Scenes From a Japanese Performance Shop

"Kat Callahan" (kyosuke)
08/13/2014 at 04:06 • Filed to: jdm, japan

Took the GA in for new tires. It's currently up on the lift. Here are some pictures of modified cars around the shop, including the GA.

DISCUSSION (100)

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 04:15

I really dont want to like these cars because Im not a JDM guy, but Damn, I love these cars!

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 04:26

Random question - how strong/deep is the American car presence as far as the newer models go? Obviously I expect to see a lot of mazda, toyota, honda, etc.....But lately we've been raving about the Fiesta ST and new Mustang from Ford. Or cars like the Dodge Dart, Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Camaro, and more. So what "American Brand" cars have permeated the Japanese market and culture over there? I'm aware the corvette has a certain allure to it but what about the more.....basic cars? We look at our own sport compacts as tarted up econoboxes but really a car like my own Fiesta ST would be a decent sized car over there. 1.6L turbo motor is small for the USA but is large in a country that has a whole tax bracket for cars with almost a liter less of displacement.

Kinja'd!!!

Blondude > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 04:31

Kinja'd!!!

Holy crap.

PS9 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/13/2014 at 04:38

Im on a bus in Florida at this moment, reading about and looking at pictures of something happening in Japan on a device that pulls its data from the air. We're separated by a continent and an ocean, but I can still be loosely connected to and interact with stuff thats happening to you ( or anyone) anywhere on earth, nearly in real time, anywhere.

No point to me saying any of that, beyond pointing out how totally awesome modern technology has become. This was science fiction not even a century or so ago, and now its real. Wow.

Kat Callahan > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/13/2014 at 04:44

Mustangs, maybe. Mostly you don't see American cars here. You often see American SUVs here. Mostly European and Japanese cars.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > PS9
08/13/2014 at 04:46

......You're like 5 years behind lol. I remember unpacking my moto droid for the first time. The next morning, I woke up, played an old SNES game from my youth for a bit, checked up on a friend on a mission trip in Africa, downloaded my class notes for the day, organized where dinner would be at for the day among my group of friends, and then got out of bed for the day.

And now here I am, capable of real time communication with someone on the literal opposite side of the planet that I stand on via multiple forms of communication and able to ask any number of questions. If anything, we're riding the wave started about 5 years ago and are due for a new wave in 2018 or so. Maybe google glass? Who knows?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 04:51

Lame. I was hoping cars like the ST hatchbacks and rumored/upcoming SRT Dodge Dart would be capable of having an impact abroad, including in the Asian markets. It's about time WE got to be the ones to envy. But alas, probably won't be the case. Oh well, at least I can dream about the JDM hot hatchbacks coming over here if cars like my FiST or the FoST keep doing well here.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 05:55

Kinja'd!!!

HOLY CHEESEBALLS

Sweet Trav > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:18

Kat,

Any word on what is under the hood of that wicked looking Z car?

Yuni Kitadai > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:19

don't forget the dodge vans!

Flavien Vidal > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:19

Hey Kat, how is that JDM sub-blog project, you were talking about, going on?

Kaufmania: Mark Webber's Stunt Double > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:20

ah it looks so cute with no tires on it.

DerrickD > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:21

OMG, 2 STOCK Toybarus at a Japan performance shop!? :eek: How is that possible? Where are the body kits??!!!

Kat Callahan > DerrickD
08/13/2014 at 09:23

They're not stock. Nothing at the shop was stock.

Kat Callahan > Flavien Vidal
08/13/2014 at 09:23

Seems like people didn't think it was necessary.

mierdv > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/13/2014 at 09:24

Japanese are the nationalistic types and typically only buy their stuff, which is their right.

Andrew P. Collins > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:24

Kinja'd!!!

I think I've made this comment on one of your previous posts, but I love how much this car looks like a baby first-gen Odyssey.

Thanks for another cool JDM post!

