1 00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: Causer Media. You're listening to the Away Days podcast on 2 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: the ground outside reporting from the underbelly with me Jake Hanrahan. 3 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:21,440 Speaker 1: To watch Awaydays documentaries, go to YouTube dot com slash 4 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: at Away Days TV. This is part three Speed Tribe 5 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: twenty five, Episode two. This podcast is a production of 6 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: H eleven Studio and Call Zone Media, Osaka. At night, 7 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 1: the city is lit up like an led Christmas tree. 8 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: Small street stools and larger family restaurants keep each side, 9 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: street and back alley busy. The sound of drinking, conversation 10 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: and cash red at every corner. There's something to spend 11 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: money on if you want to. Vending machines, hole in 12 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:10,759 Speaker 1: the wall, bars and red light private clubs. Large halogen 13 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: bulbs light up garish advertisements on every square foot of 14 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 1: free space. We're in a blue collar district where no 15 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 1: one takes card and everyone is sick of the inflation. 16 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: I'm on my way to meet with the head of 17 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 1: a Canjo racing crew to negotiate access. I want to 18 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 1: film a real multi car civic race on the loop, 19 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: not just a few here and there, A proper race. 20 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 1: I've been told one is planned soon, and I want 21 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,959 Speaker 1: in You can't understand the culture behind all of this 22 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,560 Speaker 1: properly if you don't see it firsthand. I don't think 23 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: so anyway, Yes, I get it. It's dangerous, but it 24 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 1: is what it is. We get to the location this 25 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: is where the Kanjo crew told us to meet, and 26 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: with two guys from my team and John, who's still 27 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: helping us negotiate this clandestine world of illegal street racing. 28 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: The location is a really cool independent Korean restaurant. It's busy, cluttered, perfect. 29 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: Just as we get to a table, the Kanjo crew arrives. 30 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: Now I can't go into too many details due to 31 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: various legalities, but it's a small crew of four or 32 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,519 Speaker 1: five people. The boss man stands out for his size. 33 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: He's about six foot two and built like a brick shitouse, 34 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 1: an unusual frame in downtown Asaka. His number two is 35 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: a skinny chainsmoking mechanic with greasy hair and a crooked smile. 36 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: The others are quiet and unassuming. Everyone is dressed in 37 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: an assortment of trendy Japanese streetwear. The boss man greets 38 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,119 Speaker 1: us with a firm handshake and we exchange pleasantries. I'm 39 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: eager to give him the present are boring. In Japan, 40 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: bringing gifts of people is an important tradition. It's rooted 41 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: in the country's strong etiquete culture. It's not just about 42 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: giving a present, it's kind of a ritual. It shows respect, gratitude, 43 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: and the careful maintenance of relationships. Presentation is key. Wrapping 44 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: is considered almost as important as the gift itself. I 45 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: wish I had known that. There's apparently an art to it. 46 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 1: Handing over a nicely wrapped box with both hands and 47 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: a bow tied on top shows proper etiquet. When visiting 48 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: someone's home, bringing a small gift is standard, even if 49 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: it's just snacks or a souvenir from your hometown. And 50 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: when someone gives you a gift, you're generally expected to 51 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: return the favor later, sometimes with a return gift known 52 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: as okashi, often worth half the value of the original present. 53 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 1: There are unspoken rules to this. Importantly, gifts are usually 54 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: given modestly. You don't open them in front of the 55 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: giver unless invited to. Doing so might be seen as greedy. 56 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: Lavish gifts can make people feel uncomfortable or feel obliged, 57 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: so everyone keeps it simple now. Japanese gifting isn't about 58 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: the object. It's about maintaining balance, recognizing relationships, and expressing 59 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: thoughtfulness in a way that keeps the social fabric smooth 60 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: and intact. Now, with all this in mind, my contact 61 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: in Japan told me to bring some gifts before we arrived. Obviously, 62 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 1: I want to respect the customs of the country. Generally, 63 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: I do that anyway if I'm going somewhere. It's been 64 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: taught to me in my family. You bring gifts to 65 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: new people that you meet. That's just how it is. Obviously, 66 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,839 Speaker 1: I was not going to turn up empty handed, so 67 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: I asked the contact, what the hell do I bring 68 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: as a gift to illegal street racing petrol heads in 69 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: the gritty suburbs of a Sakka. His response, Max Power magazine. 