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 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:23,240 Speaker 1: at Away Days TV. 5 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 2: This is part. 6 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 1: Three Speed Tribe twenty five, Episode three. This podcast is 7 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: a production of H eleven Studio and Call his Own Media. 8 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: The team of massed up youth that approaches from the 9 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:51,599 Speaker 1: garage seem a little hesitant to say hi. They're not menacing, 10 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: not at all. If anything, they seem a little bit shy. 11 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: They're all either late teens or mid twenties. Behind them, 12 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: in the garage with its now rayed shutter, there's a 13 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: collection of brightly colored civics with roof to tire decales, 14 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 1: painted bonnets and nets in the windows. These are to 15 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: obscure the view to stop the police seeing who's driving. 16 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 1: An older man who owns the garage approaches and explains 17 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: to us that this is the base of Across Racing. 18 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: As a look a bit closer, I notice all the 19 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: civics have the Across logo emblazoned over their back windows. 20 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: Across is a ragtag street racing crew that hits the 21 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: Canjo loop with their distinctive carts. Many of them here 22 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:41,039 Speaker 1: have decorated their paintwork with Marlborough cigarette packet designs, not 23 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: to promote smoking, but the design on a car is 24 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: just very cool, I'll be honest. One of the civics 25 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: that really stands out belongs to the only woman on 26 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: the team. Her name is Menma and a civic is 27 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: bright turquoise blue with white bordered decals and shiny stickers 28 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 1: making out the word across on the back. Underground street 29 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: racing in Japan is a male dominated world. I go 30 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,959 Speaker 1: as far to say that it's ninety nine percent men 31 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: that are involved. Memo is an anomaly in this scene. 32 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: She's small, with huge, bright eyes and dyed blonde hair 33 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 1: poking out of about a claver. She wears high top 34 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: night dunks in the same white and turquoise colors of 35 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: her cat. It is a very cool look. She's shy, 36 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 1: but she agrees to talk a little. It's usually there's 37 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 1: not many women in the racing scene here. 38 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 2: Are you one of the only ones? 39 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 3: As I'm a woman, I need to race in a 40 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 3: way so I don't get disrespected. 41 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 2: What is it you like about street racing? 42 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 3: A final street. I like this the most you do 43 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 3: talk or a circuit as long as I can race. 44 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: Obviously, this is very illegal here in Japan. What would 45 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: happen if the police caught you? 46 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 3: We run away? 47 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 2: Does your family know you do this racing? 48 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 3: Sometimes? 49 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 1: Culture in Japan is quite conservative. A legal street racing 50 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: is obviously something that a lot of people there wouldn't like. 51 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: What do you think the reaction would be if people 52 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: knew you were doing this? 53 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,119 Speaker 3: I think they would think it's a nuisance, but more 54 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 3: fun which wins, so I keep racing. 55 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 2: It makes it more fun. 56 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: Okay, what do you think about the police here? 57 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 3: I'm sure it's tough for them and they probably have 58 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 3: a lot on but it'd be nice if they spent 59 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 3: their time on things other than civics. 60 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: Without revealing too much about yourself when you're not racing, 61 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: what do you do like in normal life? 62 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 3: If I'm not racing, working, fishing, an I ride my bike? 63 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: Can you tell me what it feels like when you're racing? 64 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: How does it feel to you? 65 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 3: It's scary, but the feeling of wanting to win is stronger. 66 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 1: How did you get into racing? How do you find 67 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: out about it? 68 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 3: A childhood friend introduced me. 69 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 2: Are you fast drive fast? So? 70 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 1: By so so she means yes, very fast across is 71 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: generally seen as a kanjo crew. These are not exactly 72 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: drift cars. They go very fast down the Handschin Expressway. 