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > DerrickD
08/13/2014 at 09:25

Those are definitely not the stock exhausts. The black one looked lowered. The white one looked like it still had factory rubber though

Schep9d > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:26

Kinja'd!!!

That wing, those wheels, that body kit, they just rub me the wrong way. I do like the roof inlet however!

Kat Callahan > Sweet Trav
08/13/2014 at 09:26

I can ask next time I'm there. They know me pretty well. Photos are usually forbidden, but I got permission.

I mean I'm a white girl with a GA, which are no longer that common in Japan, certainly not modified. I am hard to forget.

Vlan1 > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:28

What did they do to that poor Z series?!?!!

Kat Callahan > Andrew P. Collins
08/13/2014 at 09:29

It really does. I love it, btw. It's got a civic engine in a car half the size. It's like driving a super comfortable boosted gokart.

Vlan1 > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:29

Booo. I love me some JDM cars.

mr_gofast > PS9
08/13/2014 at 09:33

you just want any of the cars in the pictures - we know...its ok :P

mr_gofast > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/13/2014 at 09:34

self driving cars with teh personailities and software from President Bill Gates

Sweet Trav > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:39

I was just curious if it was still Nissan powered or if something more 'murican was under the hood.

It's easy to see how you could use your wiles and be extremely memorable to a Japanese performance shop.

Also as far as vehicle mods go, does everything have to be smog/emissions compliant or is it more like the states where pretty much anything goes unless you live in MA or CA.

onhold > PS9
08/13/2014 at 09:39

And still no flying cars. Explain that one.

Cé hé sin > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/13/2014 at 09:41

The ST hatchbacks have an impact abroad because that's where they were originally designed!

Kat Callahan > Sweet Trav
08/13/2014 at 09:41

That's a good question. I don't know what's in the engine bay. I'll ask. As for emissions, I definitely think there is a special class for classic cars, but when you're over 18 years of age you're definitely paying more in taxes. The GA is already 14 years old, which means I'm in the middle bracket, soon enough it will be in the oldest bracket.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:42

Kinja'd!!!

I need to find out how much are lifts like these. That would be perfect for the stuff I do without using as much space as a post lift does.

Cé hé sin > onhold
08/13/2014 at 09:43

They're coming in two years time.

They've always been coming in two years time, in the same way as nuclear fusion is coming in about twenty years time.

Andrew P. Collins > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:43

Sweet. I'd never even seen pictures of one 'til you started writing about yours. Moar pics of cool Japanese cars plz!

Sweet Trav > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:44

Interesting that old cars are taxed higher.

For example: My '14 fusion has $151 registration fee in Michigan, but my '86 Monte Carlo is $53

I suppose its one of the Abe-nomics things to encourage new car purchases and protect local industry?

Kat Callahan > Andrew P. Collins
08/13/2014 at 09:46

Can do! There are a ton of modified cars in a two block radius of my apartment.

GhostZ > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:47

Kinja'd!!!

Is this an example of US drag racing style making it's way into Japanese culture? You can throw a stone in the south and hit a 1977 Corvette that looks like this.

Yuni Kitadai > Sweet Trav
08/13/2014 at 09:49

I got some info and some pics for you. The owner is mr. Horikawa, the guy with the glasses. Seems he had been running low 10's and just made it into the 9's. Some sweet pics here http://fc3sdrag.blog.shinobi.jp/%E3%83%97%E3%8…

and here http://d.hatena.ne.jp/vkenv/touch/20…

GhostZ > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:50

Everyone take notes, since all of these design trends will be popular in the US in about 5 years.

PaulCahill-Go2Fast > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:50

Kinja'd!!!

yeah..so stock wheels are interesting?

Kat Callahan > PaulCahill-Go2Fast
08/13/2014 at 09:54

To me. I hadn't seen them quite that close yet, actually. They're quite a nice design. I'm sure they're not done with the white one yet.

HateBox > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:55

Kinja'd!!!

Hella Stock Bro!

Jay_Hoff > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 09:55

You should go find RWB and take some photos from their shop.