70 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: I laughed, but he was serious. It's the perfect gift 71 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: for a brit to bring if you're interested in kanjo zoku, 72 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 1: he told me. Growing up, I remember seeing Max Power 73 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: on the shelves of every news agent in Britain. It 74 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: was a monthly car magazine. Launched in May nineteen ninety three, 75 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: Max Power quickly became the go to publication for what 76 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: was then a rapidly growing buoy at racer culture. In 77 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: the UK, the peak circulation around two hundred and forty 78 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: thousand copies of Max Power was sold every single month. 79 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: In its early years, Max Power showcased modifications such as 80 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: engine swaps, body kits and huge wheel conversions, not too 81 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: far from what the Canjo race is here in Asaka 82 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: Get up to Now, And like the model Civics themselves, 83 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: the visual esthetic of Max Power was very much in 84 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:47,160 Speaker 1: your face. I wasn't remotely interested in cars back then 85 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: when it was on sale in the UK, but the 86 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: magazine's style would always catch my eye. I remember it. 87 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 1: I think probably everybody else does. What made Max Power 88 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 1: unique was its indulgence in car culture contra reversy. The 89 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:04,919 Speaker 1: magazine would often have coverage of illegal cruise events and 90 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: public burnouts. This drew criticism from police and safety advocates, 91 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: but it also sealed the magazine's notoriety in the underground. 92 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: Despite the haters, Max Power played an outsized role in 93 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 1: shape and a community and industry tuning shops, aftermarket suppliers, 94 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: custom showers the lot. Reflecting on its cultural legacy, the 95 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 1: former Max Power editor described this era as a uniquely 96 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: vibrant British car subculture. It wasn't just about horsepower. It 97 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 1: was about mass individuality, diy creativity and youthful defiance. Now 98 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: surely that rings a bell. The Max Power aligned world 99 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: of British car culture mirrored some aspects of Japan's Kanjo zoku. 100 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: John tells me that racers would even import the magazine 101 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 1: in English, even if they couldn't read the articles. So 102 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: me to bring over a stack of old Max Power issues. 103 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 1: I got a load off eBay for about thirty quid 104 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: and stuffed them into my suitcase. Now Here I am 105 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: in Osaka with them all sat in a plastic carrier 106 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 1: bag as a gift for what is the boss of 107 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: a notorious Kanjo crew in Japan. Suddenly it doesn't feel 108 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,119 Speaker 1: like the good idea it did when I was back home. 109 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: Either way, Once we're all seated, I hand the stack 110 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:32,119 Speaker 1: of magazines over and we explain the gift. The boss 111 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: band holds them in his hands, briefly looks at the 112 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: first issue on the pile, and hands them off to 113 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: his chainsmoking sidekick. He doesn't even look at them. Neither 114 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: of them are remotely interested. I look at John like 115 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: what the fuck? John shrugs at me and orders a 116 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: round of pints for the table. I can't go into 117 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: exactly what was said at this meeting, but we all 118 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:58,119 Speaker 1: eventually get chatting about Kanjo. I explain what we're trying 119 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: to do with the award As project, and the boss 120 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: Man likes it a lot. After he gets a little 121 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: more comfortable, he makes a comment about some visible tattoos 122 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 1: me and one of my guys have on our arms. 123 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: He says he likes them. He grins. This is a 124 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: bit unusual, as tattoos in Japan are seen very differently 125 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: to how they are in the West. Here in Japan, 126 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: there's a complicated and often negative stigma attached to them. Historically, 127 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 1: they've been associated with criminality, particularly the Yakuza, Japan's most 128 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:38,959 Speaker 1: notorious organized crime syndicate. Full body tattoos called irazumi, were 129 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 1: used by Yakuza gang members as a sign of loyalty 130 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 1: and defiance, making them a visual marker of the underworld. 131 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:51,439 Speaker 1: Because of this, many public places like bath houses, swimming pools, 132 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 1: and even weights gyms still ban visible tattoos to this day. 133 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 1: The perception is gradually shifting, but there is still very 134 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: much an uneasiness about people with tattoos in Japanese culture. So, 135 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 1: considering the boss Man's comment about our tattoos, I ask 136 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,440 Speaker 1: him if he has any. Honestly, I might half joking 137 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: when I say this, but he nods, looks me right 138 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: in the eye, and rolls up both of his sleeves. 