Tag Archives: bosozoku

Friday Video: Liberty Walk’s Boso Roots

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Ben Hsu

We first caught up with JDM tuning house Liberty Walk a couple of years ago at SEMA when we saw their catalog for the mini-hako. Sadly, it wasn’t on hand because LB was there to promote their main business of … Continue reading →

Posted in Friday Video, nissan | Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, bosozoku, c10, c110, c210, datsun, fairlady z, garuchan, Hakosuka, kenmeri, kgc10, kgc110, kpgc10, kpgc110, liberty walk, motorcycles, nissan, police, skyline, wataru kato, yonmeri | 7 Comments

Aoshima Gurachan Collection Nissan Fairlady 240ZG

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Yesterday we showed you some Aoshima 1/6 models of vintage Japanese racing barrels. On the opposite end of the scale scale Aoshima offers these bosozoku sleds from the 1/64 Gurachan Collection. The series has been out for a while, but … Continue reading →

Posted in minicars, nissan | Tagged 240z, 240zg, 260z, 280z, a20, aoshima, bosozoku, c10, c130, celica, chaser, cressida, datsun, fairlady z, gt-r, gurachan, gx61, Hakosuka, kgc10, kpgc10, laurel, mark II, mazda, minicars, nissan, rx-3, s30, savanna, skyline, x60 | 6 Comments

Purple Hakosuka is your maximum strength dose of old school Japan

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Ben Hsu

We’ve been on a new car tear, reporting on neo-hachirokus, retro Honda kei cars, and even classic bikes from the Tokyo Motor Show. And that’s left you handcuffed to a bedpost with the shakes, hankering for some old school smack. Well this … Continue reading →

Posted in bosozoku, nissan | Tagged bosozoku, c10, datsun, garuchan, gt-r, Hakosuka, kgc10, kpgc10, nissan, skyline | 12 Comments

Occupy Tokyo with your Zokusha on Doukoho

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Ben Hsu

It’s time for our yearly commemoration of Doukoho. On November 22, 1978, over 3000 bosozoku motorcycles and cars swarmed the streets of Tokyo, cruising, parading, revving and generally causing a ruckus. They were out to celebrate the end of an era.

Posted in bosozoku, japan | Tagged bosozoku, Doukoho Eve, garuchan, motorcycle helmet law, tsurikawa, zokusha | 4 Comments

Green Bosozoku Celica is simply sublime

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Ben Hsu

Celica fans usually prefer zenki models with the smiley-er smileys and hood flutes, but this is one post-facelift daruma that makes us green with envy. Let’s see if we can name all the zokusha traits this fine specimen exhibits. garish color … Continue reading →

Posted in bosozoku, toyota | Tagged bosozoku, celica, garuchan, ssr, SSR MkIII, toyota, tsurikawa, zokusha | 18 Comments

Bosozoku Toyota 2000GT answers the question no one asked

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Ben Hsu

The Toyota 2000GT was a little too early for the golden age of the Fuji GC series, and for that we are thankful. But in an alternate universe here’s what a gurachan MF10 might look like.

Posted in minicars, toyota | Tagged 2000gt, bosozoku, gurachan, longchamp xr-4, longchamps, mf10, toyota | 21 Comments

X70 Toyota Mark II Sharknose

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Ben Hsu

Proof you can make a subtle zokusha that still looks gangster.

Posted in toyota | Tagged bosozoku, cressida, cresta, markII, mx73, sharknose, ssr, toyota, x70, zokusha | 4 Comments

EVENTS: Toyotafest 2011 Part 05

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Dan Hsu

Our latest installment of Toyotafest 2011 coverage begins with a lovely old school Starlet. The original RWD hot hatch. You can’t miss this killer shade of Amazonian tree frog green with over-fenders and and black ATS Classics.

Posted in events, toyota | Tagged 4runner, a60, ae82, bb, bosozoku, carina, celica, corolla, corona, cressida, fx-16, gt-s, hilux, kp61, markII, mesh, mx32, pickup, rt114, scion, ssr, starlet, ta12, torc, toyota, toyotafest, van, work equip 01, xb, xtra cab | 5 Comments

Friday Video: Zokusha Cruise Osaka

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Ben Hsu

As Japan recovers, let’s visit a simpler time. Here’s a nice evening commute through Osaka. Judging from the cars the background, it’s mid-1980s. Fun times. Watch the video below the fold.

Posted in bosozoku, Friday Video | Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, 280zx, bosozoku, c110, c130, c210, corolla, cosmo, cosmo ap, datsun, fairlady z, japan, kenmeri, kgc110, kpgc110, laurel, levin, mango, mazda, nissan, osaka, rx-5, s130, s30, skyline, sprinter, te27, toyota, trueno, zokusha | 5 Comments

Old Ad: Kenmeri Nissan Skyline for Techno Project TR-V

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Ben Hsu

Was the Nissan Fairlady Z432 ad just a bit too stock for you? Maybe a vintage rim ad for the Techno TR-V is more your style. This kenmeri shows how things were done back in the day — shakotan stance, … Continue reading →

Posted in cm, nissan, wheels | Tagged bosozoku, c110, dunlop, gt-r, hippari, kenmeri, kgc110, kpgc110, nissan, shakotan, skyline, sumitomo, techno, techno project, trv, wheels | 3 Comments

Have a Bosozoku New Year with Hatsuhinode, First Sunrise Run

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Ben Hsu

Did you spend your January first running from the cops? Then you are probably a fine, upstanding citizen because that’s the preferred New Year’s tradition of the bosozoku.

