For many, Honda today isn’t quite what it used to be. The company built its reputation on high-revving precision engines and razor-sharp handling on cars that could serve as equally well as everyday commuters or track weapons. Those days are so far back they’re no longer visible in the rear view mirror, but since we were in Japan for the Tokyo Auto Salon we decided to swing by Spoon’s headquarters in the Ogikubo area of the Suginami Ward, about five miles west of Shinjuku.
Like many shops, Spoon is tucked away in an unassuming greater Tokyo neighborhood full of residential buildings with Toyota Crowns and kei cars parked in front. Spoon Sports began in 1985 when Tatsuru Ichishima, a former Honda race and test driver, began producing tuning parts for the EA Civic and CR-X.
Named after the Spoon Curve of Honda’s Suzuka Circuit, the company’s goal has never been to focus on a singular aspect of tuning, like engine or suspension, but to develop holistic, totally balanced cars that perform at the highest level. Their race cars are typically finished in their trademark blue and yellow livery, which dates back to the 1980s.
The company has two buildings located within walking distance of each other. The main headquarters has a showroom where various cars on display. About a ten minute walk from the main headquarters is Spoon Type One, a tuning workshop opened in 2001 where car modification for customers takes place. Here, they had some cars on display.
It would have been cool to see some of Spoon’s famous race cars, like an NSX or Civic. But on the day we went we were greeted by more modern machinery: a brand new sixth-gen Prelude, N-One, and S660, each wearing Spoon’s trademark SW388 anodized black wheels and blue brake calipers.
The new Prelude has been getting a lot of flack for not being a sports coupe worthy of inheriting the name, but what’s heartening is that Spoon is not dissuaded. They maintain a parts catalog for every single one of these cars.
On the second level, a pair of FL5 Civic Type Rs took center stage: Spoon’s famous blue and yellow race car, and a white street car wearing every part the shop makes. With the NSX gone this is obviously the star of the Honda lineup, and Spoon’s FL5 catalog is incredibly impressive. You can get complete engines, throttle bodies, LSD, suspension, reinforcement beams, brake pads with multiple compounds, aero parts, exhaust and, of course, 18-inch SW388 wheels in a 5×120 lug pattern.
The B-series came and went. Spoon built their final B-series engine in 2020. We then had the K-series era. Well, technically the K-series is still with us, but in turbocharged “Earth Dreams” form, but it feels like a third era. While our hearts may lie with EK9s and DC2s, imagine an 18-year-old kid picking up a Spoon catalog today and dreaming about building the ultimate Civic.
In that aspect, Spoon is able to grow with Honda. Even as Honda itself seems to have lost their way, Spoon is there to push the performance envelope and carry the banner. To develop all these parts for a modern car requires a ton of R&D, and it’s encouraging to see someone still bestowing top tier Hondas upon the tuning world.
