Some aspects of Japanese culture tin seem very peculiar to western eyes – and the same goes for many of the weird and wonderful vehicle modifications which have been embraced by the surreptitious automobile scene in Japanese cities.

Many of these modifications are purely cosmetic, designed merely to stamp the driver'southward personality all over their car, motorbike, or even their commercial truck. However, street racing remains a popular if illicit activeness amidst young Japanese gearheads, and modifications are a must if they are going to shell their rivals.

Check out the list beneath to learn more about the best – and the worst – Japanese car modifications.

10 Crawly: Dekotora - Decorated Trucks

Dekotora mod
Via carbuzz.com

Occasionally in the States, y'all might come across a vintage semi-truck which has been lovingly restored, just the vast bulk of commercial vehicles in everyday use are undecorated, aside from the name of the trucking visitor.

Dekotora
Via pinterest.fr

Not so in Japan where dekotora truckers cover their vehicles with mitt-painted works of art, brilliant neon lights, and plenty chrome fixtures and fittings to deck out a 1980s nightclub! Even the interiors of these vehicles are lovingly decorated to reflect the trucker'south personality and sense of manner.

9 Weird: Dekochari - Busy Scooters

Dekochari japanese mod
Via matthewmcquillan.com

Trucks provide a large canvas for lots of fixtures, fittings, and creative flair. Motorbikes and scooters, yet, are a little more than difficult to decorate. This hasn't stopped some riders trying to recreate the dekotora craze on their two-wheeled vehicles.

Dekochari
Via vice.com

This rather over-the-superlative modification is known as dekochari, and while something is intriguing about these over-loaded and glitzy scooters, the consequence makes information technology look as though yous'd only exist able to ride a brusque distance before you either lost balance or one of your added accessories.

8 Awesome: VIP - Luxury Modifications

VIP-japanese-mod
Via jalopnik.com

As the name suggests, VIP modifications are changes that are made to luxury cars. Known in Japanese as bippu, this way used to exist associated with gangsters, but like many car crazes in the Far Due east, it soon became more mainstream.

VIP
Via speedhunters.com

Nevertheless, archetype Japanese luxury cars like the Toyota Crown, the Mazda Sentia, and the Honda Legend are not vehicles that yous would wait to see on the hole-and-corner car scene. These mods are purely for looks simply; VIP cars are unlikely to be risked in street races.

7 Weird: Takeyari - Over-Size Exhausts

Takeyeri japanese mod
Via hobbaswaggle.com

Japanese car enthusiasts are not mostly known for their subtlety, and the takeyari craze is 1 of the about ostentatious mods you will find in Nippon. Takeyari cars have super-sized exhausts; and we're not just talking the slightly wider or longer frazzle pipes which you can detect on modded cars in u.s..

Takeyeri
Via reddit.com

When it comes to takeyari bigger is better, and information technology is non unusual to spot vehicles with vertical frazzle pipes reaching to heights of six or 7-feet, and sometimes even sculpted into unusual decorative shapes.

six Awesome: Shakotan - Lowered Machine

Shakotan
Via shakotantoday.com

Lowering cars is a mutual enough modification in the United states of america and tin amend treatment in tight corners every bit well as making the vehicle more aerodynamic. Given the need for speed amidst street racers in Japan, it is hardly surprising that drivers there accept also embraced the lowered vehicle and accept even given it a name: shakotan.

Shakotan japanese mod
Via carthrottle.com

Compared to some modifications, shakotan can be quite understated and is often associated with other common modifications like torso kits, larger fenders, and bigger wheels, which likewise improve handling and braking.

five Weird: Bosozoku - Over-The-Top Modifications

Bosozoku
Via driven.co.nz

Bosozoku is the full general name given to some of the more than outlandish and unusual car modifications, including ridiculously over-size fenders, baroque body kits, and garish colors. Sometimes these mods can completely change a auto beyond all recognition.

Bosozoku mod
Via motor1.com

The name comes from 1950s Japanese biker gangs and literally translates as "violent speed tribe". These bikers fabricated modifications to their motorcycles to stand out from the crowd, and now 21st century car owners have stolen the name and ethos of the gangs, creating absurd vehicles in the procedure.

4 Awesome: Itasha - Anime And Manga Wraps

Itasha japanese mod
Via deviantart.com

Cars are non the only obsession among young men and women in Japanese cities; they are likewise into their popular culture, particularly manga graphic novels, and anime TV shows and movies. Manga and anime have too inspired an eye-catching and fashionable modification, which sees drivers cover their vehicles in images from their favorite comics or Tv shows.

Itasha
Via imgur.com

Stickers and decals are too common on these itasha cars, though some owners take also been known to include X-rated images from comics and animations on their vehicles!

three Weird: Onikyan - Demon Camber

Onikyan
Via fuelgarden.com

Onikyan is one of the weirdest modifications to come out of Nippon. This modification, which sees wheels and tires splayed out at an bad-mannered bending, was showtime used by street racers who wanted to improve their ability to migrate or have corners at high speeds, but it has get a custom modification in its own right.

Onikyan japanese mod
Via carthrottle.com

In fact, the camber on some onikyan vehicles is so extreme that they are no longer road legal and would certainly cause some major damage to the undercarriage if they were to be driven at whatever speed.

two Awesome: Dorisha - Cars Modified For Drifting

Dorisha japanese mod
Via influx.com

Non all drifting modifications are every bit disastrous equally onikyan, though. Dorisha is the proper name given to the custom changes which are made to vehicles that are going to be taking part in globe-trotting street races – or whose owners desire their cars to look similar an automotive extra from Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift.

Dorisha
Via zilvia.net

Drifting was first pioneered in Japan in the 1970s simply can now be seen in street races and motorsport events around the globe. A dorisha automobile has undergone both corrective and mechanical changes to amend its performance.

1 Weird: Tsurikawa - Cars Adorned With Handles From Subway Trains

Tsurikawa japanese mod
Via autonxt.net

Years ago, fans of the Beastie Boys and other United states of america rappers used to steal the badges from Volkswagen cars to wear them as jewelry. Tsurikawa is the Japanese equivalent of that, only instead of stealing from cars, motorists steal from another mode of send to decorate their vehicle.

Tsurikawa
Via carthrottle.com

The handles and straps which are an integral part of tsurikawa were stolen from the Tokyo metro system and would be used to adorn the exterior of the car to testify off the owner'due south status. Nowadays, you tin buy tsurikawa handles online, which rather reduces its undercover reputation.

Next: 15 Sick Pics From Japan's Secret Automobile Scene