Welcome To Shakotan Forest
Japan Never Fails To Impress

Rewind to one year ago, when I along with others in attendance at an epic meeting in Sagamiko Pleasure Forest, were sure the event would never happen again. The exhaust noise, the donuts and the blaring of air horns as the gathering was coming to a close did not impress the owners of the venue, leaving an overall assumption that for 2016 a new meeting place had to be found.

Well, all I can say is that the organizers of this annual Skyline meeting might well be the best negotiators out there, as this past Sunday I found myself back at the theme park and shooting a massive convoy of kyusha making their way into the parking areas.

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As I’m sure you can gather, the emphasis is on Skylines of every generation, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that other cars would be excluded. It’s very obviously a ‘the more the merrier’ kind of event, and you know that’s always a recipe for awesomeness.

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On my arrival, I found all manner of Toyotas lined up at the gate. Think Mark IIs, Crestas, Chasers and Soarers…

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There was even a surprise visit from a customized import left behind from Japan’s bubble economy era.

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One of the biggest spectacles at a unique event like this is coming face-to-face with rare cars, including the much loved and often misunderstood Grachan or Kaido Racer. These massively overfendered and spoilered creations were initially inspired by the Group 5 Super Silhouette racers of the ’80s – the Grand Championship cars, which is where the term comes from.

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The procession seemingly had no end to it, and as you can see, also included little a Sunny delight that’s been seen on Speedhunters a few times before.

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Into rotaries? No problems there, the kyusha otaku had it covered with a nice selection of SA22s, including this massively widened example.

Extraordinary In Every Way
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As much as I enjoyed hanging around outside it was hard to resist heading inside where the real show was taking shape. With the event held about a month later than last year, there were no pink cherry blossoms to set the mood, but the lush spring foliage made for a nice backdrop all the same.

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There were so many cars that I really didn’t know where to start, and in every direction I turned I was presented with a stunning photo opportunity. It was almost overwhelming, but with a bit of deep breathing I got on with the job of hunting out the best that I came across. This butaketsu C130 Laurel, one of my favourite ’70s cars of all times, was among the first that I took some to admire; the way it had been executed was nothing short of perfect.

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The Grachan cars kept coming, but those that arrived late didn’t make it into the main parking lot, so had to turn back and park elsewhere. Doing a u-turn with such a huge front spoiler – or deppa – isn’t the easiest thing to do!

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A Skyline club may have organized the event, but there was plenty of Toyota presence to drool over. In the mix was this RA22 Celica sporting all the right sort of Group 5-inspired touches, plus that must-have exposed oil cooler, which is more of an early ’70s touch rather than a Super Silhouette type detail.

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Within the kyusha scene there’s a vast variety of styles and takes on styles, and the most fun part of being present at a gathering like this is seeing the various ways in which people try and come up with something unique. I like things simple, so this slammed 330 Gloria with a de-chromed front end, shaved headlight housings and tilted lights really did it for me.

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I like the clean and spotless way in which Goldrush Customs builds its cars, too. This GX71 Cresta belongs to the company’s owner and is on my ‘must feature’ list. In fact, it’s sitting right at the top!

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While this general scene does bring in a lot of people from different walks of life, through it I’ve met a rather high number of guys and gals that drive trucks as their daily jobs. So it was not strange at all that parked in one corner of the lot was a little twin-cab dekotora, boasting all those stainless steel and custom touches that make these things so damn unique. This is Yankee culture at its best.

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Within the rows of old school Skylines it’s always nice to come across one that keeps it quite simple and goes for the proven and tested GT-R replica look.

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But in this sort of company, it makes it look – dare I say it – almost boring; a Kenmeri executed in a slightly more daring way made so much more sense. I’m sure Kato-san at Liberty Walk would approve of this one.

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And while we are talking about Kenmeris, how about its slightly longer and bigger Yonmeri four-door brother. I love the Riverside Riverge wheels and that little front spoiler here, but it was what this example had under its bonnet that was really generating interest.

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Taking the ever popular resto-modding approach, it’s not uncommon to find more modern engines repowering these mid-’70s cars; powerplants like Nissan’s great RB25 and RB26. But a Toyota 1JZ-GE? In a Skyline? This will give Nissan guys nightmares for weeks!

This Is The Real Stance Scene
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One thing that brings a lot of people to these meets is the chance to find some rare and obscure parts for their cars. These guys were having quite a colourful conversation about wheels and costs, and I just couldn’t help but enjoy their banter.