73 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 1: So I wonder why we're here, ready to go up 74 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 1: a mountain far away from Saka. Turns out the team 75 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 1: are currently not racing the canjo right now. Their boss, 76 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: the older guy who runs the gar bridge, has decided 77 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 1: it's a bit too hot with the law enforcement and 78 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: surveillance checks. I'm guessing this has something to do with 79 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: the smashed up civic we saw on the way in. 80 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,919 Speaker 1: Young lad in a white Balaklava who uses the name Hero, 81 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: explains to me that that is his car. He's just 82 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:24,840 Speaker 1: eighteen and he was in a police chase recently. Now, 83 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 1: in Japan, a police chase isn't quite what you might think. 84 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: Japan active pursuit is far more restricted than in most 85 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: Western countries. There's a much bigger emphasis on public safety 86 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: over immediate apprehension. The National Police Agency guidelines state that 87 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: officers must prioritize avoiding accidents, especially in densely populated areas. 88 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: Perfect if you're a cando fugitive in hot pursuit, the 89 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: getaway is strongly in your favor. Japanese police are trained 90 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: to weigh the risk of a chase against the seriousness 91 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: of the perceived offense. Pursuits are generally only allowed when 92 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: the suspect is believed to have committed a serious crime, 93 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: which dangerous driving comes under. In Japan, street racers are 94 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: on their radar. The police are instructed to consider factors 95 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:24,679 Speaker 1: like traffic density, weather, road conditions, and pedestrian presence before 96 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 1: engaging in the chase. If the pursuit is likely to 97 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: endanger the public, officers are required to back down by law. 98 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: Speed limits still technically apply to police vehicles, but they 99 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: can be exceeded if lights and sirens are used, and 100 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: the pursuit is officially justified. Just like any other country. 101 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: That said, official justification is narrowly defined, and supervisors on 102 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 1: the radio are often involved in the decision to continue 103 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: or call off a chase. Legally, if a chase results 104 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: in injury or to a third party, and the pursuit 105 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 1: is deemed unnecessary or reckless, the officers and the department 106 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: can face civil liability and in some cases, even criminal charges. 107 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: The cautious approach stems from Japan's broader policing philosophy crime 108 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: prevention and measured response over higher risk enforcement. As a result, 109 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 1: genuine Hollywood style high speed pursuits are very rare in Japan, 110 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: and when they do happen, they are usually in rural 111 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: areas with lighter traffic and clearer visibility. To avoid dangerous 112 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: high speed chases, Japan relies heavily on alternative methods. These 113 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: include setting up roadblocks using spike strips, or deploying unmarked 114 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: ghost cars to shadow suspects until a safer arrest is possible. 115 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 1: In urban areas, surveillance cameras and licensed plate recognition systems 116 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: often allowed police to track a suspect later without an 117 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: idiot confrontation. This is what happened to hero He was 118 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: racing around the loop when police pulled him behind him, 119 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: he took off. They put the foot on the gas, 120 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: but ultimately Heroes driving skills and the public traffic helped 121 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: him get away, not before the cops caught his license plate, 122 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: though for whatever reason, he didn't have the plate flipped 123 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: up on its hinges, and the police found out his. 124 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 2: Address through registration. 