Here is the one I seen in Chicago.

Kinja'd!!!

Kat Callahan > GhostZ
08/13/2014 at 09:56

Yes, actually. I think I've seen it become more prominent in the years I have been here.

Yuni Kitadai > Sweet Trav
08/13/2014 at 09:57

regarding illegal mods, you can do whatever you want, but you won't get a license plate, hence you won't be able to drive on public roads. Parking is expensive, space is scarce, so it is not something your average Joe-san can afford.

Sweet Trav > Yuni Kitadai
08/13/2014 at 09:57

That Z car is beautiful! Thanks for info. Good to know he's running a Nissan Motor.

Kat Callahan > Jay_Hoff
08/13/2014 at 09:57

I don't know Nakai personally, but I can see if I can find out a way to contact him and ask. I sure as hell know who he is. His Porsches are legendary!

DerrickD > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
08/13/2014 at 10:03

Sorry, I wasn't specific enough. Visually they look stock. No bodykit, exhaust sticking out 5ft from the rear, etc. This is what we have come to expect from Japan.

toddycc > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/13/2014 at 10:04

its a one way street, we want their crap, they do not want our crap.

Kat Callahan > HateBox
08/13/2014 at 10:08

It's in progress. And it's a pretty wheel besides.

Also, that's "sis." :D

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 10:13

K-swap. K-swap. K-SWWWAAAPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

;)

Suburban Fart Can > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 10:15

That Atenza makes me wish I had the money to put more into mine....

Fragile_this_side_up > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 10:17

Kinja'd!!!

HOLY SHIT them's are some big pipes...

OzzyOnIce > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/13/2014 at 10:24

how high is that dude?

Yuni Kitadai > Sweet Trav
08/13/2014 at 10:27

nah, the rule has been in place well before Abe was elected the first time. I guess it is one way to phase out old cars with old safety standards(especially pedestrian-wise)

50willie > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 10:29

Japan is the land of the pedophiles, not the land of the gearheads. We can post pics from hundreds of shops around the US whos garages make that look like your average honda meet.

The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending) > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 10:36

*Sigh

They allow Foxtrot Alpha, Flight Club, and whatever the one is about Trains, but nix a JDM car sub-blog? I still like jalopnik, but I wish they could focus a little on, you know, just cars. Oh well, at least we got Truck Yeah, Lane Splitter, and Car Buying.

The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending) > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 10:37

Awesome pics, but my favorite Japanese tuner shop is still Akira Nakai's RWB Porsche. Maybe I am crazy, but to me his shop looks like what a mad wizard's garage should look like.

CarlHJones > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 10:39

Start working at home with Google! It's by-far the best job I've had. Last Wednesday I got a brand new BMW since getting a check for $6474 this - 4 weeks past. I began this 8-months ago and immediately was bringing home at least $77 per hour. I work through this link, go to tech tab for work detail

www.Jobs700.Com

==================================

Doug Nash > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/13/2014 at 10:41

If you've never been to Japan, it's hard to imagine just how tight and congested most of the major cities really are. Streets are more narrow. Parking areas are smaller. Heck, on average, the people are smaller. So, too, are many of their consumer products, and as no surprise, their cars.

So, just for instance, because it's a great example of an otherwise desirable American car - the Mustang. It's really quite a large vehicle. Not so much the weight, but the sheer exterior dimensions. It just takes up too much space, for what is ultimately just a two-door GT car. Not practical enough, by Japanese standards.

HideyoshiJP > PS9
08/13/2014 at 10:43

...from the man who has already teleported his PS9.

Kat Callahan > The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending)
08/13/2014 at 10:43

No, no. Oppo commenters said it might be unnecessary. Staff has not spoken to it at all. Please do not misunderstand.

Kat Callahan > The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending)
08/13/2014 at 10:45

We've discussed him in the comments already. :D

HateBox > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 10:48

They're all faster than what I drive. Especially that Datsun Dragster.

