Driving the Touge, What should you do to prepare for a good drive?, The mindset, Part 1, JDM Masters

In this series. We take a look at what you can do to have an safe and satisfying sports driving on the Touge. This applies to any of your favourite back roads when you take your sports car for a drive. We explore things like the mindset and initial preparations before setting off. Basic but important mechanical checks for your car.
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Follow our team on IG: @captbradford & @japonic_official
Masaki Civic owner: @masalovescars

[@thenotoriousvlog5986]

Driving randomly with no destination and just clearing your mind actually feels good.

[@loudsilence1014]

Facts! Even if you don’t have a sports car, going for a drive even if it is just a slow normal drive in a boring car, a drive to clear a mind it’s always super relaxing

[@derielx]

Puerto Rico?

[@thenotoriousvlog5986]

@@derielx Anywhere. I am Puerto Rican.

[@danb7903]

This guy is now my go-to car guy- undeniably knowledgeable without being an egotistical prick like so many other experts. Love the channel

[@maverick2242]

Agree, top channel, top content, excellent presenter, I too really enjoy this channel and learning more about Japan and everything JDM 🤘

[@tommykaira8775]

Outstanding spokesperson

[@leonard_y32]

You= driver. Your friend= Eurobeat Beatboxing DJ. Your other friend= In the backseat without seatbelt as substitute for the tofu water cup.

[@77knives]

Thank you for mentioning tyres, a lot of new drivers disregard the condition of tyres and the tyre pressure. For any new driver, DO NOT go beyond a tyres limit. There is nothing to be gained, only loose. Slowly build up experience and feeling while driving, don't go full out with no experience how the car handles or the limit of the tyres. どうもありがとう JDM Masters.

[@PiroFyre]

Something I always ALWAYS recommend to people that are obsessed with Initial D is when they get their first car, do autocross. The fast transitions, learning about chassis and tire dynamics, etc are all skills to help you understand your car better. Especially if you want to learn how to seriously drive your car to it's absolute limit, it's really a nice stepping stone. Because once you go past the limit of your car, you just hit a cone. Unless of course, the auto-x event is on a go-kart track, which I've seen people, from novices to the more experienced, go right into the tire wall.

[@ironingbored]

I occasionally go driving with a friend on Welsh mountain roads. He drives his totally standard leased Focus, I drive an Alfa modified specifically for the B Roads. Better brakes, suspension, more power than standard. There is no doubt my car is the faster is every way, but our opinions on spirited driving are very different. I focus on smoothness and carrying speed through corners and consider what might be beyond the next bend; but he goes balls-out everywhere and isn't afraid to take risks taking blind bends full-on. I let him go ahead and we meet up after. We have our own comfort zones, and do not try to race. On a road, it just isn't safe. If enjoyment is completely replaced by risk and danger to others it is not worth it in my mind. When you have a family of your own, you naturally come to realise this. So to all the young drivers out there who like to drive fast, please drive within your capabilities and within those of your car.

[@mikenewbold1699]

gayyy you had to say leased because your jealous

[@Purnzif]

@@mikenewbold1699 this guy

[@ironingbored]

@@mikenewbold1699 whatever nobhead

[@sbr7018]

@@ironingbored would take an alfa over a focus anyway.

[@ghezinho9049]

Indeed, always been considered about the comfort zone, almost learned the lesson the hard way while trying to follow a friend (who is more skilled than me), since then I always let him go his way and let him wait for me at the top of the mountain

[@lookaquarter]

I visited Japan 2 years ago, and did the short comparative drive with Fun2Drive in Hakone. I was a terrified mess as I was getting into the FD they had for me. I can still vividly remember the instant I finally pulled out onto the road and towards the touge, and how all notions of anxiety were instantly flushed from my system, and replaced with pure joy and excitement. I've missed that feeling ever since. I've gotten a sim rig set up, and joined a touge racing league in Assetto Corsa (Touge Union) all due to that initial experience, however it will of course never be the same as actually being there and driving on a proper touge. There are no roads like this near where I live, and not even any race tracks to experience feelings of driving joy, so I am forced to stay nostalgic until I can return to Japan again. Thank you for the wonderful content JDM Masters!

[@Touge_lover_538]

friend, I am using a translator, so it is most likely that more than one word is not understood.Listen live your dream, few people could afford what you could experimentally, don't give up if you can ever go back to Japan enjoy it twice as much as the first time.