125 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: A few weeks Later, a morning raid on Hero's house 126 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:34,959 Speaker 1: found him arrested, charged and released on bail. He laughs 127 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: about it now and explains how he went back out 128 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:40,560 Speaker 1: racing any way and totld his car, crashing into a 129 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:44,199 Speaker 1: barrier on a stiff turn. No wonder their captain doesn't 130 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: want a cross on the Canjo right now. Kanjo races 131 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: in a Sacker are a course notorious for the defiance 132 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: of the law. One of their most brazen tactics is 133 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 1: called boxing in when you guessed it, they box in 134 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: police cars during late night runs. When police attempt to 135 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,839 Speaker 1: intervene in a multi car race, the drivers sometimes coordinate 136 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: to trap the patrol car between the multiple vehicles. Two 137 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:25,679 Speaker 1: or more cars will position themselves in front, beside, and 138 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 1: behind police, slowing or blocking its movement while the rest 139 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 1: of the crew scatters. This isn't just a getaway method. 140 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: It's also a deliberate act of mockery. There are several 141 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 1: videos out there showing this tactic on the Handchin Expressway 142 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 1: with goofy music and mocking captions. It's pretty funny, honestly. 143 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 1: Drivers will also sometimes weave aggressively in front of the 144 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 1: patrol car, break check it, or rev loudly forcing their 145 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 1: officers into a frustrating standoff. Police are constrained by the 146 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 1: aforementioned strict shoot rules. They're hamstrung. They can't really respond 147 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: with the same aggression without risking disciplinary action. 148 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 2: Too bad. 149 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,679 Speaker 1: The Kanjo crews exploit these limits, knowing the officers are 150 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 1: unlikely to engage in risky maneuvers in heavy traffic or 151 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 1: at extreme speeds beyond the immediate tactic. This behavior feeds 152 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: into the Kando subculture's anti authority image. It reinforces their 153 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: reputation for outsmarting and goading the police on their own turf. 154 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 1: In a society as strict and rule following as Japan, 155 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 1: this really defines them as serious outlaws. The crew explain 156 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:41,560 Speaker 1: to us that they're going to take us for a 157 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 1: different kind of race. One lad is very excited about this. 158 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: He pops the bonnet of his car, which is painted 159 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 1: purple and white in the Marlborough design, and points laughing 160 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 1: at the paint on the inside. It's Japan's imperial flag 161 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: oh i say, commonly known as the Rising Sun flag. 162 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:07,199 Speaker 1: It features a red sum with sixteen rays extending outwards. 163 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: It's obviously different from the national flag which is the 164 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 1: simple red circle on a white field rising sun design 165 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: has ancient roots in Japanese mythology and Shinto beliefs, where 166 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 1: the sun goddess amit Arasu is central. The flag was 167 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: officially adopted as the war flag of the Imperial Japanese 168 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: Army in eighteen seventy, and later used by the Imperial 169 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: Navy as well across East and Southeast Asia, especially in 170 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: Korea and China. It's viewed as a symbol of Japanese 171 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: militarism and imperial aggression during World War Two. Its resemblance 172 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 1: to a military insignia tied to occupation, war crimes and 173 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: colonialism makes it deeply controversial in those regions. So many 174 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:59,319 Speaker 1: Japanese people though the flag is just a traditional symbol 175 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 1: of good fort, dune power and national pride. It's still 176 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: used today by the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, even 177 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 1: it continues to appear at sporting events, festivals, and by 178 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:17,959 Speaker 1: nationalist groups. The flag's meaning is heavily context dependent, seen 179 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 1: by some as cultural heritage and by others as a 180 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:27,199 Speaker 1: painful reminder of wartime atrocities. For these lot racing one 181 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:29,679 Speaker 1: of them explains to me that It's just seen as 182 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: a good luck charm of sorts, nothing politically loaded about it. 183 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 1: So with the Kanjo loop off the cards, the crew 184 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: tells us that were taking the civics up to a 185 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 1: mountain road to grip round corners at extreme high speed. 