DaiOni

we probably have a fair bit of info lying around anyway (I know I have, and I know troy has ten times as much) - so if you have a specific car(s) in mind...

I've got plenty, but no webspace to put them up. I could attach them I guess. Tonight I even found mypics of the local magic mushroom/panty vending machine A friend of mine must have come close to losing a finger to the yaks tonight - wish I had a photo of his face at the time! He's borrowing their tattooist - said the wrong thing (he's well known as a social nightmare) at the wrong time when the boss dropped by. Mental note: do not make jokes about the yakuza in their presence Funny ol' place, japan.

privately import personally import despite the apparent similarity, there is a difference - 'privately' assumes that someone is trying to cut out the middleman - or, if your prefer, privately importing as opposed to hiring a commercial importer. personally importing, assumes that you are personally importing your own vehicle it's just semantics, but this is the general terminology (or, at least, mine)

http://www.bmw.co.jp/Product/

most are from places like nigeria, chad, ivory coast, etc - hilarious, really

tourism = mega-bucks and jobs - obviously an all-round winner as for attitudes, well it's very hard to quantify/qualify those sorts of things - the 50/50 gaijin status above is a waste of time. I mean, think about how 'we' (in general - not any of us specifically) view various types of 'foreigners' in our own countries. Let's take a look at a short sample (in japan): * The koreans - traditionally regarded in a way many stereotypically regard 'the irish' * The chinese - have had terrible press recently, they're either triads, or, as uni students - evil criminal masterminds and rapists * The brazillians - third rate foreigners, good as sweat shop fodder - doing the dirty work in construction and factories * The 'white' english teacher invasion - all they're after are the women * Indonesians, indians, etc - see 'the brazillians', perhaps a slightly higher profile as some hold more 'white collar'-ish positions (the indians in particular) * The 'hip hop' guys from africa who hang out in front of shops in every urban centre - god knows how they're regarded! (I'd love to know) etc etc etc - such a wide spread, I think a blanket 'I hate all foreigners' is a relatively rare attitude, though I'd certainly believe that a large silent majority questions the need for us. In my opinion, globilisation, to the japanese, is a means to an end, and most likely not a case of trying to open up a closed, 'homogenous' society Personally, I don't really care, as long as I continue to be treated well and enjoy a lifestyle greater than I've previously been accustomed too.

it's definitely, 'late 20s' now, btw kampai!* hehe, have fun, wish I was closer so I could buy you a jokki or two

What I'm trying to say is that it's a different kind of heat (and there's just as big a difference between germany and the mediterranean). Eastern australia and japan is a good contrast - both can be wickedly hot in summer, but they are very different experiences - one is 'my god I'm melting', the other is 'my god, am I still in the shower?'. My money is on there being a significant climactic difference for frank. But hey, who cares? Sink some asahis, put on some shorts... enjoy!

ahh, it's just opinion, but as wonderful as the smell of venice in a european 'heat wave' is, I don't think euro weather comes close to a honshu summer (humidity, in particular)

I loooooove the summer! But, yeah, someone used to european weather may or may not agree.

height thing is a bit of a myth (they've had milk in school lunches for a while now) - the average height is definitely lower than australia, but there is also a distinct difference between the older generation and the new. I'm a shorty at 5'8" or thereabouts, and plenty of my studemts tower well above me.

I had the camera on me, but the owner was inside, fiddling with the wiring of the gauges. Damn I was tempted! and just to ask... なぜ？

that's nothing! I saw a daihatsu naked yesterday - completely stock, except a 3-gauge pod on the dash and a monster tach - not sure what the go was there...

probably the same guy that told me an apexi safc was an "$8k computer" - then refused to show me the paperwork he allegedly had in his office (unless I wanted to put down a $500 deposit.... to see the papers). I got the "you know about turbo cars do ya?!" line too f**kin idiots and an insult to the intelligence. Pity there are even more stupid people out there who are all too willing to lap it up

"VW was created by the engineer corps to give POW something to do" no. But yes, Korea is LHD - which came as a bit of a shock to me. Even more shocking is the fact that 99.9999% of cars on Korean roads are hyundai, daewoo, ssanyong, kia, etc. This fact alone makes it one of the most horrific nations on the face of the planet.

yeah, it's there now. I had to stop updating because the post was too long. I've rearranged the 'other' section to go in this post - that will leave room for the above one to be updated. I'll be continuing on with this section in the near future. Other includes personal websites www.nats.ac.jp (good site - Japan Automotive College) shin.bit.ac (car gifs) www.nimura-design.com (design company) www.d-c-i.co.jp (design company) www.gtroc.com (GTR owners' club) www.skyline-r34.com (R34 page) ilovevb.sub.jp/hs/bnr34/index.html (GTR page) www.asahi-net.or.jp/~yb5t-endu/tskyline/menu.html (GTR page) www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~romi/#4 (GTR page) ww2.tiki.ne.jp/~marunya/ (GTR page) www2r.biglobe.ne.jp/~sonic/bnr34/ (GTR page) www.gt-r.info (GTR page) www.geocities.jp/masaline_grand_prix/index2.htm (GTR page) www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/nhigashi/ (GTR page) www6.ocn.ne.jp/%7E***ugtr/top.htm (GTR page) www11.ocn.ne.jp/~go-power/ nai-taka.hp.infoseek.co.jp/index.html (GTR page) www.geocities.co.jp/MotorCity-Pit/2733/ (GTR page) city.hokkai.or.jp/~keishiro/index.html (GTR page) www2.odn.ne.jp/~cai37140/ (GTR club) www111.sakura.ne.jp/%7Ebnr34/index.html (GTR club) www.nr-sto.jp/bnr34/index.shtml (GTR page) www.geocities.co.jp/MotorCity-Circuit/1632/ (GTR page) www.netlaputa.ne.jp/~f-ando/ (GTR page) gt-r.kir.jp/index.html (GTR page) www.sopia.or.jp/yas/ (GTR page) homepage2.nifty.com/WGNC34/ (stagea club) www.geocities.co.jp/MotorCity/3417/#car (stageas) air.lib.net (car club) www.dna-sports.jp (car club) www004.upp.so-net.ne.jp/coolside/ (car club) northedge.hp.infoseek.co.jp (car club) www.screamin-web.com (car club) www.aa.alpha-net.ne.jp/oioioi/ (car club - LA style, lol) inazumaracing.com (euro car club) homepage2.nifty.com/greedcreation/ (car club - cool name!) www.rockets-saitama.com (crx club) www.wingroadfun.com (wingroad club) www.kappa119.com/~yanachan/wangan.htm (fun on the expressway) www.gem.hi-ho.ne.jp/aceone/index.htm (NSX club) www.nsxmythos.net (NSX club) www.nona.dti.ne.jp/~hondansx/newtop.htm (NSX club)

cheers guys, I spent my 28th in London (had waaaaay too much fun). Been in england, france and korea for the last month, so only just noticed this post!

*squints* first kanji looks like 'shin' - so it could be niigata (my prefecture) an utter stab in the dark though

most stores will do duty free - but it is easier to get english help at a bigger store "Akihabara is really horrible for camera gear. Theyll sell you a camera but they dont stock any of the accessories" - I don't agree with this, unless you are really looking for specialist gear (pro slr)