Thanks for sharing these, it's always nice to see photos from the car culture I imitate.

TurtleFace > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 10:59

Kinja'd!!!

ooooh stock wheels..

fintail > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 11:00

Cool to see cars in Asia without window air deflector things.

Vincent Davidson > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 11:02

Cool shop. Wish I could work on rides like that instead of uber-beige USDM Odysseys I usually work on of late.

The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending) > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 11:03

Got it. Still, good opportunity to gripe about Jalopnik.

damnthisburnershitsux > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 11:11

Kinja'd!!!

why would a photo with such an obvious defect not have been tossed out? seriously this flash reflection or light reflection glare ruins the shot, especially since the photo below shows the same scene without the defect... maybe this is a pet peeve of mine in the instagram age but this is just bad photography

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Blondude
08/13/2014 at 11:14

Raywert.GIF

Kat Callahan > damnthisburnershitsux
08/13/2014 at 11:15

Eh. It was a selection error from my upload. I'll delete it.

I'm not a photojournalist, I'm a writer.

Yuni Kitadai > mierdv
08/13/2014 at 11:17

wrong, imports are priced higher than JDM, it costs more to run and service, and getting parts shipped from the US is a hassle, even if you can speak English (FEDEX, USPS, UPS sucks BALLS). Only semi-rich people in Japan can afford to ride imports, mostly Mercs and BMWs and other German cars. The guys that ride US iron just love 'merica,or need some ridiculously large barge to haul the whole family, like me (4kids under 4yo, needing 4 babyseats and strollers for 4), whose only other option, than to buy a Chrysler T&C was to by a (dodge van) or an Astro. No JDM car other than a specialize long version of the hi-ace would fit so much kids and crap into the car without folding down the second row seats(which have baby seats in them too) to get to the 3rd row (end rant). My other car is a R53 mini, so yeah Japanese people buy foreign cars. Did you know that new US cars cost roughly the same as other imports from europe? A 2014 V6 3.7L coupe premium mustang costs 4,423,000yen(US$43,200) base price http://www.ford.co.jp/cars/mustang/m… which is in the same price range as a 2013 BMW 220i coupe sport that comes in at 4,570,000yen($44,640) http://www.bmw.co.jp/jp/ja/newvehic… which is right about the price for a Lexus IS250 at 4,382,000yen ($42,800) http://lexus.jp/models/index.h… what would you buy? I would buy a $9,000 kei car (if I didn't have kids), and if I didn't pour so much money(mods) into my Mini that I could never sell it...

C to the J > GhostZ
08/13/2014 at 11:22

Nothing new in any of those pictures.

gc8foreva > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 11:28

I'm loving the Toyobarus. Very clean, simple and understated. Frankly, I was expecting more flamboyant things like that STi.

50fridge > GhostZ
08/13/2014 at 11:30

I guess everything always come back in style. If early 2000's body kits and vinyls come back in style again I will laugh.

Kat Callahan > gc8foreva
08/13/2014 at 11:30

It's always a mix. I was hoping they'd have more classic stuff than the Z. They often do.

damnthisburnershitsux > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 11:32

okay, sorry if I was a tad harsh... wasn't sure if it was meant to be "artsy"

Kat Callahan > damnthisburnershitsux
08/13/2014 at 11:35

Naw, just a selection accident. I wasn't allowed in the bays, so I was restricted in where I could shoot from.

gc8foreva > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 11:36

Hopefully next time you come in they'll have some. I would love to see more classics!

Bruno Martini > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/13/2014 at 11:39

IM sorry 5 years ago? This started in the late 90's with IBM putting out wearable computing, then migrated to pda's then finaly to smart phones that gave us these capabilities. We were able to comunicate via internet since 2k3, it took off maybe 5 years ago. But Some have had windows mobile devices that did all of these things since 2k3. I remember when the data plan on my phone cost me ~70bux a month, it was esecianly dialup that you didn't have to dial, I remember using the SD slot to add wifi.... 802.11b wifi at that.