186 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: I agreed to go with them, somewhat reluctantly, but at 187 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:53,720 Speaker 1: the same time excited to see what they do. Because 188 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:55,960 Speaker 1: line up in a convoy at the front of the 189 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 1: garage a row of souped up, multi colored Civics, all 190 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 1: with custom designs, lowered frames, and sparkly across iconography pasted 191 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: across the windows. The drivers get into their cars and 192 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: they all rev in unison. I can feel the vibration 193 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: of the engines raw in my chest. I hop into 194 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 1: one of the cars. Inside, every side panel has been 195 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 1: ripped off so you can see the full inner workings. 196 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 2: Of the car. 197 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 1: They do this for weight. The interior car handle is 198 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 1: literally just a metal wire. The two back seats are 199 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,959 Speaker 1: ripped out. All that's back there is metal pipes, molded 200 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: tire trim, and a DII rollcage bolted into the exposed chassis. 201 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: It's like a cockpit built by H. R. Geigert even 202 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: the interior roof panel is removed. We're about to zoom 203 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 1: down the road in a metal can with precision brake 204 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:54,439 Speaker 1: power and a custom paint job. Not a single piece 205 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: of this civic has been left as is. 206 00:13:57,120 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 2: I love it. 207 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: Once everyone is in position, the order in which across 208 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: the sides is the hierarchy. Today we all pull off. 209 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 1: There's no casual drive to the mountain. These lot are 210 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,800 Speaker 1: racing the whole way there. It's midnight now. We fly 211 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: through the streets, and each civic lights up the road 212 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 1: as the cars weave in and out of each other. 213 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 1: At one point we pass a police car going the 214 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: other way on the side of the road. We're traveling 215 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: at least forty miles per hour above speed limit, all 216 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: in a convoy of half a dozen very distinctive cars. 217 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: There is no denying that these are for street racing. 218 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 1: My driver is wearing a ski mask and half of 219 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: his window is obscured with netting. Look, he laughs in 220 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 1: English Japanese police. He puts his foot on the pedal 221 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: and we peel off so fast. I don't even know 222 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: if the cops switched on the lights and sirens. They're 223 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 1: fast gone. 224 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 2: In the mirror. 225 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: I'd be lying if I said I don't feel the 226 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: same adrenaline rush as the street racers right now. It's dangerous, 227 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: unfair and anti social, but it is still true that 228 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: it's exhilarating. After around an hour on the road, we 229 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: end up at the bottom of a valley. It's pitch 230 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: black and only random highway lights and the civics expose 231 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 1: the scene in front of us. I see rock faces 232 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: and lush trees here and there leading up the mountain, 233 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 1: or at least I think it's a mountain. It looks 234 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 1: a bit like one to me, and that's what everyone's 235 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: calling it for shorthand, so we'll go with the mountain. 236 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: We're all parked at a yellow gate with the engines 237 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: ticking over right now. This mountain road is closed for 238 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: the night. No one can drive through. It's restricted somehow, 239 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: though one of the cross members manages to get the 240 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 1: gate open. It swings out the way and we all 241 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: roar up the mountain. The roads I notice are perfect. 242 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 1: It strikes me that to try this back home in 243 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 1: England would be even more deadly, seen as our roads 244 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: look like they've been hit with several meteor showers. Now 245 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: allow me to tell you about British roads. British roads, 246 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: especially in recent years, are a fucking disaster. Mostly to 247 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 1: blame is, of course, the government, especially local governments, who 248 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 1: spend their budgets on just about anything else but the tarmac. 249 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 1: Potholes are absolutely everywhere. It's so common they've basically become 250 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: a running joke. Repair work is slow, patchy, and often 251 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 1: poorly executed. Councils claim they lack funding, but central government 252 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: investment in road maintenance has consistently lagged behind what's needed. 