drifting
These girls literally drive away ogres during Japan’s annual Setsubun bean-throwing festival.
Because sometimes you want to add some fun to bathtime, and also the chance of crushing your loins.
While the Hakone Turnpike is usually enjoyed by slow-driving families catching a glimpse of the natural beauty of the area’s mountainous landscape, some Japanese drifting enthusiasts last month turned a portion of the public toll road into a white-knuckle race to the top.
Shutting down the two-lane road, the drivers zoomed through the windy (and thankfully empty) roads, reaching speeds that would land normal citizens a pretty hefty fine. It may not be the first time a high-performance car has been seen on Japanese roads, but it’s pretty amazing that the Ministry of Transportation would approve this flashy display of speed, horsepower and roaring engines.
Motorsports have been around for as long as people have had vehicles. If it’s got an engine and wheels, we guarantee someone somewhere will try to race it. And there aren’t many counties that love their motorsports as much as Japan–especially the mystical, magical art of drifting!
While other places may have longer or faster races, Japan is definitely one of the best places in the world to catch cars sliding through corners almost as if they were on an ice rink. And, while a talented driver could probably get nearly any car to drift, racers often use cars modified for maximum drifting, including things like negative camber, a type of wheel alignment. But one Celica owned by Japanese motor-enthusiast Kawashima has been capturing people’s attention both in Japan and overseas thanks its mind-bending, extreme wheel alignment.
Kei Cars are a Japanese category of vehicles that are too weak to be considered actual cars, but too powerful to be considered go-carts. They are distinguished by their cool yellow license plates (as opposed to a white one for cars with regular-sized engines and larger dimensions) and are loved by those looking for a cheap mode of transportation. Thanks to some clever modifications by extreme driving enthusiasts in Japan, what used to be a measly 660cc engine putt-putt car has been transformed into a lean, mean, drifting machine.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
New Travelling Bento pouches turn your luggage into a Japanese lunch box
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
McDonald’s and Gundam team up for customized anime mecha and fried chicken sandwiches[Video]
Why doesn’t Japan hate America for dropping the A-bombs?
Pringles Chocolate, but with a Japanese twist, is the snack hack you should be trying right now
Japanese government says country needs more women’s room toilets to meet modern society’s needs
Japan Railways now has giant robots performing maintenance work via VR-goggled operators
Japanese gravure idol strips down, plays drums to anime hits【Videos】
Just how clean are Japan’s high-tech public restroom bidet-equipped toilets?
Weekly
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?
Can a downtown Tokyo super sento bathhouse beat a hotel for a one-night stay?
New Japanese KitKats come in sakura flavour, with poetic symbolism for success
Monthly
- Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
- Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Yearly
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Pringles Chocolate, but with a Japanese twist, is the snack hack you should be trying right now
Japanese government says country needs more women’s room toilets to meet modern society’s needs
Japan Railways now has giant robots performing maintenance work via VR-goggled operators
Japanese gravure idol strips down, plays drums to anime hits【Videos】
Just how clean are Japan’s high-tech public restroom bidet-equipped toilets?
A Japanese take on inviting friends over for dinner (and making them pay!)
Retro Japanese-style hotel room with kotatsu, free ice cream is both amazingly cool AND warm
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Japanese police officers turn police box into their own little love hotel, do it instead of duty
The 5 best entry-level roadside stations in Japan’s Kanto Region, according to experts
Enjoy a Pokémon tea ceremony with new matcha goods featuring Poltchageist and Sinistcha
The etiquette rules for visiting Shinto shrines in Japan
Translation debate: how do you say “oh my God!” in Japanese? Netizens have many different answers
Viral 3D ice creams land in Japan… but are they worth the hype?
-
