Okay! As we lick our wounds from losing all our cash, let's take a brief intermission for me to tell my Japan story. I actually wrote this on the day it happened, and have just done a little cleanup for here.

Caution, it's rather long, doesn't have anything to do with this game - but it's about Japanese motorsport, and there's a lot of similar 'stranger in a strange land' vibes that I feel us westerners get looking into this game about a odd Japanese subculture, or conversely how Hiro is discovering America.

It's also extremely dorky, just like me. Feel free to skip ahead if it doesn't interest you.

Okay, so...

In March 2023 I was very blessed to find myself in Japan for a work thing. I had gotten in a day early for set up, and had everything accomplished, so I had a full day in Tokyo to myself.

Having been to Tokyo a couple of times before and feeling like I've done all the usual touristy stuff, I decided this time I'll do something different, something uniquely me that I'd never be able to convince my usual travel companions to do.

So I decided I’d rent a car for the day. Not just any car either, but a true JDM icon, as I've been obsessed with Japanese imports as long as I can remember and own several of my own. After some research, I found ‘Omoshiro Rent-A Car’ (おもしろレンタカー), or ‘Omoren’ as the locals call it. This is a car rental service that exclusively rents older, famous JDM Sports cars, for relatively cheap, all things considered.

For F1 fans, this is the same rental service that Lewis Hamilton used to get a Skyline GTR34 during Suzuka ‘22, and there was media posted across all the internet of him thrashing it around Tokyo. Apparently Omoren were VERY unhappy about that!

But first off, I had to get to this place, which from my perspective, was in middle of nowhere suburban Tokyo. This in itself was quite the adventure, requiring many connecting trains and a long walk through random streets, by rivers, local schools and housing areas. It was probably the polar opposite of what comes to mind when you say ‘Tokyo’. However, it was a great opportunity to get out of the city and see a side of Japan I hadn’t seen before.









Eventually I spot an out of place bright banana yellow Toyota 86 turning into a driveway and I follow it in. It was obvious I found it. A big parking lot with JDM wet dreams haphazardly strewn about amongst the weeds. Skylines, MR2s, S660s, Civics, GR86s, RX7s, Evo's… a steady stream of fellow, clearly out of place foreigners and a good deal of younger Japanese tourists dropping cars off / picking them up.









After a short wait I'm ushered into a hot little room where we go over the details. This basically consisted of a man thrusting several contracts of legalese at me, stating in broken English that I'd be in deep shit if I crash the car.

I’m thinking this all seems pretty normal, but the man starts to take in a good look at me, with a suspicious squint in his eye, and starts tapping one section of the contract. I look down and see it's the only part of the many paragraphs written in all caps. It reads ‘DO NOT ATTACK THE MOUNTAIN PASS’

After some strong assurances on my part that, no sir, I promise, I will not ‘Attack The Mountain Pass’ - I was handed the keys to my desired car…





No, not the R34 Skyline, the Lexus LC500, or the Porche Boxster...





…The ‘Ghost Car’ Hachi Roku AE86! If you're not familiar, this unassuming looking 80s Corolla is famous in Motorhead circles for its drifting characteristics, started by Japanese racing hero Keiichi Tsuchiya ‘The Drift King' who raced them, and started to wow crowds by pulling crazy maneuvers post race.





The car was then immortalised in the car racing manga / anime Initial D, where the humble AE86, engaged in illegal mountain togue racing, is able to defeat all the faster cars because of its simple lightweight characteristics and its idiot-savant teenage driver who is able to use an increasingly silly variety of car superpowers, like locking the wheels into gutters to pull himself around a turn. It also has an incredible soundtrack of Eurobeat bangers written for it.








I figure, what better Japanese hero car to drive around Tokyo?





I had always been curious about how this car drives, even before I knew it as a meme. I remember a time when they were actually affordable, now due to the hero status they are incredibly expensive.

At home I own an AW11 MR2, which shares the same 4AGE engine and lots of running gear, albeit in a mid engined configuration. I figured it would be an interesting opportunity to try its more iconic cousin in its homeland.





This rental example was pretty… tired, after 281,000ks, but packed on by many lead footed foreigners, but as old Toyotas do, it keeps going and was still a blast to drive. It had aftermarket suspension setup, an LSD, an improved exhaust, but otherwise was mostly stock engine wise. I had only hired it for the day, so I wasn't too concerned about comfort.





Driving the car it felt a lot like the AW11 MR2, albeit with a more conventional driving position and looser transmission. But it was easy enough to figure out, and like the MR2, it was so light the lack of power steering wasn't that troublesome.

And thank god it wasn't because the backstreets around this area has some pretty narrow roads that don't leave much room if someone is coming the other direction!





Despite telling Google maps that I didn't want to take any toll roads, I somehow managed to end up on the freeway, twice.





