Illegal STREET RACING in JAPAN - A Story of DRIFT KINGS and “MIDNIGHT CLUBS”

[@ryukiT3]

I'm Japanese, born and raised in Canada, and huge car guy. At ages, 14~18 whenever I visited japan, I begged my cousin to take me to any kind of street racing event. Luckily, he was a car guy himself driving an S14. He would take me to late night industrial zones, where I'd say close to 40 cars would meet and have drifting sessions. It wasn't touge drifting, it was winding through industrial zone drifitng. These roads are much bigger than normal japanese roads since they were designed to be used by huge trucks, so they went alot faster than the touge guys. I was even lucky enough to get in the passenger seats of some of the guys driving. I looked forward to experiencing this event every year!. then one day.... It stopped. One year I went back to Japan and said, " LET's GO watch the Drifters!!",,,, and my cousin said," oh they they don't do that anymore". and just like that, the golden era of Japanese street racing was over.... sadest moment.

[@toctuning]

Long ago, a neighbor when I was a kid, had some old Hi-8 tapes and the VHS adapter to watch them, and I saw industrial drifting that you described, in the early 90s. Being a bikers kid with all the associations of the hotrod guys, I was born into grease and gasoline, so being introduced to the Japanese car culture through a few hours of home video spanning ride alongside and just spectator footage blew my mind.

[@12brmien]

Freedom is dead, really it died with those that died for the idea of it in the first place. Hell I almost lost my license for doing donuts in an EMPTY parking lot... had to use my get out of jail free card on that shit even.

[@TheWoundedNinja]

You know what’s crazy, I genuinely believe industrial racing is a thing due to how spacious everything is. There used to be this spot called industrial in the suburbs of Illinois that people would host drag races or circuit style racing. It recently got exposed to the police but it just says how many more spots are around. I wouldn’t say the street racing is dead, just more secretive

[@ByronVirgil_370z]

They definitely still do this it’s just so much more underground and exclusive

[@AyubuKK]

The Japanese night life culture sounds so fun. Especially in the 80s and 90s, it must’ve been very fun.

[@jetstreamdefalpha5411]

Everything was fun during the 80s/90s.

[@hibikiazuma]

Its still fun now! But its a matter of diggin in a lil to find the good stuff.

[@mcgoo721]

There was a surprising amount of denim.

[@zzysk2]

I was a hashiriya rider in the 90s and 2000s. In those days, financial institutions in Japan lent money very easily, so even young people who had just gotten their driver's license could easily do hashiriya. My friend was driving aggressively, so he replaced his 180sx every few months. It was that cheap back then. I took out a big loan to buy a new Skyline, so I drove it carefully so that it wouldn't break.😅

[@petermcneill6625]

Which Skyline was it?

[@marty_debiru]

Really good video, I love when non car channels make videos like this, they usually bring a deeper understanding of the general image. My entire life has been shaped by the japanese automotive world and I can proudly say I was able to spent several years working in Japan at a high level tuning company. From touge, street drifting and even some Wangan action, I was able to experience it all first handed, either with my own cars or using my connections for borrowed cars. To add some more stuff to this video: -You totally forgot to talk about the Yatabe Test Track, one of the MOST important places where brands and pro tuning shops clashed each other. First with drag racing (0-400, 0-1000), then with quickest 0-1000, quickest 0-300 km/h and then with pure highest speed. This is where the ultimate tuning cars were born, and most of the tuning parts were developed for. -In drifting, Keiichi made it famous and every started doing it. But the first organised drift competition was held by CarBoy Magazine in 1989. Later events were ruled by the then-new 180SX (famously driven my Orido when he was a youngster). The AE86 became the go-to cheap training car, but the 180SX was the car to run if you wanted to win. -In the Wangan segment, you correctly stated that the Mid Night never dissolved. Indeed they keep a small club around and you can see them occasionally. But they are a former shadow of the real club. Nowdays they are just rich kids with stockish AMG Benz and other mainstream cars. I mean, original Mid Night were also rich kids with mainstream cars from that era, but at least they put some effort in tuning them. Also, Mid Night was just one club, there were dozens of clubs and racers. Some of the fastest racers were either pro demo cars, or straight up lone wolfs. -In the Osaka Kanjo racers, the reason why almost everyone uses Civics is because back in the day, there was a very popular race in the Suzuku Circuit. It was a Civic one-make race, so after the race, racers would take they race cars to the Osaka highway. This was a tradition that have been kept until this day. But originally the Osaka highway had a vast range of different cars, just like the Wangan.