253 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: Instead of tackling long term resurfacing, authorities often opt for cheap, 254 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: temporary fixes that crumble after a few months, leading to 255 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 1: the same stretch being repaired over and over again. I've 256 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: genuinely seen similarly damaged roads in the combas in East Ukraine, 257 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 1: and they're at war. Britain is not. Our road network 258 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 1: is crumbling under the strain of heavy use, bad weather, 259 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: and minimal upkeep. With that, serious, well funded intervention is 260 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:19,439 Speaker 1: only going to get much worse. Japan, however, is of 261 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:24,680 Speaker 1: course the total opposite. They are exceptionally good at building roads, 262 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 1: especially through mountainous terrain like where we're at right now. 263 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,159 Speaker 1: This skill has been built out of necessity. As around 264 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 1: seventy percent of the country is mountainous, engineers have had 265 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: to master creating safe, durable routes in places where the 266 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: landscape is anything but forgiving. Japanese mountain pass roads like 267 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 1: these are often feats of precision, blending advanced civil engineering 268 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 1: with a careful sense of safety and efficiency. You'll find 269 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: winding togay routes with perfect cambers for corners, cautiously designed 270 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: drainage systems to handle heads, and retaining walls built to 271 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:08,199 Speaker 1: withstand both landslides and earthquakes. Many roads use tunnels and 272 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: elevated sections to reduce sharp gradients, making them easier to 273 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:17,600 Speaker 1: drive and less prone to weather closures. In winter heavy regions, 274 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 1: road heating systems and snow shelters keep mountain passes open 275 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:27,680 Speaker 1: when they'd be impassable elsewhere. It's incredible. The asphalt quality 276 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: is also usually top notch, with smooth surfaces and clearly 277 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 1: marked lanes, even in remote areas. Barriers and signs are 278 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,719 Speaker 1: well maintained, and reflective paint is common for night driving. 279 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: While of the countries might treat mountain roads as secondary, 280 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: Japan treats them as lifelines. Essential for connecting rural communities. 281 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,639 Speaker 1: We could do with some of that in England. The 282 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: result here is some of the most reliable and well 283 00:18:56,880 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 1: crafted mountain pass roads in the world and seeing utility 284 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 1: with a scenic driving pleasure. As you can imagine, this 285 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:09,879 Speaker 1: also makes them absolutely perfect for a legal nighttime a 286 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: toge racing. After about five minutes driving up the mountain, 287 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 1: we pull up to a scene of bright haired lights, 288 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: full dark tints and incredible livery on each and every car. 289 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: There's about a dozen here right now. It's a well 290 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: known road for the underground racing, and tonight we've got 291 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 1: lucky racers from all different generations have come to put 292 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 1: the tire to the tarmac. We get out the cars 293 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 1: and the across team explains to the are the races 294 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:58,119 Speaker 1: what we're here for? They laugh and ask if we 295 00:19:58,240 --> 00:19:59,920 Speaker 1: really plan to go down the road with them with 296 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 1: the passenger. All right, nods, feeling like I don't quite 297 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: know what I'm in for. Whilst my work is quite 298 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:11,239 Speaker 1: hectic and often dangerous, I am most definitely not an 299 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 1: adrenaline junkie. I think my favorite hobby outside of the 300 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 1: boxing gym, is chilling out and doing fuck all it 301 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,200 Speaker 1: is not a life goal of mine to risk death 302 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,440 Speaker 1: going god knows how fast down a mountain pass in 303 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: a Honda Civic. 304 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 2: But here we are. 305 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: One of the across guys points out one of the 306 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 1: older heads. He's a tall fellow dressed in all black 307 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: designer clothes with his hair dyed dark blonde. His car 308 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: is deep navy all over with a red trim on 309 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:43,920 Speaker 1: his back window. He has the sticker of Temple Racing. 