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Walking through gatherings like this, it’s hard not to reflect and draw comparisons with today’s cars and cultures. It sort of always ends up depressing me at how manufacturers like Nissan, and to some extent Toyota, have lost the coolness factor. Back in the day a four-door 610 Bluebird may not have been anything too special in the grand scheme of things, but what it did have was a distinct look; one you couldn’t possibly confuse with any other car. That’s not really something you can say about modern day offerings.

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Then of course there are cars like this older Y30 Cedric which has a style of its own. It mixes various VIP, and Grachan even, with the addition of a massive custom trunk spoiler and bonnet fins; but the wire wheels are very much in line with what you’d expect to see on an American lowrider. I’m honestly still not sure what to make of it, and that’s including the confusing S120 Crown grill swap!

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If I really have to go for it, you can’t beat good old Works-inspired overfenders. In a vastly exaggerated form, they transform the look of this X30 Chaser.

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Sometimes you don’t even need to do anything other than lower a car – something I saw a lot of the previous weekend at the Mooneyes Street Car Nationals. Seriously, how cool do these old Glorias look?

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The Honda Life may well be nothing more than an unimaginative little kei van these days, but back in the day it had its own distinct style; it made a statement and stood out from the crowd. It’s such an oddball little choice that it truly deserves a full feature; so that’s what I’m doing with this one. Make sure you don’t miss it!

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The sunny skies added to the overall atmosphere; everywhere you looked people were relaxing with their friends, chatting and just hanging out admiring the mind-blowing turnout of cars.

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But as is always the case with this particular event, people don’t end up staying long. By 10:00am cars began to leave, so to ensure I saw as much as I could, I went hiking up to the few other parking areas that had been filled up. Green butaketsu Laurel? Hell yes!

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This scene in particular revolves a lot around wheel choice, and selecting the right sort of rim for your project can be the most important alteration to the car, often because nothing much else is done. This Yonmeri is a great example; the Hayashi Racing Team Yayoi ‘sakura’ wheels setting a pink theme that’s carried over to the headlights and side markers.

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And from not doing much at all to a car, to doing pretty much everything, as this Z10 Soarer with Z20 face and a ton of other body alterations shows. Is that an AW11 MR2 side intake I spot there in the bumper-less rear end?

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And how about this Celica XX that instantly makes you wonder why Toyota no longer produces this model.

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It didn’t take much longer for the entire lot to empty out, and I ended up catching up with a lot of the cars on the Chuo Expressway as I made my way back to Tokyo. Thankfully, I managed to grab enough cars to bombard you with spotlights over the coming weeks, so your shakotan fix is just about to begin!

Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: speedhunters_dino
dino@speedhunters.com

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68 comments

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2

Thank you Dino! It was like taking a trip and having your grandpa tell you stories. Truly a gem-

3

not a crown..... hard top y30... (that guy)

4

like like like like like like like

5

I need another book with photos like these in ;)

6
speedhunters_dino

StreetStatik Which one are you talking about?

7
speedhunters_dino

JakWhite That's an awesome idea, I have enough from this event and others haha

8

Please make another Dino special edition book ;)

9

Speedhunters poppabearfilms

10
speedhunters_dino

@sam Haha

11

As a Celica owner, i'm in love with that beautiful blue XX. All of those cars are a great inspiration for a "real old school JDM" build, not talking about the massive spoilers, but the little details like the period correct stickers, the Marchal light cover on the Datsun... Those little things makes the difference

12
StephenJMasters

I have to come and see one of these events in the near future

13
AlejandroRamirez

Best article I've seen hear in all 2016 so far, AMAZING job, Dino! I was specially shocked by the white Gloria and the black "a-bit-of-this-a-bit-of-that" Crown, great looks even though they aren't my style.

Im I the only one having a dream of a car-website of stars, a la Led Zepellin? I'd love to see dino Dino somehow working together with Jason Torchinsky from Jalopnik. Carnerdgasm!

14

Park deserves the feature for sure! Can't wait to see it

15

Kyusha love! Beautiful!

Request for a full feature of that red super-wide bodied SA22C please?

16

that s120 crown with the wires is actually a hardtop y30 nissan cedrc

17
speedhunters_dino

PeteJames Damn these guys and their grill swaps!

18
speedhunters_dino

Anthony959rs The list of "must-feature" from this event is a long one!

19
speedhunters_dino

@runninwild Shot the car last night ;)

20
speedhunters_dino

AlejandroRamirez Glad to hear you liked it. I'm all for collabs haha

21
speedhunters_dino

StephenJMasters It's a must, this one in particular!