139 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: Traditional irizumi tattoos completely cover his ants your cusa. Suddenly, 140 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: the secrecy of some of this scene begins to take 141 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: on another purpose. I get it some level of organized 142 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,839 Speaker 1: crime is involved with some of these teams, not all 143 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: of them, not the majority, but it's there. The boss 144 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,679 Speaker 1: Man's friends suddenly feel like a bit of an entourage. 145 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: None of them even blink when he pulls out the tats. 146 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: I guess is they all have something similar? Wow? Nice, 147 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 1: I say. The boss Man grins again, pulls down his sleeves, 148 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: and orders Korean barbecue for all of us. He loosens, 149 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 1: and after we eat, for some reason, he pulls out 150 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: a little tool he has attached to a set of 151 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: his keys and fiddles with it for ages. It's a small, 152 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:13,079 Speaker 1: but sharp, spring loaded metal spike, like a flick knife, 153 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 1: but it's a spike, not a blade. It's hardly a 154 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 1: massively serious weapon, but if you stuck it in your neck, 155 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: I dare say you'd know about it. Seems an unusual 156 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:24,679 Speaker 1: thing just to whip out at the table, but what 157 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 1: do I not. At the end of the night, we're 158 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 1: all getting on great and the boss Man takes us 159 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 1: to see his cat. I can't even tell you what 160 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: it is, specifically to protect his identity, but it is 161 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 1: a very very nice and very unique Conde civic. Let's 162 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: just say that he agrees that we'll join him and 163 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: his crew on the Candor Loop late one night this week. 164 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 1: Perfect he even gives us a gift. He takes his 165 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: little stabber off his keys and hands it to one 166 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 1: of our team Max Power magazines for a little keyring 167 00:10:55,280 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: stabber Yakuza weapon. Not a bad exchange at all. A 168 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: few days past and we've heard absolutely nothing from the 169 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 1: boss Man. Honestly, I'm regutted. He seemed completely genuine about 170 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: the access and rapport we'd built with them. None of 171 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: us really give a shit that he's Yakuza. The whole 172 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: world runs on crime, after all. Some of it's just 173 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 1: legal because governments do it. It seems unlikely that he 174 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:35,080 Speaker 1: suddenly got cold feet, as if we'd inform on him 175 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: or something. But here we are, and so we take 176 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 1: up the famous journalists past time. Of waiting around, we 177 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: spend the day enjoying a Saka. We rented a tiny 178 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: house in an area we're told is quote unquote kind 179 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 1: of the hood. It doesn't feel like that. Though the 180 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: streets are clean, everyone is nice, and crime is largely 181 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 1: non existent. People don't even change their push bikes up here. 182 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: Each day we go to this little family run cafe 183 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:05,959 Speaker 1: near the house and we order eggs on toast and 184 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 1: black coffee. The family there get used to us, and 185 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 1: we communicate through Google Translate. Tinny Midi style music plays 186 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:15,960 Speaker 1: in the background from a tape. Every space on the 187 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: wall is covered with something unique and homely. It's one 188 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: of the calmest places I think I've ever been to 189 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: in my entire life. I love it here in the cafe, 190 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: in the Nishinari ward. It is the total opposite of 191 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: the high octane madness of the Osaka street racers. The 192 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: next day there's news there's a reason the boss man 193 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: we met with recently has ghosted us. He's been arrested. 194 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: Nothing to do with racing, not from what we're told, 195 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: at least he was taken in on weapons charges, not 196 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 1: because of his spring loaded spike, but apparently firearms in 197 00:12:55,920 --> 00:13:00,319 Speaker 1: Japan that is a very big deal. A legal guns 198 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 1: in Japan are exceptionally rare. The country has some of 199 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: the strictest firearm laws in the world, and as a result, 200 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 1: gun crime is almost non existent. In an average year, 201 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 1: the number of shootings across the entire country can usually 202 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: be counted on one hand. Most Japanese citizens will go 203 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:23,319 Speaker 1: their entire lives without ever even seeing a real firearm 204 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: or even hearing gunshots. Even the yakuza tend to avoid 205 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 1: using guns because the legal consequences are extremely harsh and 206 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:37,960 Speaker 1: police raids into their businesses become extremely relentless. Japan's firearm 207 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: and sword possession control laws strictly limits gun ownership to 208 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 1: shotguns and air rifles under tight regulation. Even those require 209 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: a lengthy licensing process, including written tests, mental health evaluations, 210 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 1: background checks, and regular police inspections. Handguns are completely banned 211 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,839 Speaker 1: for civilians forget about it. The general public is culturally 212 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 1: and legally distanced from firearms at all times, and gun 213 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: ownership carries a significant social stigma. If you're call in 214 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: possession of an illegal firearm in Japan. To put it bluntly, 215 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: you are fucked deep trouble. You're potentially looking at ten 216 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: years in prison. Sentencing gets harshit if the gun was 217 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: used in the commission of a crime or is linked 218 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: to organized crime. I hope, for the boss Man's sake, 219 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: he was just collecting somehow, though I doubt it either way. 220 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 1: Needless to say, we will not be seeing him for 221 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 1: a while. Even just owning bullets without a gun can 222 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 1: lead to prison time in Japan, and the judges rarely 223 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: show leniency to anything. Japanese police also have the power 224 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: to investigate aggressively when it comes to gun related offenses. 225 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: As I said, it's raids, surveillance and forensic checks. All 226 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: this is common. People generally do not mess around with guns. 227 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: The system is so airtight that even Japan's underworld mostly 228 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: steer clear of them. So what has happened with the 229 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: boss Man is completely beyond me. If I had to guess, 230 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: seen as he was pretty young and trendy but also 231 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: involved in organized crime. Maybe he wanted a gone just 232 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: for status. I don't know, though. The whole thing is 233 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: a bit mad, so as you can imagine, our contacts 234 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 1: in this race, crew went cold for now anyway. Luckily 235 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: for us, Kanjo Zoku is not the only street racing 236 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 1: counterculture here in Japan. Far from it, John happens to 237 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: have contacts with a very different style of underground racing. 238 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 1: One night, he randomly calls ahead and tells us we're 239 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: going to the outskirts of a Saka. It's about an 240 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 1: hour's drive away to a smaller town where the mountains 241 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: and nearby. He comes to pick us up in his 242 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 1: honestly immaculate civic and tells us we're going on a 243 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: drive potentially into the world of toga. To understand the 244 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 1: Japanese togay scene, you've got to picture the country's spine. 245 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: The winding mountain passes, cutting through dense forests, blurry ridgelines, 246 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 1: and treacherous switchbacks where visibility often drops to zero. These 247 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: are the backbones of rural Japan. Originally the land of farmers, villagers, 248 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: and monks, but by the late eighties and nineties they 249 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 1: became the battleground for a specific breed of underground petrol head, 250 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 1: the Togay races. This is not a fast and furious 251 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 1: style drag racing scene. This is something much quieter hidden. 252 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 1: The Togay is onder wraps and is incredibly risky, a 253 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 1: dance between man, machine and nature. These drivers drift or 254 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 1: grip their cars down narrow mountain roads at full speed, 255 00:16:56,320 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: with drops of certain death just feet over the fence line. 256 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 1: One wrong move and the Togay cars are flying into 257 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 1: a jagged rock ravine. There is almost no chance of survival. 258 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: This all started when the big city boys of Tokyo 259 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:16,680 Speaker 1: raised on the Wangang expressways and toll roads around Tokyo Bay. 260 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 1: The rural and suburban kids had to get their own 261 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 1: thing going. With no money for track days or toll roads, 262 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:27,640 Speaker 1: they looked to the mountain passes nearby. These winding roads 263 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:33,120 Speaker 1: were free, isolated and perfect for testing cornering skills, and 264 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:37,120 Speaker 1: so togo racing was born. Not necessarily to see who 265 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: was faster in a straight line, but who had the 266 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: precision and the guts to thread the needle through tight 267 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 1: mountain bends at terrifying speeds. Also, the philosophy was different. 268 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:51,959 Speaker 1: This was not about octane and speed. This was about rhythm, 269 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: flow and keeping your composure. There is no central Togay organization, 270 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: no league, no official hierarchy. It's different to canjo in 271 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: that respect. Small circles of trust among drivers keep the 272 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:10,679 Speaker 1: scene active in the underground. In toga, you have to 273 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 1: prove yourself before you're even allowed to race on the 274 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: mountain pass. Not with money or care or gear, but 275 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:23,359 Speaker 1: with consistency and commitment. Everyone knows the risks. A crash 276 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 1: in Togai is worse than a bent bumper or smashed windows. 