310 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: He is a true oji of the underground scene here 311 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:51,359 Speaker 1: in Japan. Now, Temple Racing is one of the most 312 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 1: legendary crews in a SACA and beyond. Their roots go 313 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:59,920 Speaker 1: back to nineteen seventy eight in Higashi Sumayoshi, a saka. 314 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:04,399 Speaker 1: Their team name came from Simon Temple, the character in 315 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 1: the British TV series The Saint, chosen by the team's 316 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:12,399 Speaker 1: early leader. You really like that show. Like all Kanjo crews, 317 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 1: Temple Racing operated within a system of unwritten rules. Every 318 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:19,239 Speaker 1: team had its own turf on the Kanjo loop, and 319 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 1: stepping onto another cruise territory without respect could cause conflict. 320 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: Temple Racing was one of those crews you did not 321 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 1: want to mess around with. Their cars were synonymous with 322 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:34,560 Speaker 1: the stripped out Honda Civic hatchbacks, the EF nine's, the 323 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: EG six's, and the e K fours. Temple decorated their 324 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:43,439 Speaker 1: cars with racing inspired liveries modeled after Group A touring cars. 325 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 1: Temple's cars were built for performance and anonymity, gutted interiors, 326 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:54,080 Speaker 1: functional arrow mismatched wheels, rough paint jobs, and distinctive camouflage 327 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: patterns to make them harder to identify at speed. Drivers 328 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 1: often wore masks or covered their faces to protect their identities, 329 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 1: and cars would sometimes carry false number plates. Despite the 330 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:09,959 Speaker 1: police crackdown and the withering of the Kanjo scene, clearly 331 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: Temple Racing is still around. To some degree, Temple Racing 332 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: is more than just a name. The guys tell me 333 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 1: that this fella here is the best downhill grip racer around. 334 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 1: Temple embodies the scene's loyalty to one's crew, respect for 335 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 1: the roads, and the refusal to let the culture fade 336 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:30,199 Speaker 1: into history. If Kando Zoku is a living history of 337 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 1: Japan's outlaw street racers, Temple Racing is one of its 338 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,639 Speaker 1: most important chapters. They live through the Golden era and 339 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 1: are still racing around. These guys believe still that the 340 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:44,160 Speaker 1: roads belong to the brave, and it turns out this 341 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:48,439 Speaker 1: guy will be racing alongside us. After about thirty minutes 342 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: of discussion, sending off younger lookouts to check the roads 343 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 1: and examining each other's cars, is decided that the race 344 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:59,199 Speaker 1: is on. Eight cars all line up in order. The 345 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:02,040 Speaker 1: roads are far too narrow to overtake at high speed, 346 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: so I'm not too sure how one wins the race. 347 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: Each person I ask is a different explanation, but I 348 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:12,199 Speaker 1: think it works like this. The cars zoom down the 349 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:16,840 Speaker 1: steep mountain road in single file, high speed controlled turning. 350 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 1: Then when they get to the bottom, where there's a 351 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:24,040 Speaker 1: wider area to maneuver, they all quickly swerve back around, 352 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:26,639 Speaker 1: trying to get their car up the hill in a 353 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 1: better position than when they came down it. I think 354 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: that's how it works anyway. Honestly, the thrill of the 355 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,400 Speaker 1: chase is more what they're after right now, rather than 356 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:40,159 Speaker 1: a coherent race system. With street racing clamped down on 357 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 1: so hard by the cops, they all have to just 358 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:46,480 Speaker 1: take what they can. I'm feeling nervous if one of 359 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 1: these drivers makes a mistake. We're looking at certain death 360 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: if the car mounts the small fence at the side 361 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:55,359 Speaker 1: of the road. It's not great either way. I hop 362 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 1: into one of the curs of the across lads and 363 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 1: await patiently as the engine's rev in anticipation for the 364 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 1: go signal. I strap myself in with the X shaped 365 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 1: four point seat belt. 366 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 2: I say a small prayer. 