[@Xmadish]

I think you are wrong with Mid Night club. They still race cars on tracks like Tsukuba and own modified Porsches, GTRs and FD3S. Maybe there are too many wannabees with Midnights stickers on Benzes 😂

[@matroid10]

Wow i learned most of this watching wangan midnight 🚗 ☁️

[@bawintermage8351]

As I've gotten older and seen too many cars and several friends wrapped around trees, light poles and concrete lane dividers; I can not longer fully support unsupervised street racing. But I'm still all in for car customization, sanctioned racing, impromptu car meet ups, car girls/ women racers, and grease monkeys.

[@Blink_____]

skill issue

[@Xanthro2]

@@Blink_____ This from the 30 something manchild who acts like dirt + wheel = understanding driving at highspeeds. Clean ya trash can of used tissue and climb back in it, where you belong.

[@harry9828]

I agree. It would be different if there was empty roads but that’s not the case in most places anymore

[@Panzermeister36]

Speed doesn't kill. Suddenly becoming stationary, that's what gets you.

[@bawintermage8351]

@@Panzermeister36I Forgot KZbin is populated by 11 year olds

[@metaliczic96]

Genki (Japanese game developer) successfully catches the essence of Japanese street racing scenes with their famous Shutokou Battle aka Tokyo Xtreme Racer, & Kaido Battle aka Tokyo Xtreme Racer DRIFT and Kaido Racer.

[@OCDRex11]

Freaking loved Tokyo Extreme back on the Dreamcast! Memories are flooding in. I have it for PS2 but never played it yet.

[@richardrobinson9534]

I still have all of them and my mod converter and spring to play Dragonball z legends and GT lol

[@FUXX_UT008]

100% agree , they got the teams/clubs, mixed with the vibe of scene done very well . They are actually doing a new txr game! Just saw it 2 days ago 👍

[@bobsmudger3979]

I loved playing this on Dreamcast; even just cruising in between races felt so immersive.

[@Motoya_Jintei]

Now, Genki is coming back with the 2025 首都高バトル (Tokyo Xtreme Racer) game for the Steam platform (PC). I really can't wait to play it!

[@thatguyryxz]

When I was young my granddad used to tell me stories about him racing on the Tokyo express way with his 240z back when he lived in Japan in the 70's

[@mikhilmuhuthan6903]

As cringe as it sounds, one of life goals is driving down the wangan expressway at midnight and visit the touges featured in initial d. Maybe even do a cool film/edit.

[@blackspade1740]

Nope that's your goal... It doesn't matter how others would think about it, it's your pleasure

[@codyallensiebert]

Sounds like it would not only be an awesome experience but the video would be cool as hell too. Hope u get there bro

[@scarygost9448]

Dopest goal to have. Lets take that trip brother!

[@omarsio5297]

Not cringe. Thats my goal too once i build a car im proud of

[@StationroadRatrods]

Doesn’t sound cringe at all, I bet it would be an amazing experience

[@yoko180]

Lived in Japan for a long time and been around the racing scene and drove on many of the same roads as the midnight team. There was a spot in the Yokohama industrial area called Nambu where we watched drifting in the midnight hours. Fun times.

[@zombie4034]

I never thought you'd cover this but I'm so grateful

[@K0Y0I_sis]

The new teaser is making waves.

[@akuma2534]

This video was sooo amazing! I'm a car and racing enthusiast since I know myself, so when I kilcked on this video I was expecting that I will ad some extra info, but not only I didn't have to, I even learnd new stuff as well. This was literaly better then any video a have seen about this topic by proper car channels, whos entire channel is about this stuff. I'm escpecialy glad you put in the effort for the research about the mid night racing team cos' I've also tried it a few times and I know how hard it is to find anything proper in that sea of misinformation. Edit. Tho you maybe could have mentioned Smokey Nagata. He played a major part in popularizing the highway racing with Video Opiton and etc.

[@Dylan-qj8gj]

it was just copy and paste banter 1/10

[@davidbennettracing538]

Love the Gran Turismo menu music in the background!

