Respect.

A reader of JDMphasis, in a critique of the blog and our Disillusioned post, in which I take umbrage with Nissan USA for hypocritically featuring a car on their Facebook clad in replica aero, wrote last month:

The blogger is not only angry at the knockoff companies but also at the legitimate companies as well! He is angry at everyone! He does have a point though. Companies are just watching out for themselves. However, if companies only featured cars that were 100% legit with no corners cut, there wouldn't really be much out there.

In a way, this blogger is making my point. My retort would be, if publications, websites, and magazines only featured cars that were 100% authentic and legitimate, then people would be less likely to cut corners. When an impressionable enthusiast can pull a magazine off a rack at the store and see cars landing features that are sporting Rotas, Varrstoens, and every [Insert First Letter of JDM Company Name]-STYLE aero kit out there, of course they are going to think it is okay to fake the funk. It happens all the time. Just browse your favorite LIKEd car pages on Facebook, scroll through the archives of your favorite blogs, there are likely all sorts of cars popping up that are not sporting authentic parts. It's a downfall of the media culture as well as the have-to-have-it-now-and-don't-want-to-pay-for-it mentality of modding enthusiasts. When the number of pictures you can post daily and the number of features you can grind out become more important than the quality of the content, that is bound to happen. Sadly, it is hardly about quality over quantity.

Additionally, I know I would be more inclined to actually buy these magazines if I knew I was going to be seeing the absolute best of the best.

That not unrelated diatribe concluded, I just want to say that Super Street Magazine, without question, got it right with their most recent cover car. I have mentioned Jay (JDMEGO) numerous times on this blog, but if there is any car/owner worthy of praise and publicity, it is Jay. The true OG when it comes to defending authenticity, zero cut corners and unrivaled passion and love for the true innovators of the industry are the central foundation in every meticulous modification of every one of Jay's projects. Thus, a big CONGRATULATIONS to Jay and his crazy Evo for a well-deserved second cover are in order.

JDMphasis... Innovation over Imitation

Happy Memorial Day from JDMphasis

Just take a minute today to think about what this day really means. Enjoy and be safe...

Red, White, & Blue...

If only this were a scene more common in the US...

"The kid who went down fighting, but didn't really lose..."

Do yourself a favor and take the 20+ minutes and watch this poignant video. Roughly a minute and a half focuses on something with which one might typically associate this blog, but that segment is so profoundly far from the essence of this powerful message. Have a tissue on-hand.

Couple random shots from ZDayZ 2013...

I did not attend, but a friend of mine sent me a few shots of his G from ZDayZ this past year. It was May 16th-19th at Fontana Village Resort in North Carolina. What a great event. I would like to attend one of these years... Now peep this clean twin-turbo'ed V36 coupe on DPE rollers.

GoPro!

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.

Amuse V36 Sedan...

Lining the Sun...

Sun Line Racing R35...

Pretty serious...

Supercharged HKS Z33...

A Stable Full of Awesome

An aged shot of Jay's (JDMEGO) projects...

Haters Gonna Hate? JDMphasis responding to criticism...

I have recently been at the receiving end of some internet criticism. Any attention is good attention, right? I don't know about that, but I would  just like to take a few minutes to address a few things...

I came across a write-up about JDMphasis from another blogger. While I believe the pervading tone of the post is positive, as he praised me for having strong opinions, standing by them, and conducting myself with maturity and understanding, the blogger also referred to me as "haughty," "angry," and "elitist."

First, I have no horse in the authentic/replica debate. I do not benefit one way or the other if people choose to cut corners and fake the funk or, conversely, if they choose to represent the real. Personally, I gain nothing when people buy authentic parts. At the same time, I am not directly affected when people support the companies that steal designs (other than as a consumer and an enthusiast in the long run - negatively).

I started this blog, in large part, with the hope that my experience, opinions, and concerns about the state of the tuning industry would reach a few people and, if nothing else, strike a chord and, perhaps, influence a modifying decision or two. I know that I made mistakes when I was younger in regards to modifying my cars. I have purchased replica parts; not because I had a desire to cut corners or did not want to spend the money for the real thing, but because I actually did not know any better. Like many, I saw a nice car on a forum at the receiving end of much positive publicity and bought one of the parts that was on that car. I learned after the fact that it was a replica part. I was a new, impressionable enthusiast. Years later, I am not an expert, but I am far more knowledgable than I once was. I have met some great people and I have built some solid relationships with people who know far more about the in's and out's of the industry than I do. I have been involved in some great conversations and I have been presented with some great opportunities. For this, I am fortunate.

A friend of mine recently forwarded me a screenshot of a post in a G owner's group on Facebook in which some of the replica-supporting members posted a link to one of my blog posts (here is the post) and announced that I am "full of shit" and that if one does not purchase authentic, I will "rip [their] ass up." I understand that the anger of people who buy fake parts upon being called out is often a bitterness born from a reluctance to accept the reality that they have cut corners. Of course, that is not something anyone wants to hear. Thus, the attempts to justify their corner-cutting ensue and, of course, I am then labeled the bad guy. It is what it is. I deal. However, I do not consider myself any better than any other Japanese car-loving person out there. Despite what some choose to believe, my anti-replica opinions are not personal attacks on those individuals who choose to support replica companies. They are simply an effort to encourage people to support the true visionaries and innovators of the industry. Purchasing replica parts does, ultimately, hurt the real talent, the industry as a whole, and, in the end, the consumer.

I went back and re-read what I wrote in that post and I do not quite know what is manure-ridden or even questionable. Ideally, I would love for these parasitic replica companies to actually contribute to the industry by designing their own parts and adding variety to the aftermarket by supplying more choices, as opposed to riding the coattails of the industry pioneers, but I am not naive. I know that replica and knock-off companies are not going anywhere. I know they will continue to steal designs and reap the benefits of someone else's hard work and ingenuity. I also know that the alleged tuning enthusiast publications will continue to feature, showcase, and praise cars that have cut corners by sporting replica and knock-off parts. The least I can do, via JDMphasis, is encourage people to support the real companies that take the real risks by bringing new products and innovation to the modifying community.

Clearly, this is a topic about which I am passionate. 

I will close by saying that it is encouraging to know that there are enthusiasts out there who see things the same way we, at JDMphasis, do and refuse to fake the funk or cut corners with their builds. Along those lines, I have sent out Innovation over Imitation decals to enthusiasts in 36 States, as well as England, Canada, Australia, and Japan. I have never accepted a dime, despite people asking if they could pay to support JDMphasis. I take pride in the fact that people want to sport our pro-authenticity decals. I do not do this because I benefit in any way. I do not do this to stir the pot or because I enjoy making enemies. I do this because I want to. I do it because I care about the state of the tuning industry. And I truly appreciate the support and encouragement, whether it be an e-mail, a comment, or a LIKE.

I am always interested to hear feedback from readers and followers of the blog. Please do not hesitate to share your thoughts and opinions with us.

JDMphasis... Innovation over Imitation

Content Cousins are Content

Side-by-side, the Amuse S2000 and Amuse Z33 survey the situation...

Pillagers gonna Pillage...

VarrStolen at it again...

FAKE

REAL Work Meister S1

Disgust.

JDMphasis... Innovation over Imitation