This was helpfully announced by the ETC card reader, which, if you aren't familiar, is some sort of toll card system that has a Japanese lady loudly and unexpectedly yammer at you as you approach toll gates, never failing to scare the absolute shit out of anyone in the car. I don't speak Japanese, but I knew she was telling me that I didn't have a active ETC card.

The toll gates can be approached at speed, and will open very fast and sudden when they detect your card.

Luckily I had read about many foreigners getting into the wrong toll lane and causing huge traffic blockages, so I knew I had to get into the pay lane on the very left. Here I found a little ticket machine which dispensed a paper stub before opening the boom gate.





I was surprised coming out of the 8 or so toll entry points that the other side was simply a big open slather of highway with zero lanes or guidance lines. It’s just an open free for all for awhile, before gradually narrowing into three marked lanes.

At the end of the freeway was another set of gates, and I once again pulled to the left, expecting another machine that would read my stub and seek payment.

Instead of a machine however, I was greeted by an attendant, who told me the cost owing from my stub, and took my payment, bowing all the while.

My goal for this trip was to make it to Mt Tsukuba, which happened to be the most interesting looking road that was realistically achievable in my 6 hour car hire.





Still about an hour away, I start to lament the fact that I didn’t have a phone holder in my car. Being able to see live maps probably would have helped me from paying those unexpected tolls, and would also given me the ability to record parts of the drive on my phone, without being dangerous.

I had noticed previously that there was 7 Eleven convenience stores everywhere along the drive. Knowing these stores to sell all sorts of random things, I figured that they might have a phone holder.

As it happens, I stop at a set of lights and see yet another 7 Eleven at the next intersection. And as fate would have it, I notice another AE86 turn into its parking lot. Though these are famous, being a 40 year old car it's pretty rare to see another one in the wild - and unlike mine, this one has some serious work done to it. I'm seeing fully drift spec cambered wheels with fat tyres, rolled guards, a long exhaust, very cool.

I pull into the parking lot, and reverse park next to him, as he had done, and all cool car guys do. The driver had left and was in the shop, so I decided I'd pull out the camera and take a few photos of the two cars together. I was sure he wouldn't mind.





Eventually he came out, coffee and cigarettes in hand and we start to chat. His name is Tommo-San. He’s very friendly, and understands a little bit of English, far better than my almost non-existent Japanese. But cars are a universal language, and with a little help from Google translate we have a great chat.





Tommo-San tells me he’s part of a drift group, ‘Way Out Ryūgasaki Base’ and he drifts at Tsukuba Circuit. He mentions that his friend, who also has an AE86, is meeting him here, and they are going on a cruise to visit some part stores. Would I like to join them?

Of course, I said yes. When would I ever get this opportunity again?

As we waited for his friend, I explained my mission to find a phone holder. Tommo-san reached into his car, opened a toolbox and handed one to me to use. ‘This is a spare. You can keep this’

Perfect!





As we wait, we share stories and compare my well used rent a car to his drift beast. He is surprised at how good some of the condition is, considering, and has a good laugh at how bad other bits are. I popped the bonnet and showed him my dusty, stock engine, with various components literally held together with tape and he pops his. There's no contest.





I show him some pictures of my cars in Australia and we talk about how the same 4AGE engine is horizontally mounted in my MR2. He's a truck mechanic by trade, and I presume he's done all his work himself. The car looks and sounds amazing.

It's at this time I will diverge a bit from this story because I am still in awe of this funny little fact. Having arrived the previous morning, I decided to spend an afternoon in Odaiba, and found myself checking out all the random capsule vending machine toys, as one does in Japan. There's a ton of cool little things to find, like mini game consoles and characters, but never in a million years would I have thought I'd come across an honest to god 4AGE engine. Only in Japan would I find a mini model of my 1980s 4 cylinder car engine. The capsule I received was even a redtop, the same type in my AW11!







Seriously look at this amazing thing! Anyway, sorry back to the story…

Tommo-San’s friend, Shota-San soon arrived in his lovely blue AE86, which was similarly specced out for drifting, with weight reduction, widened guards, rollcage and all.







And with that, we're off. Tommo-San tells me he will lead the cruise, I’ll go second and Shota-San goes third - and off we go across Japan to another town in a impromptu 3 car AE86 cruise.

With Tommo Sans phone holder, i’m now able to easily record the trip. Check out the Mitsouka!

















We arrive at the parts store - it’s a teeny little workshop with a storefront full of JDM rims and various performance bits and pieces, stickers and odd accessories you wouldn’t find anywhere else.









There’s a bunch of cool cars there too from workers and customers - an old Corona, 300zx, a heap of these little Kei wagon things decked out with spoilers and…. A Toyota Cresta, who Tommo San had never seen before and I wasn't familiar with the name. It took me second to realise it looked alot like the Toyota Camry, a common vehicle that was manufactured in Australia.