[@MrCalverino]

also the ridge racer type 4 too

[@sebastianyoutubered79]

La Noire the rockstar game used this music in the main menu too I think

[@Dylan-qj8gj]

let me google who asked

[@darrensice1550]

When the engineers from Nissan came to Australia to design and engineer a race winning car with the engineers here in Australia they came up with the R32 that was so quick that all the other car manufacturers had to redesign their cars. They developed a monster of a race car that was so dominant that ford came to Australia to develop the sierra coxworth turbo and became the second best vehicle to take on Australia’s most famous racetrack Bathurst and both cars only lasted for two to four years. It was when the people at Nissan had seen what Australian engineers did with the R30-R31 that they took interest in building the Godzilla R32 all wheel drive monster

[@sim_1]

Max Power Magazine would first feature the Mid Night Club in the December 1995 issue. From there onwards they would interview and feature the members with their cars, even inviting in 1998 the then Club’s boss ‘Mr Y’ over to the UK to showcase how we did things here. From there onwards you’d see features of cars from the likes of Veilside, Top Fuel, Trial, JUN, Do-Luck & of Course Top Secret; including their various visits to other countries in the search for reaching breakneck speeds on public roads.

[@GrenadeMcSticki]

I am glad to know that the things I had heard as an American boy in the 90s and 00s that I thought were urban legends turned out to be true. Great video!

[@hibikiazuma]

as someone who whos kinda around the car scene in Japan, I absolutely am all for and appreciate that you did a good dive on it. Im going to a car show in 千葉県 this weekend, and there were some facts in here that I didnt know, so Imma feel like a real cool fella when I go there. Thanks as always, 兄貴, I MEAN, Aniki hehe

[@Ren_Brands]

Great Video, did not expect a Jeremy Clarkson appearance.

[@nathanvalencia2975]

I love how you included the Kanjozoku scene in the video! As common as kanjozoku is today, a lot of enthusiasts still have little to no idea about it nor having any knowledge as to why this scene grew popular back in the day. Hope to see a video that covers this scene as well to enlighten car enthusiasts such as myself to truly understand the beauty and history of Kanjozoku!😁

[@neromastic4512]

The Mid Night Clubs I could say would be close to Batman of the Roads in Japan. Them as well as the Drift King have changed the world of Motor sport,we even got Formula Drift. Its also amazing that you can see Keiichi Tsuchiya still Drift so many different cars. Despite that the Mid Night racing and Touge werent what they used to be compared in the 20th century. However they still are around,in small numbers and secretive.

[@chellybub]

I bought a FC, it was cool. Wouldn't have learned about anything JDM and midnight clubs without Initial D.

[@denniswong7535]

Brad from Home Improvement haha. A fellow man of culture i see. This video is amazing!

[@C4JG]

Another awesome video, thanks ANIKI!

[@WARSCOOBY88]

The LA Noire music is always a nice touch.

[@monkeypunch6284]

Thank you so much for this video, and thank you for framing with the most deliciously racing soundtrack ever made, every time I hear RR Type4 🏁... I feel like going out, late at night and just cruise until morning

[@WarlordEnthusiast]

Give Jeremey a break, he might have been harsh on the R32 but he considered the R33 to be one of his favourite cars when it was released. He praised it to no end during his review.

[@Thekowaikaiju]

They way they (roads) were layed out, you almost can't blame people for wanting to race them.

[@ashleybanks-wm4cg]

This channel is Gold Aniki i been studying this for a while and not much content on KZbin but the stuff you can find is amazing like the Sekia Hills documentary

[@genasatitha290]

Wow, I’ve watched Initial D endless times but never knew all this. Amazing, because Tokyo Drift is my favourite movie too. Shoutout the Drift King man

[@SamyT1994]

It's so amazing that you covered this side of Japan

[@squeebbb]

I love that you use the MGS2 sneaking music from time to time.

[@Sarke2]

Always fantastic videos from Aniki, great analysis !!!

[@joaquinvillasenor4818]

The fact you started with the Hachiroku shows that you truly get it. Love your videos m8

[@nickyjames1985]

Drifting is an artform

[@Aminmotors]

W name, W video. Mid video name but thank you for the upload!

[@BenLiuChungHin]

Lol.. love the cameo by Jeremy Clarkson in the 80s or something.