367 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: A few minutes past the spot at the front of 368 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 1: the queue puts his hand up. It's time to go. 369 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,439 Speaker 1: The cars in front pull off at warp speed. My 370 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 1: driver slams the gearstick and stamps the pedals. The Civic 371 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: burst forward, and before I can even catch my breath, 372 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 1: we're taking The first corner breaks a pumped the wheel stick, 373 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 1: and we grip around the bend with total precision. To 374 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:37,359 Speaker 1: my left is a blurred, jagged rock face. To the 375 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:40,119 Speaker 1: right a darkness below over the fence line that the 376 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,960 Speaker 1: speed we're going, we tear right through it. In front 377 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:45,359 Speaker 1: and behind us, the headlights of the other cars shake 378 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 1: and sliders. We speed down the course. Driver man handles 379 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: the steering wheel as if he's fighting for his life. 380 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 1: The car jolts from side to side as we pick 381 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 1: up speed, tear through sharp. 382 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 2: Corners, like nothing. 383 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 1: My hands are so tightly gripped around my seat belt 384 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 1: that they The driver looks at me quick and bursts 385 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 1: out laughing. 386 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 2: I laugh too, This is crazy. The car is a 387 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 2: roller coaster. 388 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:11,359 Speaker 1: With tinted windows and scorched tires. The engine screams at 389 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 1: a steady pitch. Piston's working overtime. As the crank shaft 390 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:18,679 Speaker 1: spins fast enough to shake the striped chassis, heat builds 391 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:22,040 Speaker 1: up under the bonnet. Cooling fans were keeping it in check. 392 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: Each gear chain jolts through the transmission, sharp and carrying 393 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: weight at high speed. We finish the Trosen course, then 394 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 1: spin around and fly straight back up it. I can't 395 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:33,600 Speaker 1: even tell it. We're in a better position than before, 396 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:36,040 Speaker 1: but I can see the Temple racing car spin off 397 00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: even faster than we are. My driver eases off the 398 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 1: throttle for a heartbeat. As we take another corner, the 399 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 1: car slides, he stamps back on it. The rear tires 400 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:47,639 Speaker 1: lose grip for a moment, sliding across the tarmac in 401 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 1: a controlled sweep. The limited slip differential keeps both wheels 402 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:55,240 Speaker 1: spinning together, feeding talk evenly. As the car takes the strain, 403 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 1: The suspension dips under the sudden weight shift, then rises 404 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:02,400 Speaker 1: as the car set into the grip. Tires hissed and squeal, 405 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 1: faint smoke trailing out the exhaust in front. The steering 406 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:09,119 Speaker 1: wheel moves violently in the driver's hands. The steering wheel 407 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:12,080 Speaker 1: moves violently in the driver's hands, with heavy but precise 408 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:15,359 Speaker 1: adjustments to keep the nose aimed just ahead of the slide. 409 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:21,360 Speaker 1: Every system is working near its limit. Engine, gearbox, suspension, tires. 410 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:23,879 Speaker 1: In the midst of the high speed chaos, the civic 411 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:27,280 Speaker 1: moves in a careful balance. There's a constant connection between 412 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:31,560 Speaker 1: driver and machine. The corner unwinds, grip returns, and the 413 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: car straightens. The engine's still holding its own. As we 414 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 1: pull up to the top of the hill. I tell 415 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:56,640 Speaker 1: the driver I'm getting the fuck out. I survived the run. 416 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:59,280 Speaker 1: He can do the rest on his own. He laughs, 417 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 1: pats my back, and then stop so I can get out. 418 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 1: Him and the rest of the cars quickly screech off 419 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 1: back down the track. They'll run this road a dozen 420 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 1: times before the end of the night. There and back 421 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 1: was enough for me. My heart's racing is ringing, palm sweaty. 422 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:19,440 Speaker 1: The racing k is not for me, but I can 423 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:24,919 Speaker 1: now completely feel the appeal of it. Next week is 424 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:29,719 Speaker 1: the final part of the Away Days podcast. You've been 425 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:33,400 Speaker 1: listening to the Away Days podcast. To watch independent Away 426 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:38,080 Speaker 1: Days documentaries, subscribe to our channel at YouTube dot com 427 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 1: slash at away Days TV. The a Wait Days Podcast 428 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 1: is a production of H eleven Studio for Cool Zone Media. Reporting, producing, writing, 429 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:55,360 Speaker 1: editing and research by me Jake Hanrahan, co producing by 430 00:27:55,520 --> 00:28:00,960 Speaker 1: Sophie Lichtman, Music by Sam Black, sound mixed by Splicing Block. 431 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 1: Photography by Johnny Pickock and Louis Hollis. Graphic design by 432 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 1: Laura Adamson and Casey Highfield.