277 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 1: If you fuck up here, you're rolling down a mountain 278 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 1: or slamming into a wall with no ambulances or hospitals 279 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 1: for miles around. Most Togay races happen in the dead 280 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:43,680 Speaker 1: of night, no traffic, no witnesses, fewer cops. Walkie talkies, 281 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 1: burner phones, and encrypted apps are used to coordinate. A 282 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: century is placed at the top and bottom of the 283 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 1: course to warn if police or other vehicles are coming. 284 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: Some teams even use spotters half way along the route 285 00:18:56,760 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 1: with torches or laser pens to signal potential has The 286 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 1: roads are never really uniform. You can't exactly get used 287 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:07,479 Speaker 1: to the feel of the road like you can with kanjo. 288 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:11,919 Speaker 1: Some Togay runs are type technical, full of hairpins and 289 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 1: steep descents. Others, like the gun passes have more flow 290 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: and open corners, but all are narrow, blind and very dangerous. 291 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,479 Speaker 1: Within the togay scene that there's a clear ideological split 292 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,879 Speaker 1: the grip drivers versus the drifters. Generally, it's seen that 293 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 1: both come under the same umbrella of togai. Grip racers 294 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: believe in maximum traction, perfect apexes, and precision driving. Always 295 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,679 Speaker 1: their goal is to maintain speed through corners using racing lines, 296 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 1: breaking points, and tire grip. These guys are usually quiet, disciplined, 297 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 1: methodical drifters, on the other hand, are all about style 298 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:56,920 Speaker 1: and control in chaos. They throw the rear end out 299 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:01,400 Speaker 1: into corners, intentionally breaking traction but keeping control through throttle 300 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: steering and counter steering techniques. It's actually not always the 301 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:09,960 Speaker 1: fastest way through a corner, but it is definitely the 302 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: coolest way to do it, and to the drifting contingent 303 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 1: of togai, they feel it's the purest the truth. Many 304 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:21,360 Speaker 1: togay racers do both. They can grip when they need 305 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:23,400 Speaker 1: to win and drift when they want to show off 306 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:27,879 Speaker 1: the best affluent in both dialects of speed. It can 307 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,199 Speaker 1: even be argued that toga is just the place and 308 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 1: the whole scene, but both are interchangeable. Now, togay cars 309 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 1: are nothing like the quarter mile drag racing machines you 310 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 1: might see in places like America. The Japanese counterparts are light, 311 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: nimble and built for twisting roads. Weight reduction is key. 312 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:03,960 Speaker 1: Like they can racing drivers got the interior, remove rear seats, 313 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,920 Speaker 1: spare tires, and sometimes even replace the doors and bonnets 314 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:12,919 Speaker 1: with fiberglass or carbon fiber. Popular choices of cars for 315 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 1: racing on Toge include Toyota A E eighty six, the 316 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 1: Mazda RX seven, the Nissan Silvia, the Honda Civic and 317 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: Integra type, and the Subaru Impretso Amtsubishi Evil. Engine swaps, 318 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:31,160 Speaker 1: coil overs, strup bars, roll cages, LSD's, and grippy tires 319 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: are the norm when it can be afforded. No nos, 320 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:38,199 Speaker 1: nothing flashy, just purpose built machines made to survive the 321 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 1: mountain's pass. Now, despite togate being highly illegal, the racers 322 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: live by a strict code of conduct. There are unspoken rules. 323 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: Never race in the rain unless you're preparing to die. 324 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 1: Never endanger civilians if a car is coming, stop the race. 325 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:58,160 Speaker 1: If you crash, you fix your own mess. No trash 326 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 1: talking without skill to back it up, and respect the 327 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: mountain always. Togai is not a free for all like 328 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:10,680 Speaker 1: other underground racing scenes. Here the mountain is sacred not 329 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:13,480 Speaker 1: just as approving ground, but as a place of honor 330 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 1: for the racers. Whilst the togai scene is definitely still active, 331 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 1: as we'll see, it's nothing like it was in the 332 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:25,919 Speaker 1: mid nineties. Back then toga racing had exploded. There was 333 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 1: even a whole manga series about it called initial D. 334 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: It's very cool. You might have heard of it. If not, 335 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:47,119 Speaker 1: check it out. Initial D. Generally, message boards and forums 336 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:50,919 Speaker 1: on the Internet helped u spread the culture internationally. But 337 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:55,160 Speaker 1: with more eyes came more heat from the cops. As 338 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 1: with Kanjo, the Japanese police began cracking down hard night 339 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 1: patrols in togay areas. Increased penalties for illegal modifications got harsher, 340 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 1: and if you got court racing or even being associated 341 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 1: with it, you risk losing your license immediately, having your 342 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: car impounded, or getting a hefty fine. It got serious. 