[@audes.4433]

I so miss the old JDM days. I was part of the 80's-90's JDM society and helped introduce our JDM hobby in the states. Back then, it was just us (10-15 JDMs) out there on the roads. I opened my 1st JDM shop in '92 (CCR Accessories Motors), then another one in '93 (Euroasian Racing). It's crazy to see how big/fast the sport has grown/expan, especially after the film "Fast and Furious." Not a fan of the film/franchise.

[@childofcascadia]

Aniki is one of my fav "Japanese culture" channels. Its hard to find real info about the Japanese underworld throughout history. Its either hidden or glorified.

[@Adam_Antium]

Thank you for the absolutely intendet pun! Also, great story and video.

[@twitchykun]

Man, that Ridge Racer Type 4 OST be hittin'

[@biblesnbarcodes]

よし! Keep up the good work!!

[@chibifirestorm]

I have Tsuchiya-san's autograph. Living legend

[@noahman24]

19:20 was not expecting to see Jeremy Clarkson lmao 😭

[@giantred]

I wish it were not so difficult to find good RWD cars in the States buuuut this video also clearly shows why maybe it is better that it IS so difficult lol

[@Mikaeru87]

Des Foto vom Malojapass 10:32 hat mi kurz irritiert 🤣 Aber gutes Video!! 😉✌️

[@Yasufumiyo]

I heard RR Type4 ost such good taste my guy!

[@gooo1762]

Sick video. Thanks!

[@MrCalverino]

Ridge Racer Typer 4 music was an excellent choice

[@malikpearson3867]

Great video but you forgot to mention wangan midnight. Its an anime based on two of the most well known members of mid night.

[@Tacit_Tern]

Initial D: IRL

[@timm5362]

Initial D was actually based off a real street racing gang. That's why the details about the cars are so accurate. They just changed the characters identities so they wouldn't get in trouble.

[@JimBrodie]

Mid Night's rule of no-endangering the public or be banned from the group was hypocritical. They endangered the public every time they raced on the streets. At least the other Kanjo groups were well aware of this.

[@Jumungous]

Using SOIL & Pimp Sessions as the BGM? My man. "Monster of Franklin Avenue" no less 🤩

[@MachikoNoguchi-616]

I agree with you it's a guilty pleasure movie but then it's pretty good because it's different Imo

[@strangelyfamiliar1729]

@ 5:36 ... Is that Honda Soo ejected from his car or is that a part of the cars under carriage? I'm watching this on my phone and so the picture's not quite big enough to get a clear view.

[@baileyayyy5085]

tfw aniki understands car culture better than the average 'car guy'

[@richoman3400]

My second car was a Datson 120y and it ways the best, most fun car ive ever had i miss my little dat-o

[@gmain1977]

As a muscle car guy the JDM culture is cool

[@JulianSmith-d9o]

Very entertaining video

[@nowaydudehuh.5316]

Awesome doc bout japans street racing scene. You did 4get to mention that dk keichi lost his racing license due to the realease of that movie . The jaf didnt like him promoting illegal street racing ...🤝🤜🤛

[@adrianxxc]

I wish you would've touched more on bosuzoku cars and those guys

[@sylvia.s.s.]

No mention of the Ebisu Circuit? 🤔 Still, a very good video overall ✌🏻

[@akuma2534]

That's a race track, and this video was about street racing

[@RVered]

Is that the LA Noire theme ?🤣

[@JamesYourlocalDoorDashDriver]

Can you do something like this about tafheet too? All these japanese things are so hyped but not the arabic ones, I feel like tafheet need more skills than going around mountains and drifting especially when they're modified but tafheet are stock.

[@MNjonghyun7]

Could you do some videos on individual people as well such as old actors, criminals, or samurai? Please

[@Rowski420]

You know when the first street race ever happened? When the second car got put on the road,,,,

[@andrewsatorius4210]

i did not expet you to make a video about the car culture in japan, i hope you could cover more stuff like these

[@RyuusanFT86]

Midnight: the pageantry boys of the wangan 😂

[@JustASimpleGuy]

They should’ve released the shirt sleeveless 😂

[@peekaboo1575]

Finally, something I actually know about.

[@InsightconstructionQuaid]

The 4wd car u started with is called a Kentucky rounder in south africa..even though we dont have that spec we have the fwd twin cam which was better looking tbh

[@thunderfox7541]

La noir shout out 🎉

[@Tht1superchargedcivic]

Yesss

[@The9220]

Great video👍a graffiti video and you will have covered all my interests🤘✌️

[@MrCalverino]

I grew up playing tokyo xtreme racer 1 & 2 on the Dreamcast!