I noticed a couple of times whenever a really old modified car appeared Tommo-San and Shota Sam laugh and exclaim ‘Kamen Rider!’

I didn't quite get the reference from my understanding of what Kamen Rider is, and especially how he related to cars because I thought it was about motorbikes, but I saw him represented in so many places - he's clearly a cultural milestone.







The owner of the store was quite chatty and bemused at this silly foreigner who came here of all places in a rental AE86. I bought a couple of his workshop stickers to put on my imported MR2 just because, and he said post it on instagram, and gave me several more for free. I gotta get around to doing that.

Meanwhile Shota San was being fitted for rims. They brought them out next to the car and allowed him to consider how'd they'd look at it whilst everyone drank their third round of energy drinks and smoked.

The new rims matched those on Tommo Sans car, presumably for maximum synergy whilst they tandem drifted around Tsukuba circuit.





With this job done, unprompted, Tommo-San asked if I wanted to ‘Attack The Mountain™’ - I was amazed that this was an actual term. As much as I wanted to say yes, I had to try and explain that I'd signed a legal declaration that I would, in-fact not 'Attack The Mountain™’ and though I my original intent was to make my way to mount Tsukuba for a gentle caress of the mountain, with the days adventures I was coming up on the end of my rental.

Tommo San then suggested an alternative. I could return my car as planned, and join them as a passenger whilst they attack Mt Tsukuba. Of course I said yes. When would I ever get this opportunity again?

However, I did quietly wonder if my travel insurance covers accidents by Mountain Pass Touge.

We started to make our way back to the rental car place, on the way we stopping off at yet another 7-11 for cigarettes and energy drinks, where I took the opportunity to take more photos.





We arrived back to Omo-ren just in time. However I had neglected to fill the car up with petrol as was requested, hoping I’d could just eat the fine / pay the added fuel rate as stated in the contract. No such luck. I was tersely reminded by the rental guy that I needed to fill up the car before returning it. Tommo San and Shota San waited patiently, and chatted with company employees whilst I ventured off to find a petrol station. This wouldn’t have been a problem other than it was peak hour traffic in the area and my intended location ended up being closed for the day.

Frustrated I drove on and eventually found a Shell. This one was self service, and I assumed everything would be what you'd expect from a shell station in Australia, so I pulled up, plugged in the pump from the bowser and hit the trigger…

Nothing happened. I assumed perhaps I had to prepay at the counter, or the cashier had to turn on the pumps, so I tried to find the attendant, who patiently came out and showed me a separate Kiosk that I had not seen before, where you would prepay. As he went back to his job, I tried my credit card in the machine, which instead of rejecting it, decided to eat it instead. This was some unneeded stress ontop of being such in traffic in a foreign country where I didn't understand the language, let alone having some very patient drift kings waiting on me. I found the attendance once again, who unlocked the machine, extracted my card. This time I used cash, printing a receipt.

After filling the car, I noticed that I only used about half the yen I put in. With no obvious way to get change, I had to bother the poor attendant again. This time he directed me to a different vending machine, which scanned my receipt and released the change.







Worrying that I'd just left these guys waiting on me, I hoofed it through the narrow streets back to the rental car place, wondering if I’d copped the late return fee. I got back, they were still there, patient as ever with their energy drinks and I handed over the keys and finished off the paperwork, the attendants being satisfied I had not obtained any mountain battle damage.





Thankfully Tommo San and Shota San had the patience of saints, and had been happily hanging about chatting and looking at the various cars whilst I was off on my petrol adventure. We head off, and I climb into Tommo Sans car.

At this point I realise just how modified Tommo-Sans drift warrior is. He's completely removed the carpets, fitted a roll cage, removed rear seats and had a dashboard with a aftermarket ECU taped to it, complete with a litany of gauges and dials.

I’m also extremely reminded of how westerners are typically much fatter than your average Japanese person as I squeeze into his otherwise awesome Bride racing passenger seat. I later read that these are designed for no larger than a 32” waist, which I’m about a 33”.







We head off to Mt Tsukuba, which is an almost one hour drive from the rental place. As we get further out of town Tommo San starts to open it up some more, and we excitedly point out modified JDM cars along the way. Many of these Tommo-San says are returning from ‘Attacking the Mountain’ - and several are friends of his.





I mention that it is starting to get dark. Tommo-San laughs and gleefully exclaims ‘Night Touge!’ Eventually as we get to the shadow of the mountain we increasingly see more cars come out.

At this point it's pretty dark. There’s a few lights scattered on the mountain. ‘Hotels’ Tommo San explains. He then tells me about the history of the mountain, and it's various routes that were well known drift tracks for locals in the 90s until they placed speed bumps in these areas to deter such behaviour. The part of the mountain we are going to is ‘high speed course for time attack’.