[@D-AVGGamer]

Best thing to take with you is a healthy dose of humility and understanding of your own skills. Most crashes are due to ppl not knowing what their limits are. If you think being fast in the touge is just smashing your foot down on the gas all the time, then you're going to crash. Respect the touge and respect your limits.

[@AngelFloyd27]

The mindset is essential guys, really. You got to know your limits. Very important and useful video guys, great stuff.

[@dyingangelo]

All of the time I got a ticket is me not being focused on what I'm doing. More so when your car is bright red 😬

[@tommynobaka]

This can be easily translated into other areas in life and which is why to me, driving is meditative

[@jamesiepooh7337]

Big problem here in America is no one has any self control. It's all about them, they're the most important on the road.

[@filopride619]

The drivers should never think that they own the road, they are simply passing through. Disrespect it and its rules, and there will be deadly consequences. So don't drive harder, but drive smarter.

[@KM-qk1oz]

I togue on a lot of hill in Cali. My friends and I rules are very simple. Slow down for anyone. Bikers/cars/animals. Never taking two lanes unless you know 200% it’s clear and can see the other side. Bling turns and all that. But I have to admit majority of drivers here are selfish

[@Patrick94GSR]

That mindset right there is the single main cause of traffic jams, because everyone is me first and doesn’t want to let anyone in front when merging.

[@Jupiter__001_]

Same in my country.

[@KM-qk1oz]

@Matthew-Jonathan Seawright Bay Area nor cal bruh

[@ashwathsalaskar52]

You didn't say anything about Eurobeat? It's also important

[@lancehuang1537]

Oh yea it’s a must!

[@Sujiceel]

@@lancehuang1537 *S T O P Y O U R S E L F C O N T R O L*

[@williamcricket7931]

COOL VIBRATIONS

[@vincesettineri]

GET ME POWER!

[@Carlos.Rivera]

Ken Blast The Top

[@180MPH_In_The_Wrong_Lane]

10 years later the Fd2 Type R still crazily gorgeous looking car

[@onyren85]

Very technical and informative, presented in a non-douchebag style which is the norm for car related channels. You earned a sub! Keep up the good work, looking forward to more similar content!

[@Mattouge]

You forgot the most important element: a 3-hour-long Super Eurobeat compilation

[@salamov963]

Lol true

[@pukeoid]

Yes lol

[@felixcv1462]

Indeed my good friend..

[@grandmaster-grouch]

im not gonna lie i only listen to that music genera before a touge run. I find the music annoying otherwise. lol perhaps it has to do with the Japanese influence i was exposed to during 1992-1999 growing up in Japan.

[@xavierhuffman1406]

Your content is the best! I couldn't find any merch from you guys. Even a sticker would suffice!

[@Exyeber]

Maann!!! Can’t stop watching this channel now! Thanks for uploading real quality content!! Stay safe!

[@ThePSNOfficial]

0:13 Peep the Supra 👀

[@blackcat_go]

JDM Masters has steadily become the go-to channel for mature, technically-minded enthusiasts. One of the few presenters on youtube that I actually feel MORE intelligent after watching. Please keep it up, your influence is making the car scene as a whole a much better place. Thanks!

[@Aminmotors]

Hey I'm glad someone made this video! I feel like a lot of people hit the tough with an unsafe vehicle or a very wrong mindset going in, and then take big risks or get in accidents. Thanks for this!

[@vaibhavmamle1997]

Review your EK9 Civic please!

[@7eamGhast]

I asked him for 6 videos. He said there are other cars he wants to do first. Search trends are showing MANY people are viewing them right now, so I was trying to help him take advantage of view trends. But he’s a busy man. If we want the video to include heritage and design we should let him take his time. Always love their content. But he does plan to do EK9!

[@danielmendes5419]

This mindset is what I enjoy about Japanese car Enthusiasts!

[@Che1seabluesdrogba11]

Holy hell, I didn't know there was a new I initial D continuation, so glad I found this channel

[@king-manu2758]

Btw I have a tire pressure sensor by Bluetooth and also an air pump you connect to the lighter socket and you can inflate the tires anywhere. Very useful.

[@JakeOrfeo]

Been thinking lately doing touge with some friends, after seeing this, the excitement in me is like a child wanted to go out and play without hesitation, thanks for the information.

[@CoolCatHiker]

I really appreciate your approach into the car world. In regards to the car scene, im relatively new and by no means have something super sporty, but it definetly makes me value what i have. Keep it up man, one of my favorite car channels.

