Few countries have a car scene as varied and vibrant as Japan. Whether it’s tastefully-modified JDM sports cars, Lamborghinis outfitted with neons, or the famous Bosozoku style, the Asian nation has a different car scene for everyone.
One of the more recent car scenes to gain popularity in Japan are lowriders. That’s right, the iconic world of lowriders that first grew out of Los Angeles has reached the shores of Japan and is taking off.
Japanese mechanic Junichi Shimodaira was one of the most instrumental figures in bringing lowriders to Japan. During a recent interview with Great Big Story, Shimodaira revealed that he fell in love with the lowrider scene when he visited the United States for the first time in 1987.
The Japanese are among the most enthusiastic car fans on earth
During his trip, Shimodaira soon found himself surrounded by lowriders and enjoying everything this unique car scene brought with it, including the sense of community and Mexican lifestyles of many in California. He enjoyed the that scene so much that, upon his return to Japan, he helped establish a local lowriders car club called ‘Pharaohs’.
In the years since the club was established, the lowrider scene in Japan has grown in popularity and is now thriving. Every year, a huge event is held in Yokohama and people from around the world now fly to Japan to see locally-built American lowriders.