Rain or Shine...

Attacking time or killing it, one thing is certain: the RX-7 is a timeless beauty...

Amusing Photography...

My compulsion towards the parts of the Japanese Domestic Market is not based on a personal assessment of performance superiority. It is about design, quality, and attention to detail. Likely my biggest obsession of the industry, Power House Amuse is quite possibly the superlative of JDM parts. Hardly boring or run-of-the-mill, the products that come out of their facility in Chiba are not simply functional components to be admired momentarily pre-installation only to be forsaken shortly after brusque acknowledgment of any performance benefit or gain. Every Amuse part contains an all-too-real element of genuine automotive artistry.

R1-Titan on Toyota 86

Sound Clips:

(:50 mark)

(:08 mark)

Beautiful Mine's

A couple R34 GT-Rs from the legendary Japanese tuner, Mine's.

And a great, albeit relatively dated, video of the Mine's R34 driven by Keiichi Tsuchiya at Tsukuba.

"...once again, I feel that the Skyline GT-R is a car that is sought after and dreamed about. In that sense, the R32, R33, and R34 were all cars that received a lot of attention when they debuted. But with the advancement of technology, we know for a fact that there are faster cars, faster 2WD's out there like the RX-7. As a fan of the GT-R, I want the car to be the pinnacle of auto manufacturing at its time. This feeling should be shared by all the GT-R fans out there." 

- Keiichi Tsuchiya, Hot Version

"The engine is fast, the brakes are strong... Why is this so fast? This is unbeatable."

"This is too fast... It's too fast!"

"It's so fast that even a dead man will scream." 

Function > Form Z33

It has been roughly five years since I sold my Z33. Having never reached my goals with that project before selling it for personal (read: relationship) reasons, I often kick myself. A great platform for modification with a plethora of possibilities, the Z has proven itself to be a timeless mainstay and the cornerstone for many in the aftermarket industry.

Outside some of the JDM company project builds, there are very few Zs that have managed to imbed themselves in my mind as embodiments for every aspiring modding enthusiast to mimic, not necessarily in specific parts selection, but in attention to detail, forethought, consistency, character, and execution. I have absolutely no doubt there are many more great Z33 builds out there. (In fact, keep your eyes open for another JDMphasis feature of one in the coming weeks…) However, the Zs of Andy Kim, Mike Lee, Alex Yao (420Z TT Project, “Alyssa”), and Cheston Chiu are but four that stand out and present quite the daunting challenge to surmount for their Z peers.

Cheston’s 2003 Z33 is one that garnered my attention from the day I started modifying my own Z. While the three other Zs mentioned above have since met their retirement or been passed on to new owners, this one is still, 8 years later, setting, and surpassing, the standard. There are literally hundreds of photographs of this Z33 all over the internet as well as multiple automotive publications, but I would still like to recognize and acknowledge Cheston and his Z as another proper build. Cheston, much like Jay (JDMEGO) and his Evo, has refused to cut corners with this project. From the authentic C-West, Voltex, and Top Secret aero, to the multiple sets of Volk Racing wheels adorned over the years, to the Cusco suspension components, GReddy exhaust, and, oh yeah, the built motor and GReddy twin snails under the hood, this car is a street-driven, track-proven 500WHP labor of love, and has been from the beginning.

I will stop writing now and let you enjoy some eye candy. Big Thank You to Cheston for allowing me to showcase what is, in my opinion, one of the nicest Zs out there…

Current shoes: 18" TE37SL on Nitto rubber

You can see more of Cheston's Z (as well as a complete mod list) in his Modified Feature from November, 2008.

JDMphasis... Innovation over Imitation

Win/Win/Win

Toyo, Volk Racing, Project Mu...

Enough said.

In Queue...

Bronze CEs complement Bayside Blue quite nicely...

More unoriginality...

We have already seen CarbonSignal rip off the great design of the Amuse Vestito kit for the Z34. Now they are joining the V36 replica frenzy with fake Access Evolution aero for the sedan...

Needless to say, I'm not impressed.

The Real Deal: Access Evolution

JDMphasis... Innovation over Imitation

Knocking off WORK...

One of the biggest JDM wheel design thieves of the industry has struck again. With the recent launch of their newest ripped-off design, this hackneyed company has done their part in inserting just a few more thorns into the thigh of yet another legitimate Japanese wheel company.

FAKE

Rota D2-EX

REAL

WORK Meister S1R

 JDMphasis... Innovation over Imitation

Access Evolution Developing Carbon Rear for the V36 Coupe?

The Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ has been the recipient of much attention over the past few months; new parts seemingly launching daily. It is safe to suggest that when new parts for one's project vehicle (whatever it may be) debut, interest is piqued. Hardly equaling the level of frenzy and excitement as some of these new Toyobaru reveals, it appears as though Access Evolution is in the midst of developing a new rear end for the V36 coupe. Exciting news for a V36 owner like myself! The majority of V36 enthusiasts bemoan often the lack of aftermarket options for the car.


Personally, I have struggled with the rear of the G. A lot. In my opinion, there is just something about the backside of a G37 that leaves a bit to be desired. I have swapped out the stock rear bumper for the Zele Performance rear bumper. I opted to forego the option of the Zele GT rear under spoiler set and took a risk in trying to retro-fit a Z33 Top Secret carbon fiber rear diffuser. After the mock-up/test fit, I decided I was not in love with that look, so I sold the diffuser. I currently have something else in the works that I think will give the rear of the G the perfect look for me. We'll see... But not for a couple months.


Anyway, still unsure as to the availability status of this prototype, below is the recent rendering of a new rear being developed for the coupe by Access Evolution. From the blueprint, the design appears to be rather aggressive, as compared to the bland stock rear bumper of the V36 coupe. Nonetheless, I really like it. Of course, this is not the final product, but if it is anything close to this, it will earn a 'thumbs-up' from JDMphasis...

(Source: Carview Japan)

Now, I can't help but wonder how long it will take for the unprincipled, unethical, and unscrupulous replicators to get a hold of one...

Represent

I have sent out a few JDMphasis decals to this point. The first to surface is on the window of a 2012 E92 M3. This M is being built with nothing but quality parts, many of which happen to be from The Land of the Rising Sun. I want to thank Los Angeles native, Kevin, for following the blog and, more importantly, for refusing to cut corners with his build. Keep your eyes peeled for a JDMphasis feature of this JDM-infused Bimmer in the coming months... Thanks again for your support, Kev.

JDMphasis... Innovation over Imitation

Amusing Photography...

My compulsion towards the parts of the Japanese Domestic Market is not based on a personal assessment of performance superiority. It is about design, quality, and attention to detail. Likely my biggest obsession of the industry, Power House Amuse is quite possibly the superlative of JDM parts. Hardly boring or run-of-the-mill, the products that come out of their facility in Chiba are not simply functional components to be admired momentarily pre-installation only to be forsaken shortly after brusque acknowledgment of any performance benefit or gain. Every Amuse part contains an all-too-real element of genuine automotive artistry.

Quad-Tipped V36 Sedan by Access Evolution

The importance of a clean ride...

Incredibly clean NSX sitting pretty on a set of gold Volk GT-Cs.

As seen at a recent JDM ST meet...