As the mountain opens up, we get stuck behind a slow Kei truck. ‘Safety car’ Tommo San jokes. Thankfully it pulls over and Tommo opens up the throttle. It’s clear he’s very familiar with the track. He’s making turns at a decent pace, and is prepared for turns in the darkness that come up very suddenly. Shota San is right behind him too. For the record, with me they drove quite responsibility, didn't do anything overly dangerous or break traction and I don't feel in danger at all.







I’m bouncing around enjoying the ride, trying to film the whole thing whilst Tommo San excitedly tells me about the track. "This is where the time attack starts! Best time is 3 minutes! This is where the drift track is now since old track has speed bumps. You do this one stretch, do a u turn, go back and do it again!"





On many occasions, we see a set of hard brake marks, or a gnarly bent guardrail. ‘Crash’ Tommo-San explains.

Occasionally another car passes from the opposite direction. It’s hard to make out details in the pitch black but many have the classic 90s JDM yellow fog lights, which makes me assume they're sports cars.





Finally we get to the top of the mountain and pull into a rest stop. There’s a bunch of other car people here, hanging out, and cars continue to rotate in and out in small groups. ‘They group attack the mountain’ - Tommo Dan explains.
pulling in and out as groups. It’s pitch black up there, apart from the occasional lighting of a cigarette or car lights.





We grab some coffees from the vending machine (because of course there’s one there, it's Japan, and doesn't matter where you are, or how secluded or in the middle of nowhere you are. There's always a vending machine nearby) and we chat and watch for awhile. I setup my SLR and take some long exposures of the cars, which aren't great photos, but actually turned out decently, given the darkness. Those lights in the sky aren't the sunset - that's the glow from Tokyo!







I explained about how my four year old son loves to watch Initial D with me and loves the ‘Ghost Car’ to which they laugh.

They show me pictures and videos from their drifting days. These guys are serious business and have some real skills. I see some amazing footage of Tommo San and Shoto san tandem drifting one after another, making it look simple.







I tell them about Australia and show them some videos of the nice driving mountains around Adelaide, including some of videos of Chain of Ponds rally.

I take them through my photos from All Japan Day (A local car show here) and talk about how big JDM car culture and how all the Japanese cars end up in Australia, driven by yobbos like me. They are impressed by the variety and numbers of these cars in Australia, which is probably no surprise after decades of exporting and high registration costs for old cars meaning there's few left in Japan.

We talk about my personal cars, and they are impressed with both MR2s. I tell them I'm in the process of importing a Toyota Century, and sure then a picture. They laughed and exclaim ‘You’re a Yakuza!’

This was particularly funny, because I thought this was a meme made up by westerners, since I understand Yakuza prefer imported cars. Either they're on the meme or there's a half truth to it.

They ask me whether they can drop me back and I ask to be dropped off at a train station - Tokyo public transport is so good I knew that I could find my way around (eventually).

We head downhill on the pass and Tommo San takes me through the ‘old 90s drift course’ of legend and I see the first hand the weird speed bumps placed to stop people drifting around it’s many hairpins.

Eventually we finish the mountain Touge and head back into Tsukuba town.





Getting to the station they pull over and we say goodbye. I thank them for the incredible experience and that I’ll remember it forever and they say they had a great day and encourage me to come back to Japan, likewise I say they should come to Australia and they can drive some of my cars. We exchange instagram and email and we say goodbyes.





As I fumbled my way back through the many series of connecting trains for a couple of hours, I took the time to write up this story, organise my pictures, accidentally took one stop too many, and stumble my way back again, still in awe of this day. Several times Tommo San had said ‘You are very lucky!’ in reference to bumping into him that day, and boy I know it.

Finally I arrive at the station closest to the hotel and drop into a nearby convenience store.

I continued to write the story, eager to document it whilst it is still fresh in my memory, as I waited for an attendant to microwave a noodle dish for me (which despite the description, was fresh and amazing) whilst a synth version of the Indiana Jones theme inexplicably played over the store speakers, like easy listening elevator music. It seemed to cap off a very unique Japanese experience.

Later, once arrived home, I've continued following their instagram - seeing the amazing drifting videos those guys post.


https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2kF9OHPHUR/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEG2_qCPl1o/


I've also since discovered that the Tsukuba mountain circuit they took me around is in the Initial D arcade games, and has been ported to both Assetto Corsa and BeamNG, so I've been able to drive it virtually a few times since.

Also, at one point, I found out that Ali Express sells little 1:64 scale 7 Elevens, and I knew what I had to do....

So I now have a little diorama on my shelf to commemorate this adventure.





Anyway, sorry about the digression and thanks if you made it this far. I promise we'll return to Hiro's regularly scheduled adventure shortly.