[@JesseSpec]

Good old Driving Videos by Captn! Great video. Very reminiscent of the good times on the Touge in Japan

[@akihiko4036]

Very informative video, Cap. A lot of drivers tend to neglect the importance of tires and oil, thanks for covering both of those things in this video.

[@uno64diecast]

my congratulations on your channel. I am from Spain and your channel is the one that shows me the most jdm things of the moment. thanks and keep it up

[@julianguastadisegno]

Me, living in Argentina on one of the flattest parts of the country. "Sure I'm going to see this 20 minute video"

[@ignaciogc1916]

Sad but true, solo nos quedan las autopistas sin fotomulta

[@PM_DraKKar]

appreciate the wisdom capt, especially the need for even more experienced and confident drivers to dial back abit before something bad happens

[@jameshaulenbeek5931]

Excellent video! Always good to have that reminder to check everything out on the car, before and *after* the drive. Also good to be reminded to have the right attitude.

[@JTube571]

I do a lot of touge driving. (see my channel) Mostly on the same road, multiple times a month. There are a lot of accidents on this road, but I find that it is usually people that are unfamiliar with it or have a car that is unprepared. (bad tires usually) We wait until late at night to do fast runs, and always stay in the correct lane. Even if you can see that nobody is coming, there is no reason to cross the center line. But touge is great for many reasons, a lot of times we will drive there and then stop and hang out for hours. It's just nice to get away from the city traffic and enjoy time with friends, cars and the scenery.

[@fraided88]

Well done video with a great delivery. Good job! Underrated channel.

[@zerotype2014]

Another great episode from JDM master! Felt like going out for a drive right away!

[@johndiel6080]

Ive known about Initial D for awhile but never really understood why people liked it so much. Recently got a new job and made new friends there, got to know them more and they told me about Touge. They invited me to go to some mountain roads near by and now i see why people enjoy Touge driving/drifting. Its such a rush!

[@Kabal1247]

clicked like as soon as the video started, and after watching it wasn't disappointed by the top notch quality content

[@kevinloh357]

You sir have the best driving enthusiast channel on KZbin.

[@jdmlordsalamander6397]

Love this channel....me and my buddies in the late nineties and early 2000s used to run the Glendora Mountain Range Cali....seen some wicked wrecks up there.....people trying to hard.........

[@gsalien2292]

My Evo X is the choice for winter or wet road conditions in the mountains. The 94' RX-7 Turbo or the Yamaha R1 is for summer or perfect road conditions. My favorite driving season in the mountains is Fall and we are just about to enter that sweet spot! Thank you for the awesome video!

[@issabrz_]

Beautifully said with tons of excellent points!

[@Spinozin]

Thanks for a very useful video. It's important to understand your own performance and learning limits. If your body is too hot (sweating) too cold (shivering or cold hands), hungry or desperate for a piss, it will affect your decision making and precision. Understand your own rate of learning. Some people can learn after 1 - 3 repetitions. Some need 1 - 12, some more. What I also learned from snowboarding down mountains (another form of spirited touge) is to do a safe dry run on your very first run on any route that your consider difficult/challenging ( i.e. at your current maximum level ability) even if you have studied the map. It will save your life, especially under changing weather and light conditions. Great video, thanks again

[@omerahmed310]

holy shit my mans is shredded, definitely impressed with the arms at 13:03

[@jeffarcher400]

Totally basic. Because the basics are important. This is some of the best advise.

[@HiMyNameIsJonathan]

Favorite jam channel. Keep them coming.

[@tensevo]

Great info for new drivers stepping up to sports car for spirited driving. Mindset is crucial.

[@rayciannello2268]

Keep the awesome tutorial/guide content coming!

[@ngtilui]

This about the only channel in KZbin with little or zero negative comments. Big family here. Keep ot up.

[@ahmetburak6977]

That was what I really need. Thanks to you and my g29 wheel + shifter😁

[@thewaywardgrape3838]

Recently back from two weeks of driving and camping around Scotland in a 718 GT4. Best "holiday" I've ever had.

[@Akira-ck5dv]

Now I will use this tips for virtual driving. Thanks.

[@MrRourk]

Video is full of win and good wisdom!

