vip style in japan

[StraightSix]

Talking about this with a friend yesterday. He thinks that Japanese VIP style is all the latest luxobarges with the $5000 wheels, whereas the American imitation is your dad's old Lexus . . . with $5000 wheels :headspin:

So you guys being on the scene; what's it really like? Older guys or yakuza types with barrels of yen and the latest cars? or more younger guys with four or five year old (or older) cars that they spend all their earnings on?

[Laurence]

Well when I was in Japan the only thing close to VIP I saw (that wasn't a Mercedes) was this old Lexus with big wheels and some very dodgy looking fellows inside.

[DaiOni]

VIP isn't limited by budget (relatively speaking) - can be a dodgy teen in an old cefiro, or the latest merc with 20s. Try to find a copy of VIP magazine if you are really interested

[Rezz]

From what I've seen (and I've spent the majority of my time in Japan in Kobe, home to the "Yamaguchi-gumi", the largest Yakuza group in Japan), the Yakuza don't really modify their cars... they just get around in the biggest black sedans from Japan or Germany that they can find... with single digit number plates of course.

As for VIP, Umeda in Osaka is a good place to see some crazy VIP style on Fridays and Saturdays, and I'd agree, the younger guys do get around in older Celsiors and Presidents, and tend to be more extreme in the wheel and audio department. The "late-model VIP" guys are usually connected to a shop (ie: Junction Produces #2 customer) and have huge cash reserves OR (and I say "or" in a very general kind of way) they *modify their Dads car*... I've spoken to a couple of J-guys about this, and it seems that this is one way they get around the huge expense of owning their own late model VIP 22-inch monster.

As for American immitation VIP style? I hope you're referring to Yank tanks, because if the Americans have stolen yet another Japanese style and calling it their own I'd be pretty disappointed...

[yukz2daizzo]

haha! dont worry rezz they wont get as close as how the japanese does it. and yes you will be disappointed just because theyre trying so hard to produce one but just cant. i dunno about claiming it though but i know that theres quite a few that tries and doesnt even get close to what theyre trying to do.

[Rezz]

you will be disappointed just because theyre trying so hard to produce one but just cant.

Please don't post up pics... it'll make me cry

[StraightSix]

As for American immitation VIP style? I hope you're referring to Yank tanks, because if the Americans have stolen yet another Japanese style and calling it their own I'd be pretty disappointed...

They're trying - mostly doesn't look like much yet. They're not calling it their own; they are very much imitating the Japanese. They're not using American or German cars at all. I have seen at least one LS400 (Celsior) that was VERY well done, completely looked the part with pricey Japanese wheels, Xenon (I think) kit, clean audio install, and a worked 2JZ-GTE swap! The Japanese bodykits like Junction Produce are very much lusted after and even purchased occasionally . . . but mostly, so far, it's still ghetto city. Americans do NOT know how to make good looking wheels, for one thing.

[Rezz]

Americans do NOT know how to make good looking wheels, for one thing.

Neither do Australians... except for maybe Simmons.

[Sciby]

It's interesting... Japanese merge stuff other cultures into their own, yet take pride in being UK punk or American Elvis... Americans merge stuff from other cultures then call it their own.

[CircusMonkey]

From what I've seen (and I've spent the majority of my time in Japan in Kobe, home to the "Yamaguchi-gumi", the largest Yakuza group in Japan), the Yakuza don't really modify their cars... they just get around in the biggest black sedans from Japan or Germany that they can find... with single digit number plates of course

Offtopic a little bit:

Are the the Yakuza any similar to the Hollywood image?

[Rezz]

Offtopic a little bit:

Are the the Yakuza any similar to the Hollywood image?

By 'Hollywood image' I guess you mean like the Yakuza in movies like 'Black Rain'?

I'm not gonna pretend that I know Yakuza, the closest I ever came to talking to one was when I was in an "Onsen" (Japanese bath) and we were all crowded down one end of the bath, while this Yakuza dude was sitting up the other end all by himself... like royalty or something!

But from what I've gathered:

- They do have tatoos that cover their entire backs, I think when they start out it's just a small tat, and the long serving Yakuza have full back work done (over many years).

- The Yamaguchi-gumi in Kobe are quite "high class" compared to movie Yakuza... the Yamaguchi guys AFAIK one of the oldest gangs, and most established. All business suits and Mercedes Benzes or Toyota Crowns, they also seem to keep very much to themselves and are "seen but not heard".

- They used to cut off fingers *when they left the Yakuza*... not as an initiation or anything. I don't think they do it anymore, all though I have met a pinkyless bar owner!!! He said he didn't used to be Yakuza, although the tatoo line around his neckline and the cut off little finger gave it away!

- They do recieve "protection money" from various business owners (especially down by the port in Kobe) but it's all business... all most like goverment taxes... part of having a business in Kobe I guess.

- They movie Yakuza are dreaded tough guys who walk around with "I'm gonna kill you" looks on their faces, carrying weapons etc, whereas in Kobe at least, they are quite civil and respectful... even to foreigners! People on the street don't seem to mind them either! But every so often I do hear of corruption and other non-violent crime involving Yakuza from time to time... usually to do with prostitution or drugs.

The other Japan residents can probably shed more light on the subject...

[Demon Dave]

I've not met any directly, though funnily enough my mother-in-law too my two sons (the youngest being 5 months) to an Undoukai at a local school in an area populated by many, many Yakuza. Apparently at one point several of the "boss men" (as she put it) and their families were crowded around her commenting on how cute my son was!

[Evo_Lee]

Closest I have in meeting one, well they looked like Yakuzas. Black Cima in left lane pulled into my lane at the intersection...the car in front of the Cima was turning left, so he must have got impatient. Anyway the Cima nearly hit my car, so I beep...just after the intersection the Cima stops right in the middle blocking both lanes. Driver and front passenger gets out, askes me why I beep...naturally I stayed in my car and explained his manoeuvre was dangerous and he didn't even check or use his blinkers...almost took me out. Driver keeps shouting at me and waving his fist. His mate was in the meantime was checking out my car...their Cima wasn't exactly the best looking condition. I was kinda shitting if they were going to take out a baseball bat and pound my car.

I then started speaking English...they hate that. Also because the Cima was blocking traffic...others behind started to beeping and yelling at them.

They then shouted to everyone to STFU and the driver pointed hard for a few secs at one of the drivers (car) that was shouting at him. He obviously wasn't in a good mood, they then got back in the Cima and sped off at about 100km/h+ it seems, we were in a 40km/h zone.

Got to really watch out for Kansai Yakuzas, I know I will keep my beeping to cars I can see through their tint...

I told my mate then next day and he said yeah recently they been reports of them doing stupid things and causing trouble...this was last August 2003. Maybe the Cima just got thrashed by an opposing Yakuza party...cos it looked pretty bunged up!

[Abo Bob]

I saw a Jag in the normal kind of shape they usually are (not a new shape model but still a new car if you know what i mean) with 22 (or so) inch chromies in Newcastle the other day. Not lowered at all. Looked like complete shit.

MY car is more VIP than that!