343 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:20,119 Speaker 1: In some prefectures. A street racing conviction could even tank 344 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: your job prospects or get you kicked out of school. 345 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:27,720 Speaker 1: Some local governments started installing speed bumps or roadblocks in 346 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 1: notorious Togay areas. Others set up permanent surveillance. As a result, 347 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 1: many Togay drivers faded into obscurity. Some moved to sanctioned motorsports. 348 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 1: Others just got older and stopped. But a few the 349 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:47,200 Speaker 1: hard core They kept the torch burning. This hard core 350 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:50,480 Speaker 1: element has endured till today, and there are still Togay 351 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:54,280 Speaker 1: crews popping up around the country. John tells us we're 352 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:57,119 Speaker 1: headed to meet a load of them right now, hard 353 00:23:57,119 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: core underground races adapted to Togay. Apparently they're interested in 354 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 1: speaking to us. First home, we have to go and 355 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:13,680 Speaker 1: meet them at a garage on the outskirts. We drive 356 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 1: out of a saka at night. The more space we 357 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,399 Speaker 1: put between us and the city, the less neon and 358 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:23,719 Speaker 1: color days. Here, the roads are longer, flatter, and the 359 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:26,399 Speaker 1: only thing keeping them lit top are led street lights. 360 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:30,639 Speaker 1: A hazy orange glow every fifty feet points us in 361 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 1: the right direction. John says he knows these guys well. 362 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: Back in the day, John road around with them, back 363 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,959 Speaker 1: when the car counterculture was widespread, violent, and a lot 364 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:45,959 Speaker 1: less hidden. We move through the streets and eventually end 365 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 1: up at the garage. This area is kind of green. 366 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: I like it. There's an extremely loud main road running 367 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:56,880 Speaker 1: through the town with angry traffic. Even at this time. 368 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 1: There's rubbish and car deburry gathered in the gutters, and 369 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:03,040 Speaker 1: you can just feel that this is not the city. 370 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 1: I grew up in a place not too different from this, 371 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:10,080 Speaker 1: a backwater that's not so far from the city but 372 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:14,200 Speaker 1: has none of its poncey airs and graces. Halogen lights 373 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: from inside the garage beam out to the front. There 374 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:19,440 Speaker 1: were probably one hundred cars here, all lined up next 375 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:23,280 Speaker 1: to each other in the courtyard. Almost all of them 376 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 1: are Honda Civics or similarly adjacent Japanese street racing carts. 377 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:31,719 Speaker 1: The air is thick with the smell of petrol and cigarettes, 378 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 1: not the best combination. A heavily deckaled civic is pulled 379 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:40,439 Speaker 1: up out the front. It's been in a crash. The 380 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: marine blue of the chassis is torn through. It looks 381 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:45,680 Speaker 1: as if a giant claw has attacked it and peeled 382 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 1: back its skin to the metal nerve endings. The passenger 383 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: door is folded inward, crushed like a cokecan. The windscreen 384 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:56,439 Speaker 1: is a cobweb of broken glass and the front wheels 385 00:25:56,440 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 1: are bent sideways. Whoever drove this didn't die in the 386 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:02,560 Speaker 1: but they most likely thought they would at the time. 387 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:05,919 Speaker 1: As I examined the rest of the trash civic, we 388 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: hear voices approaching. Half a dozen young lads and one 389 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:14,160 Speaker 1: young woman exit the garage. They've all got their faces 390 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:18,919 Speaker 1: masked in nylon bandanas or straight top balaclavas. This is 391 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:21,920 Speaker 1: the team we've come to meet. They'll be taking us 392 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:37,440 Speaker 1: to the mountains next week. You'll hear how we drove 393 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 1: up a small ravine and drove down it very very fast. 394 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,160 Speaker 1: You've been listening to the Away Days podcast. To watch 395 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 1: independent Away Days documentaries, subscribe to our channel at YouTube 396 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 1: dot com slash at away Days TV. Your Wait Days 397 00:26:56,920 --> 00:27:00,440 Speaker 1: podcast is a production of H eleven Studio for Cool 398 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 1: Zone Media. Reporting, producing, writing, editing and research by me 399 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:13,359 Speaker 1: Jake Hanrahan, co producing by Sophie Lichterman. Music by Sam Black, 400 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:17,680 Speaker 1: sound mixed by Splicing Block. Photography by Johnny Pickup and 401 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 1: Louis Hollis. Graphic design by Laura Adamson and Casey Highfield.