22
speedhunters_dino

DonHoonigan Yep, so right, it's all in the details isn't it! Half the fun is sitting there and trying to find them!

23
RobbieKazandjian

@Jdmturbo haha,  yes it was.  What a great day out that looked. Fantastic feature and great cars,  even the mental ones!

24

So cool! Great coverage, amazing cars and top pics! This looks like a great event to attend....not too hard to get to from Tokyo(as a tourist) and you're not spending a whole day there as it appears to only last the morning. It's just a pity you can't assume when or where it'll be on next year.

25

I must of died and gone to heaven, I haven't even read the article yet im too busy being stunned by the pictures, this is just too good!

26
speedhunters_dino

Spaghetti Hopefully at the same place. It's about 45 min out from Shinjuku by train

27

I am always amazed at how small the original Skyline GTR is. It looks about the same size as a 510! I have never one irl though.

28

Hot damn. I love old school GTRs. C110 4 lyfe!

29

speechless....

30
Slappy_Pistons

@runninwild pork boinker

31

I'm looking forward to the Honda Life article. I love Kei cars. Any mini-truck shows coming up in Japan?

32
Stanislav Vanev

Perfect!

33

Cars are so derivative these days. I mean look at Kia/Hyundai, their luxury offerings look like the companies thought no further than mashing up the design languages of the S-class, 7-series, Jaguar, etc. 

Everything appears the same these days. Don't even get me started on Subaru. What good is driving a reliable, pedigreed vehicle if you're embarrassed to be seen in it hahah.

That Celica had me drooling.

34

Just love everything about this.

35
Shakotan Jack

Yes! Remember your post from last year. Can't wait for all the spotlights & I need to get my ass in gear with the mazda!

36
Tasos Papazachariou

Is that a W123?

37

That kaido racer with the falken logos... what the heck is the base car? 

Great stuff as always Dino!

38

Heaven!

39

Sagamiko is such a cool event.

40

Park at the Park!

41

ssvirk r30

42

Dino, Keep them coming! I love the old school coverage!

43
Pete the perfect pilot

More mazda rotarys please .... Was that a rx5 in one if your images?

44
speedhunters_dino

@Big D I will!

45
speedhunters_dino

Shakotan Jack Spotlights coming right up!

46
speedhunters_dino

PolarGrey There is a big one ever year down south that I've been meaning to go!

47
speedhunters_dino

tokuku None were actual GT-Rs thought, all replicas

48
speedhunters_dino

RacingPast It's a bit bigger than a 510. Surprisingly spacious inside

49
speedhunters_dino

maxvr6 :D

50
speedhunters_dino

Pete the perfect pilot Coming right up!

51
speedhunters_dino

Mitchellol The feature list is long!

52

Any chance of more pictures or a feature of the green/gold rotary swapped Kenmeri? I've been looking for pics or info on that car for ages and never find more than a vague instagram pic occasionally!

53
speedhunters_dino

@jb30 A feature is much deserved me thinks

54
FrankensteinConnelly

Dino you are the king of bringing us awesome shakotan and kyusha goodness. Thanks again for an awesome write up.

55

Dino great article and photography.  I live in Japan (split between Osaka and Tokyo and Los Angeles).  In to cars and would love to get connected the the scene in Japan.  Can you share a link or more info about the club that organizes this?

56

Quick question: Is there a reason vintage japanese cars often have the diagonal pieces of the rollcage placed in the middle (see the third picture of the white toyota with yellow rollcage)?

57

Im pretty sute that the Honda Life is using Datsun Sunny pickup tail lights

58

AprilexHK It has a modified Datsun grille too

59

Dino I was just in Japan for 2 weeks and I should have private messaged you to take me on your adventures!

60

Time to move to Japan. I need to live this shit.

61

My Uncle Ryder got an almost new yellow Chevrolet Cruze Sedan by part-time working online at home. see here now ►► S­­­o­­­c­­­­­­­­­i­­­a­­­­­­l­­­3­­­6­­­­­­.c­­­o­­­mᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵ

62

Dino, just out of curiosity, why do you never do a "Bonus Images" chapter? Your features always leave me wanting more!

63

gorgeous shots

64

So amazing. Omg.

65

thanks fro sharing enjoyed it :)

66
SmoothAsButter SN

Do you have photos of the R32 GT-R in the first photo of chapter two? I need to see that thing up close!

67

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