Jdm Tuning Scene In Japan Today

[beersandwich]

this decline in car culture also co incides with the decline in Japans economic status, 10+ years of recession and deflation, and to make things worse recent natural disasters.

The GFC put an end to free money and pure waste and those days will not be coming back for a long time, in Japan or elsewhere

[West]

Any photo at least?

[Iron Mike]

Yeh I'll get some up in the Japanese photo diaries section in the next week

[copycutter]

It's a sad state of affairs, but as everyone has said, there are too many reasons for manufacturers to avoid putting cars that thrill first and ask questions later into production. World economies, oil, public perceptions and fashion trends all have swayed brands from building toys instead of modes of transport. Entertainment in cars is secondary to profit. I sincerely hope we don't end up as just another MG followers club, obsessed with relic's time has lost rather than a thriving breed of Nissans still in production.

[elrodeo666]

this decline in car culture also co incides with the decline in Japans economic status, 10+ years of recession and deflation, and to make things worse recent natural disasters.

The GFC put an end to free money and pure waste and those days will not be coming back for a long time, in Japan or elsewhere

Wasn't the GFC it was before that. It was the bubble and a new generation of people without free money to spend and money they do have is spent on more frivolous stuff like their hair and clothes. The car scene of old was a different time and era when there was so much money being thrown around and able to be thrown around it was obnoxious.

Hit any of the major tuners up these days and you'll see they are making after market parts for things like Prius's.

The old days you go to those tuners shops and their car parks would be full of wildly tuned cars, nowdays its about general services and basic mods and if they are very lucky the odd person doing the odd build.

The economic problem in japan is right across the board and wont change as there business mindset is too stubborn and locked in the old ways

If you live in Japan for any length of time you would have seen the amount of businesses going down the tube left right and centre and with property values on a continually spiralling low (I think think is the 18th/!9th year in a row of lowest ever prices) and eclipsing each years low, there rising sun is burning out fast.

Tuning scene now is what people can afford and is very different to that of old. Its still out there but in a very small way.

Tuning shops are struggling to stay afloat with many big names on the verge of bankruptcy or already have succumbed.

In the next few years you'll quite a few disappear and I personally know of one major aftermarket supply already gearing their factories to completely different market altogether and will be fading out their products over next few years.

On a different note if your heading to Japan and want to see good tuned skylines and GTR's cars then forget Nismo, forget Auto Salon (well maybe not Autosalon) but get your arse to the GTR Magazine "R's meeting usually in September. This by far is one of the best meets of the year on the Japanese performance calendar.

[Hattori Hanzo 69]

so a good time to have a motor built by the likes of top secret or jun? and a good time to buy property in Japan if you have the balls for it.

[elrodeo666]

With current exchange rates, yep getting an engine built is worth it but they will still charge like a bull for job.

Biggest problem is sending it back to Australia and not getting stung a whack of import duties. Its a catch 22 situation as for example you could could get a short block built, throw a used head on for shipping and say its a used engine but..you wont be able to insure for full value otherwise you'll pay the impost duty which say on a cheap $15,000 build your looking at minimum of 3k on top for shipping and duty.

Real estate in Japan is a very different kettle of fish than compared to Australia.

You really need to know where and what to buy and then if renting you'll need a property manager and your rent income isn't that much on a monthly basis.

Small apartment blocks with convenient public transport are the go. Buying in Japan is quite easy but finding something that can make you money takes some good research and knowledge of Japan and laws and taxes.