imports. Would always watch/listen to one of his videos in the background whilst I was in the middle of something.

There’s also a guy called Sammit; starts to grate on me after a while, but might be okay for your son (if he’s not sniffed all these channels out already).

[The Rotrex Kid]

MightyCarMods have done a couple of great Japan based videos with some cool JDM cars

https://youtu.be/Cu6h5IoqkoA

https://youtu.be/GSc_T5JqUZ0

[5harp3y]

The Rotrex Kid said:

MightyCarMods have done a couple of great Japan based videos with some cool JDM cars

https://youtu.be/Cu6h5IoqkoA

https://youtu.be/GSc_T5JqUZ0

this

plus Noriyaro

[MDMA .]

Gompo said:

I'm not sure if you'd be allowed to just have a look around but you could see if Torque GT would let you in for a gander? https://www.torque-gt.co.uk/

I know it's a while off, but I'll be picking a car up from TGT in the New Year. More than welcome to come along if you wish.

[1430]

I wouldn't encourage it, jap cars have gone up in price 10 fold, and by the time he could actually insure one.

[The Rotrex Kid]

1430 said:

I wouldn't encourage it, jap cars have gone up in price 10 fold, and by the time he could actually insure one.

That’s quite a sweeping statement! There’s many different Japanese cars that you can buy/mod and insure at many different budgets. Not everyone is going out getting R34 GTRs and spring £300k on them and you don’t need to so so to enjoy the scene and the cars.

[1430]

The Rotrex Kid said:

That’s quite a sweeping statement! There’s many different Japanese cars that you can buy/mod and insure at many different budgets. Not everyone is going out getting R34 GTRs and spring £300k on them and you don’t need to so so to enjoy the scene and the cars.

Personal experience from a kid who likes jap cars is nothing but frustration. I passed my test and the car themselves were worthless but... it's the UK and I can't insurance any. Now I'm older and insurance isn't an issue the prices have gone mad. A 32/33 GTR for 10k was very attractive now even a horrible spec skyline (NA, automatic, 4door) is about 5k.