Nate > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 11:55

I was at RWB in Chiba yesterday, meeting about a possible build. Email at 225nate(AT)gmail.com if you need some help with this.

Kat Callahan > Nate
08/13/2014 at 11:59

Sent!

T5Killer > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 12:02

A friend of mine was there a few years back in '11 and saw a H2 of all things! There is a small following of American stuff but not much due to the cost.

Kay Inoue > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/13/2014 at 12:10

The Fiesta Mk7 platform only just went on sale in Japan this year. Japan doesn't even get the Fiesta ST (though, I'm pretty convinced it would do well in Japan) yet, and I'm not sure they will. Which is sad because they do get bigger hatches like the GTI (and there was a whole (mostly Euro) hot hatch shootout on Hot Version recently.

protodad > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 12:12

Is that a Mazda6 in the last photo? Had no idea it wasn't American only. It seems pretty large compared to the majority of Japan only vehicles.

Kay Inoue > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 12:15

Man, that Z. Do. Want. Thanks for these shots. If you ever get a chance, you should check out Inoue Shouji's STARROAD garage; he specializes in S30 restomods, and they're second to none (you can also regularly see stuff like Hakosuka in there).

(Also, is that Manjoume Fumi as your avatar?)

stoke > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 12:16

Pardon my ignorance, but what the crap is a GA?

Flavien Vidal > 50willie
08/13/2014 at 12:18

yeah and the US is the land of mass shootings, normal shootings and insane evangelists who also often happen to be completly sexually perverted... how's that for a fucked up generalization?

Just because pedophiles perverts can somehow fullfil their disgusting behaviors through legal anime and manga does not mean there are more or less pedophiles in Japan than in any other country. It's just hidden a lot better in the US, but all it takes is a crap TV show like "To catch a predator" to realize that your neighbour might be pedophile...

Tunning shops are A LOT more common in Japan than in the US for the good and simple reason that japanese do very rarely mechanic themselves, yet want a perfect, common but different, car. Tunning shops in the US are quite rarer because the muscle car scene often implies that most owners do their own repairs and tunning.

Kat Callahan > stoke
08/13/2014 at 12:25

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/its-here-i-fin…

Kat Callahan > protodad
08/13/2014 at 12:26

Yes it is, and yes it is.

busacca > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 12:40

Kinja'd!!!

Want. Badly.

stoke > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 12:46

Neat!

mike780333 > onhold
08/13/2014 at 13:10

http://www.terrafugia.com/tf-x ..8-12 years of development and we'll have personal Ospreys :)

mierdv > Yuni Kitadai
08/13/2014 at 13:49

I stand corrected. That's nuts to pay 43k for a V6 Mustang but I guess if it's coming all the way from Tennessee or somewhere that is going to effect the price.

protodad > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 14:08

So would it qualify for VIP status? Odd for a FWD "big" body to be modified like that. Seems like there would be a bunch of cooler (from a US perspective) sedans out there.

Mattbob > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 14:34

Kinja'd!!!

something about this wing screams Gundam.

onhold > mike780333
08/13/2014 at 14:43

Oh that's cool. No doubt. But I've heard this siren-song before. What we really need to do is have an X-prize type contest to get a working prototype.

mike780333 > onhold
08/13/2014 at 14:48

I wouldn't be opposed!

YSI-what can brown do for you > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 14:59

Do you know what engine is in the Z

Jay_Hoff > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 19:08

Just think it would be cool to go see his collection of Stella in his small shop.

Yuni Kitadai > mierdv
08/13/2014 at 19:14

so there lies the problem. us cars aren't made to suit Japanese roads(too big), they aren't made in the region(too expensive), and although they have gotten way better, still have more problems than JDM cars.

Yuni Kitadai > Kat Callahan
08/13/2014 at 19:51

hi Kat, could I recommend doing a piece on Mr. "George" Tokoro? You know him right? Biggest car nut in Japanese celebrity, 'merican to the core. Jalops would approve!