Fast and Furious: The Undeniable Impact of Japanese Car Culture

Custom body kits, flamboyant paint jobs, outrageous designs, shiny rims, neon lights, crazy accessories, and all-around creativity in vehicular customization that influenced people to get into cars and start their own auto body shop in places like Naperville, IL. Combine all of that with powerful engines that can burn tires, shred the asphalt, and own the streets in a matter of seconds. These are the characteristics of highly modified Japanese tuners that roam around during the nights under the mad skills of their drivers, hidden from the watchful eyes of the police.

Japan, a country known for its beautiful Cherry Blossoms and a culture that is deeply-rooted in principles and discipline, is also considered by custom car builders worldwide as their “home.” Why? It’s simple, really. Japanese car culture has made its mark in the long, illustrious history of automotive modification. Think about this: Beautiful visuals ranging from abstract lines and colors to caricatures of scantily-clad anime schoolgirls painted all over technologically-advanced vehicles that can go from 0-60 in seconds. These masterful combinations of art and fast cars can literally be seen across continents all around the world. Guess what? It was ALL influenced by the Japanese car culture.

Not so bad for a circle that is dominated by locally-manufactured vehicles. Known as JDMs, which stand for Japanese Domestic Market, these cars were once thought to be inferior in comparison to the so-called American-made muscle in terms of speed and to the Chicano lowriders in terms of style. Undeterred by the notion, the Japanese car industry, as a whole, worked its way up the ladder to produce some of the best cars that have ever been created. Vehicles such as the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Subaru Impreza 22B, and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution are staples in car culture, while the Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) and Toyota Corolla AE36 (for the fans of the Initial D series) made their permanent mark in car folklore and are forever considered to be iconic and legendary.

Inspired, Japanese car lovers and racers soon followed suit. Their love for their locally made vehicles and creative expression led them to inject their own unique styles into their vehicles. From the flamboyant designs to the out-of-this-world engine modifications that made their rides reach speeds that can only be seen in dreams, these car enthusiasts have truly made these cars their own. This love for the art of automotive modding has not only inspired their fellow countrymen to get into cars but has also inspired people all around the world to start their own auto body shop in cities like Naperville, IL.

It doesn’t end there. The Japanese car culture did not only influence people to integrate their unique style and creative modifications to their vehicles, but they also introduced a driving style that will never be forgotten: drifting. Pioneered by the “Father of Drifting” Kunimitsu Takahashi and made popular by the “Drift King” Keiichi Tsuchiya, drifting was initially dismissed as a waste of good tires. Today, it is perhaps one of the most popular in the long list of professional driving techniques. Not only is it used in organized races by some drivers, but it also became a worldwide phenomenon that spawned drifting events held in countries all around the globe.

Nowadays, Japan is highly regarded as a “mecca” for all car enthusiasts everywhere. Through creative expressionism, unique modifications and adjustments, local manufacturers, and a legendary driving technique, an iconic car culture was born in the land of the rising sun. It’s not one of those fads, those flash-in-the-pan moments, where the hype eventually fizzles out. It is a culture that has been accepted, embraced, and loved not only by its country but also by a whole nation of car enthusiasts everywhere.

Let’s face it: whatever your opinion is on the Japanese car culture, its contributions to the world are undeniable. After being counted out by some in the beginning and working its way to influence countless people to get into vehicles and start their own companies that offer auto detailing and even collision repairs in areas like Naperville, IL, it definitely deserves the utmost respect from everyone. Whether you love it or you hate it with a passion, the Japanese car culture is worthy to go down in the annals of car culture history as one of the most revolutionary movements that have ever existed.