Love 'em or hate 'em: Itasha!

The day after the Auto Salon trip, the tour group headed to the artificial island of Odaiba! There we ventured around the Pallete Town shopping center/convention center/arcade/Toyota museum and the full scale RX-78-2 Gundam!  

While the group decided on what to do after leaving the train station, we caught a glimpse of these Itasha cars, which are art cars owned by the anime otakus! They're decorated bumper to bumper with anime graphics and are a very uniquely Japanese sight!

The range of customization on these cars vary, but all of them share the extensive art throughout their bodywork. Like this NA1 NSX; it's not got much done to it besides the mandatory graphics and aftermarket wheels.

This BP Legacy wagon on the other hand, is relatively untouched (for itasha standards)

I love the boldness that comes with these art cars. This BNR33 still looks like something you wouldn't want to mess with!

This DC5R was much less flashy compared to it's buddies.

Strike Witches! (the anime that all these cars are decorated with)

Axela (Mazda3 for us Americans)

This is a Sprinter Trueno! (AE111) A good looking little FF car that I think we should've got back in the states!

This Kouki S14 was radical! Not a single thing seemed untouched! And you can also see that this isn't just for show either, just look at that wide stance and the large front mounted intercooler!

I am very curious as to how he sees behind him...

This 180SX was also decked out for both spirited driving and looking good.

Maybe not TOO hard...I think all the little decorations would go flying everywhere.

I love how in Japan, no matter what you do regarding cars, it's always pushed to the limits and beyond! There's no holding back in this country, and I love it!

The pillow is a bit creepy, though.

NorCal Datsun Meet Up

I was informed of this meet by a few guys I attend school with. A supposedly Datsun and Nissan only event I was told, but that didn't matter to me, real car guys appreciate cars from anywhere! So I hopped into my Roadster and off I went! 

At the meet, I was greeted by what I expected: car guys who just loved cars, plain and simple! The atmosphere was very friendly and relaxed; just how it should be.

It was nice to see a plethora of rides from various ages...

From aged pick-up trucks... 

...to shakotan styled sedans.

Being a young guy from a small town, I never really got to see the fabled Datsuns in person my uncles used to tell me stories of. Mind you, seeing so many "living legends" is quite the treat.

As for the early S30Zs, I was more accustomed to seeing these, but not even close to the condition of the cars I saw that Thursday! 

It's also very nice to see these A60 Celicas in such well kept condition! 

A very awesome take on the tsurikawa hangers found on shakotan cars!

Another look at the immaculate Celica ragtop

The owner of this blue 510 coupe built this car from the ground up in a very short period of time! A job well done, sir!

I was very surprised to see this Mark I Ford Cortina here. 

I found this pair of ninjas hiding in the corner of the parking lot.

This olive drab Celica GT-S is a car I've seen at almost every car meet up since I moved to San Jose. I must say that it's one of the most eye catching and unique cars I've seen around here. I also love how the yakiteru exhaust pipes change everytime I see this car! Props to the owner!

An Austin-Healey Sprite!

It's nice seeing one of the cars that stemmed the roots for the development of my Miata

This original brown surfer Z really captures an early 70's surfer dude car, don't you think?

Hope you guys like the coverage of this small monthly gathering!

I'll try to attend this again this month and hopefully see some new old cars!

Wangan Midnight-esque late night meet!

After spending the coolest 6 hours of my life at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the DSPORT tour was now about to take us to the fabled Daikoku Parking Area. Keyword: was.

The parking area was closed down since authorities anticipated street racer activity after the Auto Salon.

However, the tour was not defeated, and thanks to our super cool bus driver, we ventured on to another parking area. 

The freeway running straight through Tokyo Bay provided a spectacular view. These parking areas would probably be awesome for pictures in the evenings.

When we arrived, there was but a lone A80 Supra sitting on the top floor...

...and the cutest little RV I've ever seen. I want one. 

As we wandered around the parking structure, we found out it contained a restaurant and an arcade!

I, of course, had to inspect the arcade for Initial D Arcade Stages or Wangan Midnight Maximum Tunes.

Sadly, this was not meant to be. Instead, the arcade was filled with these UFO catchers.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse need to look this cute in America. I'm serious. Then I'd actually buy some Disney stuff. Maybe. 

Gashapon machines! People need to keep me away from these things. They have everything for everyone!

You like fish? Well there you have it. FISH UFO CATCHERS. 

After lingering around the parking structure for a bit, this Turbo Z32 arrived and caught everyone's attention.

The heart of a Wangan Warrior.

Before long, more cars, like this AE86 Levin coupe, showed up.

The owner of this particular AE86 was an old man who ran his own shop called FLYRAT. This shop specializes in AE86 tuning. 

You obviously can't see it here, but, the lights on this AE86 were fascinating. They would strobe and dance around like some crazed raver.

This street drift styled Chaser was done right.

FD goodness.

THIS. IS. SO. COOL. I WANT IT.

(the license plate)

Seeing a real street driven GT-R, was also a spectacle to behold. It was unreal at the time.

I'm not sure if you guys noticed, but I was completely fascinated by the glowing license plate of the R34 GTR.

The Skyline family might be the one and only time I'll say I like purple on a car.

This particular R34 reminded me of wine. Wine that goes 300kmph.

It's really nice seeing an unmolested 1st generation RX-7! Back in the States, all the SA22s I see are on the verge of dying and not treated with the respect they deserve!

Hakosuka GT-R! This was even more cool than seeing one of the modern ones in person. It's got that powerful aura about it.

These are the few pictures that made the cut for the blog, sadly. I'm still learning a lot when it comes to taking pictures with a DSLR. Hopefully when I go back to Japan, I'll come back with better pictures.