[@silverace08]

thank you very much jdm master this video can be a life saver for many, especially spirited drivers with little experience, i am still a learning driver myself when it comes to touges car dynamics handling, it is one thing to slowly and safely experiment yourself and another thing to pick it up alongside expert drivers, and your video seems to fit somewhere right in between where we have to also learn ourselves ofcourse, but now with some experience shared over a very informative and important video for any spirited driver, by an experienced driver, the tips you give are very usefull and hope to one day be able to join in a real drive alongside you in japan!!

[@nfspeedy2]

Great idea @JDM Masters! I cant wait for your driving technique tipps as a sports driving instructor @Captain Bradford. Also cant wait for MF Ghost in english on DVD/Blu ray. Big Thank you guys for putting that much efford in bringing us the JDM car culture to our home spots on your channel!

[@RX7Cody]

Great information here & well laid out (as always!) thank you. My local Touge has a wide variety of vehicles (super cars, tuner cars, motorcycles and regular family vehicles)

[@logwind]

Really enjoy this sort of content. I like to drive on the weekends without a destination just to unwind. You, three pedals, and the road.

[@d1zguy864]

Thank you for helping me prepare for touge.

[@king-manu2758]

I'm just here in Europe being so envious of those two cívics you got there which I love and which we never got over here.

[@vc6mrs]

Great video , I love mountain passes and spirited drives, I have a mountain pass near my area that I like to drive in , to avoid traffic I usually go very late at night like after midnight ,at first though when I was learning the pass I went at daytime, driving fast on an unknown road at the pitch black darkness of the night can be very dangerous so I suggest driving at night only when you know well the road you are driving in..

[@moisesjpagan]

love the JDM Tail Lights!!!

[@Solidsnek2024]

Dammmnnn Japanese mountain passes are cool Also thank you for the tips I'm a beginner in driving and I am planning to do mountain passes Thanks for the disciplinary tips

[@Rob-it1vi]

amazing video! this is a great lesson in driving

[@salmankhan-wl9xb]

Extremely helpful brad , Arigato gozaimas ♥️🇯🇵

[@tabryis]

Yesssss I've been waiting for this video

[@GriffkinPT]

Road education done right... and this is very important. You got know were you are, these are public roads, you're not alone... respect the others.

[@99alpineroads95]

Actually great tips for everyone who wants to drive in the mountains. Btw love the 208GTi in the background at 11:36

[@jollesracing517]

“It could even be a Prius” Phew that’s definitely not me 👀

[@richardnoelle]

Hello, I am a fairly new subscriber and pretty new to JDM culture. I have a 2010 Honda Fit here in the USA that I have swapped out the clutch and air conditioner myself. Other than that, I have not done a whole lot, but I like Japanese car culture. I lived and worked in Japan for two years and have always been into Japanese life, culture, language, food, etc. I am writing this comment in hopes that you the host, I don't even know your name, will read this. I really admire your experience and knowledge of Japan and the very "Japanese" way you explain things and even give language tips and kanji explanations, etc. What I am most interested in is how you came to appreciate Japan and became a JDM car enthusiast. How did you come to live in Japan? Where are you originally from? How did you learn to speak Japanese? What cars have you owned and currently own. Honestly, this is what I am most curious about. I hope you read this. I really appreciate your channel and experience. Thank you for everything you do. Best Regards, Rick Noelle

[@THEPAULFOOT]

Always enjoy your videos keep it up guys 😁

[@juniorgraham3554]

Thank you for your reply keep up the good work👍👍😊

[@Raven-uu7lb]

FD2R looking good! 😋

[@AliasHSW]

Valuable video!

[@AliasHSW]

Great video!

[@a48717]

3 simple rules Rule 1: Dont be ego. Prioritise other safety before yours when driving fast. If not your not welcome to the car community Rule: 2: The whole road isn’t your track, be respectful that it is a public road and use your lane to be fast, if you need to use both for lanes to go fast you need to learn to drive better, free to use whole road if it’s closed track for time attacks. If not use your own lane. Rule 3: Don’t expect to be takumi, never expect to be the best driver in public roads. Mostly for inexperienced and for very good drivers like DK. Depending on the road you can still crash even if you drove correctly. Before driving hard you should know how a car works and respond from the tires to the chassis, and of course driving techniques. Remember the road isn’t only yours and same with consequences. Have a nice drive 👍

[@hasweenrajskydrive4650]

Trust me..its fun than drag race. Your skill play the role..

[@bhabixanzzzboi2910]

This was very helpful

[@priteshkumar00]

Please do a review on the Mitsubishi GTO!