[@JFar-jf6qq]

Don’t know how they’d find time to race since they obviously had to constantly watch for that Godzilla mofo always stompin around?

[@AreOfficial0]

Toyko Drift Vibes

[@Godless-Being]

Man, just watching this makes me feel like I’m watching Inital D all over again(anime fans IKYK)

[@reycaballero2462]

Sadly this is history. I was lucky enough to grow up in that Era. The future of car enthusiasts is at its twilight only the rich will able to afford to run petrol cars and us normal people are being forced to drive EV's.

[@childofcascadia]

What the heck are you going on about? Where do you live that this is happening? Where I live gas is relatively cheap and EVs are for the rich. Theres plenty of fast new cars that run on gas/petrol going around and illegal street racing and amateur track racing is still a thing, theres both gas/petrol and EVs racing.

[@bigpahhpi3554]

@@childofcascadiaif you live anywhere in America they’re pretty much banning gas cars by 2030 so he’s not wrong

[@childofcascadia]

@bigpahhpi3554 Hahaha, and what "be afraid of this" cesspit did you read that from? I'm sure it was all blaming it on a group you already dont like. Hitting your biases to control you and make you view whatever they want as "the enemy". So, who is "they" anyway? Lets think about this logically- 2030 is barely 5 years from now. Do you understand how hard that would be to completely ban the main method of transportation in that amount of time? The logistics of it would be insane, the economy would collapse. Lets just say "they" wanted to do that. It would take decades. With plenty of warning, buyback programs, rebates on new non gas vehicles and so on. The infrastructure isnt even in place to do such a thing nor does anywhere in the US produce enough electricity or alt fuel sources to make it possible. So please, when you see something like this - use your brain. Think logically.

[@christenn32]

Why were the Mid Night club windshield banners in English?

[@deathtdow]

So illegal street racing still occurs up and down the country. As it should. Live free.

[@kivaHBRO_04]

Maybe tonite

[@seeowins]

Shout out to MSR

[@mcgoo721]

That poor yellow gtr 😢

[@sagrjungkunwar]

21:18 he says counter steering slow ehh

[@sleepysartorialist]

I love drifting and street racing! Really enjoyed this video!

[@juanmanuelpenaloza9264]

The good stuff

[@yoyospacos]

Go back in the 1800-1900.... Japan are one of the biggest military.. they gave jets , submarine , war ships that are. Bigger and advanced in that time...japanese heavy engineering are the best in the world.... even being bombed by nuke.. its takes 50 yrs for japan to be one of the biggest industry. Japanese people are master builders.

[@pasteghost428]

I love you, Japan. Will you marry me? -yours 4eva, 'murica.

[@leoquimica8644]

Malandro os seus vídeos são muito foda, mas a sua voz me da um sono do caralho.

[@awildcyclistappears]

Haven't seen the video in full yet, but hoping for Smokey Nagata!

[@AlsatianK9]

Holy shit, a young Jeremy Clarkson is different lol

[@alfonzoGambino]

I never knew DK was in Tokyo drift 😭

[@0therun1t21]

I remember when Japanese company AMF bought Harley Davidson and thought it was a good idea to make them lighter with nylon gears. They completely missed the point of the brand and I heard they did try to fix it but it was too late or something. That's why Harleys were called "bowling balls" for a while, AMF is mostly known in the U.S. for bowling balls but they make all kinds of stuff. It was a long time ago so correct me if I'm wrong.

[@RaidenSetsuna]

Will do! AMF is an American company. It literally stands for American Machine and Foundry. It started under that name in 1900 in New Jersey.

[@michaelheitz4618]

I NEED THEM

[@FawknHayn2986]

The first d1 comp that came from japan to the states was held in hawaii wen we had our track

[@the_Burner_dude]

ルーレット族のとの地図大阪が小阪になってるよw

[@BagBreakerMMA]

8:22 average Haruto?

[@Chip_in]

Hi ya ⛳

[@Aitoca.]

Ничего не понял но очень интересно

[@jaredthehawk3870]

obligatory CLARKSON!

[@michaelheitz4618]

THE OTHER 3 MOMENTS ARENT ON YOUR CHANNEL

[@neonuser456]

new video