Posted in bosozoku | Tagged bosozoku, chuo expressway, hatsuhinode, new year, sunrise | 8 Comments

True Gangster: Chinchilla Dash & Seat Covers

Posted on December 29, 2010 by Ben Hsu

The chinchilla is a squirrel-like creature that has the misfortune to possess a thick, warm, velvety coat of evenly-colored fur. As a result, this native of the Andes Mountains region in South America has been nearly hunted to extinction. Around … Continue reading →

Posted in bosozoku | Tagged bosozoku, chinchilla, crown, ms125, toyota | 6 Comments

A Gaijin Looks at Japanese Modding Culture

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Ben Hsu

We get so used to concepts like takeyari and tsurikawa it’s easy to forget that for some, it’s a mind-blowing world. Here’s a look at AOL Translogic’s tour of Japanese modding culture.

Posted in bosozoku, japan | Tagged bosozoku | 7 Comments

Gurachan Mazda Luce RX-4

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Ben Hsu

Bosozoku-style C210 Skylines and Toyota Mark IIs are a dime a dozen, much to the delight (or repulsion, depending on your taste) of Nissan nuts and Toyotaku alike. For Mazdafarians there’s the occasional Cosmo AP, but here’s an even rarer beast … Continue reading →

Posted in mazda, nissan | Tagged bosozoku, c10, c110, gc10, gc110, gurachan, Hakosuka, kenmeri, kgc10, kgc110, luche, mazda, nissan, rx-4, sedan, skyline, yonmeri | 7 Comments

Car Surfing on a Mazda Cosmo RX-5

Posted on July 20, 2010 by Ben Hsu

The Jokers were one of Japan’s biggest bosozoku gangs in the ’70s and ’80s. What’s that? The Mazda Cosmo AP looks too close to the pageant winner of Japan’s 1976 Car of the Year? How about one with garuchan headlight covers, … Continue reading →

Posted in bosozoku, mazda | Tagged aoyama, bosozoku, cosmo, jokers, mazda, rx-5 | 7 Comments

Friday Video: Another Bosozoku Crackdown

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Ben Hsu

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when the keisatsu put up an all-night road block and bring out the windowless paddy wagons on New Year’s Eve to clamp down on bespoilered bosozoku rides? Some tear off … Continue reading →

Posted in bosozoku, datsun, nissan, toyota | Tagged bosozoku, cedric, cressida, crown, gloria, mark II, nissan, police, soarer, toyota | 9 Comments

EVENTS: 15th Annual All Toyotafest, Part III

Posted on May 13, 2010 by Ben Hsu

Two years ago, nearly every AE86 at Toyotafest could have been a D1GP contestant. This past weekend, stock (or restorations with subtle mods) was the new black. We’ve long argued that the venerable twin-cam Corolla GT-S would be one of … Continue reading →

Posted in events, toyota | Tagged 1200, a20, ae86, bosozoku, camper, celica, corolla, cressida, dekotora, fj40, fj45, fj55, ke10, ke25, kyushakai, land cruiser, levin, lexus, ma70, ma71, mx62, pickup, ra21, ra29, shakotan, sprinter, supra, ta22, te21, te27, te37, te51, te71, toyota, toyotafest, toyotafest 2010, trueno, v8, wagon | 16 Comments

EVENTS: 15th Annual All Toyotafest, Part I

Posted on May 10, 2010 by Ben Hsu

Given the current state of Toyota‘s public image, the 15th Annual All Toyotafest was probably the company’s last safe haven in North America. When one gazes upon the bright colors and sparkling chrome of 35-year-old Celicas and Corollas, it’s hard … Continue reading →

Posted in events, toyota | Tagged 18rg, ae82, ae92, baja, bosozoku, celica, century, corolla, corolla fx, cressida, crown, fj40, fj45, fj80, fx16, glanza, hks, ivan stewart, kp61, land cruiser, mango, mx32, mx36, mx73, peanut, pj bonifacio, s30, s40, shakotan, sports 800, starlet, te21, te27, toyopet, toyota, toyotafest, turbo, wagon | 15 Comments

Friday Video: Bosozoku Crackdown!

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Ben Hsu

Why are we so fascinated with the bosozoku lifestyle? Is it the outrageous rides, the demented hoonage, or the don’t-give-a-crap attitude? Here’s someone who is not fascinated: the police. In this footage from 1993, the Japanese constabulary put up an … Continue reading →

Posted in bosozoku | Tagged bosozoku, gurachan, kyushakai, police | 7 Comments

Friday Video: Shakotan Boogie, The Movie

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Ben Hsu

Don your headbands, hang your friends out your side windows and get ready for Shakotan Boogie. In 1987 Japan apparently made a movie out of the manga that celebrates the bosozoku lyfe. Plot points include cross-cultural drag racing that ends … Continue reading →

Posted in honda, nissan, toyota, Video Games | Tagged bosozoku, cedric, crown, datsun, fairlady z, gloria, gurachan, nissan, s130, Shakotan Boogie, skyline, soarer, toyota | 7 Comments