You, over there... Read this!

"The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL" (tokyobayaqualine)
04/16/2014 at 18:05 • Filed to: Japan, Tokyo, jdm, cars, history, TokyoBayAquaLine, Osaka, blog, site, website

I thought I might devote myself to going back to Japan, for a year, and documenting all the big tuning shops and their origins, Classic European, American and Japanese cars in Japan, and basically document the whole 80's/90's/Early 2000's "JDM" scene.

Sort of like, bringing the origins of JDM as a scene back to the forefront, and documenting some of the shops that played a big role in bringing it's influence to America, but not doing any specials on any "new" tuning cars. Only historics.

I would have to set aside my savings and jump into it, and I'd only do it for a year too... Unless I got enough "readers" that I got paid for it or something, whether on Kinja (best of luck to me...) or off.

It would feature my photography (as seen above) and writing, as well as some home brew Apple video Center created videos ( I'm not terribly good at video editing).

I'd be between both Osaka and Tokyo. The only thing is that I would need to find a job in Tokyo before I went.

Since I was going to go back to school in September, I figure I could put it on one last hiatus before I buckle into my Masters and settle down. Sort of like, one last "Youth" hurrah. It would be tricky, as I'd have to withdraw a large deposit I've made, and throw it all into the pot so to speak, but I think it would be worth it.

It would have articles such as:

- Special Car Features

- Marque Events

- Shop Walkthroughs

- Shop Owner Interviews

- Pro Driver Interviews

- Japanese Race Queen Interviews

- Historic Car Stories

- Video Journals

- Interesting Japanese things (Unrelated to cars)

- Japanese history

- "Random Snaps"

Lastly, it'd be updated in bulk every couple days, or almost daily. It'd be like a blog... But an informative blog.

The question is, would everyone be interested enough to read it and follow it?

DISCUSSION (12)

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL
04/16/2014 at 18:08

I would read it but the smog and languages and uncooked food it sounds horrible

Mikeado > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL
04/16/2014 at 18:09

I'd follow that for sure.

Biased Plies > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL
04/16/2014 at 18:11

You had my curiosity but now you have my attention.

The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
04/16/2014 at 18:12

Smog isn't too bad. Especially in Osaka. I know it can get kind of bad, especially after rainy season, in Tokyo.

But it also gives off an aura of "industriousness".

Language is 99% Japanese. But everything would be translated by me, or retold by me, for the blog.

Lastly, I won't be documenting the food haha. It would be all "Japanese car/man stuff".

Squid > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL
04/16/2014 at 18:14

I'd read it.

daender > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL
04/16/2014 at 18:18

I'm down for reading this. Speedhunters can only cover so much and you seem to have more connections, especially with members of the original Mid Night Club.

Oh, and could you possibly explain how the heck the Devil Z ended up in Vegas at one point and where it might be now?

Kinja'd!!!

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL
04/16/2014 at 18:25

Hellz yeah I'd want to read that.

Things to consider: Shorter pieces for the blog, longer ones for a book/movie/combo that you would release later. Then Kickstarter that shit for a return on your travel expenses.

I'd put up $10-25 for a well-written, and decently produced book and/or documentary about the JDM scene as it originated, especially since it would be in English with reliable translation.

I'm sure I can't be the only one who would want to see this happen. Marty and Moog have done fairly well on their own with their two specials about JDM culture, but those only cover their experience visiting today.

Learning how the JDM scene formed and how it was viewed in Japan would be fascinating to my foreign ass.

The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL > daender
04/16/2014 at 18:33

Haha!

The owner of ABR Hosoki and the owner of Revolfe took the cars to a Nevada highway top speed run and Z Fest. That was a LONG time ago now though.

Speedhunters has tons of connections, but they're always focusing on what's hip and new. I want to focus on a certain time period, because that time period can reveal a lot.

The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
04/16/2014 at 18:37

Kickstarter huh?

You might be on to something...

daender > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL
04/16/2014 at 18:43

Ah, so they competed in the Silver State Classic Challenge? I knew the Option Stream Z competed there (including that famous crash) but an original Mid Night car? That's awesome. I wonder if other members took part in stuff like that. Those're the cool facts I want to know and hear about.

You're right about SH, it's 99% about the hottest things in Japan and 1% visiting old shops and seeing what they're working on.

Gamecat235 > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL
04/23/2014 at 18:55

I'm very interested... and as an aside, if you were looking to do this within the confines of Kinja... see this comment over here for how to create a group blog: http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/youve-basicall…

The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL > Gamecat235
04/24/2014 at 23:12

A friend of mine and I are actually starting a Kickstarter, to find a video project where we put beautiful cars in their natural environments, and videotape just the cars driving hard, and the essence that they bring. No words. No voice overs. Maybe some semi-dramatic music from time to time, but mainly just the sound of the car, in a really artistic style.

The videos would be 8-10 minutes long, and would feature every kind of car. The series would be made to evoque the feeling that particular car gives you, the character it holds, and the strength it gives it's driver.

I would like to call it "Keys to a Dream".

We plan on going around the world videotaping and editing the series and since I already know many many many hundreds of owners of extremely rare cars, I already have a base of which to work from.

The reason I bring this up is because perhaps you might have an idea to help us get the Kickstarter going? We'd be making a demo video, as well as examples of our previous work and our resume.

Let me know what you think. If it can bring traffic in for you guys, all the better.

Regards