[@anotherlegendarysaiyan4171]

great advice, my uncle who had a very nice DC2 integra, took a very spirited drive and slid his integra into a ditch. it was a GSR with some pretty average mods so wasnt all bad, but still great advice.

[@kylejohnson6061]

More people need to watch this lol. So many accidents in the mountains that can be avoided.

[@justanothertroll9205]

What i always missed in all my past driving. A good GoPro camera

[@TL94FIN]

@19:00 danger for K20A con-rod bearings. These engines oil level should be kept at the top level all time. I check mine very often. Also baffled sump is recommended for hard cornering and track use so the oil pressure stays stable. Awesome engines, but they need a lot of care.

[@Riknos]

It was on a slope hence the low reading

[@jackbrizard8447]

Love how as you bring up mf ghost, a red brz/gt86/frs shows up, like the main character drives

[@mildmanneredthinkingman9323]

Being an American, I have had the chance to drive the Hakone toll road in Japan. If you are not used to something this narrow and tight, you should proceed with extra caution. It was a little scary for me. And perhaps if you are driving in a group setting like I was, you should give yourself some space. I couldn't really go the speeds what we might think in the states as spirited driving on a back road. Still fun as hell though. And I can't wait to do it again (responsibly of course. ) Nice video btw! and thank you~!

[@jimmyrecard6021]

0:39 smooth transition.

[@fabianfrancis8592]

Love you channel cud you do a review on the 2014 Honda stream rsz

[@necophilip]

love your rhythmic nose movement with all due RESPECT

[@iliveinthewoods]

Great video! I'm going to save and share this video with all the newbies.. Have you been to the Southern Appalachian Mountains in the USA? A review of The Tail of the Dragon (US Highway 129 Tennessee/North Caroline - Deals Gap)(Gap=Touge, in English) would be interesting. If you can get here we'll find you some sweet cars to drive and if we can't find something awesome, you can drive my car. 😆

[@Sam-zq4td]

Do you plan to review Nagao eventually? One of my favorite roads in the Hakone area

[@Riknos]

Very important advice about the tyres. So many people with high performance cars but they have cheap tyres it's shocking 😱 Another good piece of advice is to learn your car's limits on a track day rather than trying to find them on the road. Can you and Masa do a heel toe video with the FD2 so I can get the hang of it 😁

[@MrDescream]

Sport tyres on a street road is not recommended, because the conditions are not ideal. a little bit of dirt or sand or fallen leaves can cause an accident, not to mention rain.

[@ogitakasi3030]

Interesting!

[@hidayat8878]

Ek9 Fd2r I love both type R

[@TheChuyDewy]

watch out for rocks on the way ocming back I hit a a rock that wasnt there before popped my rear tire didnt wanna risk swerving the rock too was going 60 glad I had a spare and costco warraty covered it.

[@XingjutsuStunts]

rly enjoy your videos. I do have a question for you as an expert. What is your take on double clutching on modern synchronized transmissions? I hear a lot of different opinions on it and even Albo mentioned it as a basic technique for touge driving but it shouldnt be necessary on a synchronized transmission and even costs time and effort to do so. I do get that, if done right, it should preserve the synchronizers and your clutch more but i don't really get the benefits of it in modern razing or sporty driving the mountain roads aka touge. cheerz Bernhard

[@mbeauy3710]

I imagine doing serious runs youd want to make sure performance brake pads and high temp brake fluid is used as well.

[@jdmspiritturkey_jst]

For track use I'm using 30psi and at the end of the track tires are 34psi; for normal use I'm using at 33psi.

[@matheuswolters3448]

lmao you remind me of ryuji ikeda and his "zero mindset"

[@tommyvercetti6035]

This is similar to the zanshin state of mind

[@sooryan_1018]

Plot Twist - Shuichi Shingeno made Ryuji Ikeda based on this guy. HE IS THE ACTUAL IKEDA

[@OGNISTYSZKQAJDII]

pressure also depends on how wide is your tire wider tires need lower pressure to keep them flat in contact with the road

[@wqfong4825]

Please review sportsvan like RB1

[@UmarKhan-bd4mq]

Can you plz review the type one honda Civic 10th gen CVT

[@deeznut5360]

I have jeep grand cherokee srt on lowering springs. Would you recommend this for touge driving?

[@unclenoidentity186]

You mentioned that the tire pressure should probably be set lower then what's listed on the door when going on a touge drive. How low would the pressure be? For example, my car recommends 34 psi all around. Should I drop the psi by 2 or maybe 4 psi?