The Story of the Bosozoku, Kanjozoku, and Rebel Subcultures of Japan

This is a dive into the underground, illegal past of Japanese car culture. From biker gangs and yakuza to loop and kaido racers, this video follows the progression of post-war Japan into the automotive superpower it is today.
Mistakes/New Information:
A massive thank you to Chris Doerkson (chrisdoerksen.bandcamp.com) and HOME (home96.bandcamp.com) for allowing use of their music!
Music:
HOME - Pyxis
Chris Doerksen - Perhaps Something More
Chris Doerksen - Knife Edge
HOME - Head First
HOME - Chicken Soup
HOME - We're Finally Landing

[@cola_420]

So jealous of the first people racing the wangan/osaka highways back then with all the cars coming out over the years what a vibe that must have been

[@dezee7944]

Right like why'd I have to be in my 20s during the age of electric cars and hd cameras

[@ShivanshEdla]

Ong, I would’ve loved to be the real life Akio Asakura (without ignoring college ofc)

[@CyanRooper]

> Be born in Japan during the mid to late 1970s > Spend childhood and teen years watching fire-breathing, turbocharged monsters with fat arches and giant wings race around in circles in several categories of motorsports (F1, Group B rally, Group C endurance racing, Group A Touring Cars, Group 5 Special Productions, Japanese Super Silhouette racing etc) > Japanese economy enters its most prosperous period in the 1980s > Japanese car companies already showed the world in the 60s and 70s that they can make reliable and affordable cars for ordinary people and cheap, fun sports cars for enthusiasts > Japanese car companies in the 80s now flush with cash spend the extra money to innovate their cars (variable valve timing, turbocharging, active aero, 4 wheel steering, computer controlled all-wheel drive and ignition systems etc) > Japanese tuning shops offer upgrade packages for buyers looking to spice up their rides > Spend teen years driving dad's Corolla up and down a mountain delivering tofu and honing driving skills in the process > Catch girlfriend cheating on you with a guy in a Mercedes Benz > Humble street racers in more expensive cars using your dad's Corolla > Modify your Corolla to be even faster > Build cheap cars into supercar killers throughout your 20s and 30s > Watch Japan's car industry slowly die out in the 2000s > Buy Lexus LFA during midlife crisis and enjoy the sound of a naturally aspirated V10 as the days of the internal combustion engine come to an end > Crash into the Mercedes Benz guy who stole your girlfriend years ago and die happy

[@ShivanshEdla]

​@@CyanRooper This story is so good 😢👏

[@ironhell813]

@CyanRooper Even though popular Japanese opinion is that the 80s was the best time in Japan it really wasn’t because it was only good for the executives that made trade deals in the 70s for Americans The real good decade was the 90s because the lower workers got decent wages still as executives were fighting to keep sales up and they had much more creativity. The games industry is a great example. There wasn’t much activity lost on the streets then even as the stocks plummeted. Not everything is about money and middle class prosperity, or stats written on paper or online.

[@joeljenkins9424]

I lived in Nagoya in 1999 as a missionary and was often woken up in the middle of the night by a Bousozoku gang going slowly down the neighboring highway revving their engines. So fun to see past memories in this video.

[@zcwt]

The absolute gold standard for niche JDM car culture deep-dives. Take my money and give me MORE!!! 💯💯

[@alfredotovar8984]

An honorable mention for sure are the Dajiban race vans, started in Youga which is near Tokyo, the vans were used at first to just haul tires and parts to race motorcycles on the track, then they got the idea to race the vans and it grew since 🚗💨 I have a B1500 that I’m also building into a Dajiban, hopefully one day it finds itself in a KZbin video raising eyebrows and dropping jaws 👀

[@thatmitsubishikid2498]

Dajibans are so obscure and hurts the minds of many Americans. I’ve been trying to find a dodge ram to turn into a drift truck to just mess with the normal American mind

[@caledonianrailway1233]

Video idea: hillclimb racing such as the rest and be thankful hillclimb or the Bo’ness revival

[@mrman10gt26]

FINALLY!!! A POPULAR VIDEO THAT ACCURATELY DEPICTS KAIDO RACER HISTORY!! THIS IS AMAZING!!! ALWAYS LOVE YOUR VIDEOS AND I'M GENUINELY IMPRESSED YOU GOT THIS ONE SPOT ON

[@metricstormtrooper]

Don't yell.

[@incursus1401]

Hey Hunter, i know u check comments for video ideas, so heres one from my country germany: Check out the story of the AVUS highway in west berlin, it was a symbol of freedom where my older colleagues could race without speed limit in west berlin after crossing the extremely scary highway from the GDR. It became a place for DTM racing, tuning culture and the bar still exists today! (nowadays mostly used by bikers tho). Maybe also watch Manta Manta a famous German car movie that spawned its own car culture. Great video as always! My entire friend circle wakes up when a new video of urs drops

[@KanjoNights]

Now that's an interesting story I wasn't aware of. I'm gonna have to read into that. Any books you might suggest?

[@incursus1401]

my reply got tagged as spam, i dont know any books but google AVUS highwayy and the footnote of the wiki get you a long way@@KanjoNights

[@carfarmsocial]

My favourite channel. Brilliant content as always. You've covered a lot of ground here, thank you. I'm going to have to watch this a few times to get my head around all the info. Forever recommending you to our community in the UK . This is how KZbin should be done

[@nexas2316]

Then you'd deffintetly would love @the.squidd

[@carfarmsocial]

@@nexas2316 subscribed. Thanks for the tip 👍

[@barryjohnson8733]

i grew up around bikes and the bosozoku always interested me. i love the insane customization they would do.

[@LeeC]

Best car culture channel out there!

[@L8-APEX]

Yes!! New Hunters Moon is just what doctor ordered this Sunday morning 😊

[@kacpertron]

Babe wake up, Hunter's Moon uploaded again. Wait... I'm single.

[@FlyingSpur99]

Real street racers don't need girlfriends

[@alfredotovar8984]

O O F

[@AfroMyrdal]

@3:10 glad you mentioned the Scandinavian (but mostly Swedish) Raggar (single) Raggare (plural). They are pretty much our answer to "Greasers" or Bosozoku/Shakotan culture. The cars are usually boats with very very beaten up and for lack of a better term, ruined exteriors and interiors. Although there are different styles for different people, but the traditional Raggar does have a ruined old American car thats useless at anything over walking speed.

[@antonsamuelsson1317]

Pilsnerbil

[@sniepo_gaming9953]

Can we see like origins of running shops like mines, spoon, Re amemiya. Maybe the origins of nismo? Some more origin stories of running shops would be cool

[@shinjukucalling763]

No channel or media outlet channels my love for cars and culture like yours does. Please don't stop

[@coyotedoesthings]

As I was growing up, i was always around and influenced by cars. My dad used to have almost a dozen Cadillacs in his driveway and garage ranging from 50s to 70s. And I loved driving around with him in them but they never really stood out. My brother is big into 70s boogie vans and I thought that was also super cool but never stood out to me as much as he loved it. I got into the stance culture by going to the local shows and I was into it but always in my mind I felt there was something better and I'd have to wait to find it. Then I found my first Moonlight Runners video and I was HOOKED on Kaido and Shakoton styles. The creativity people get into building these cars is insane and I am all for it. As much as I loved the culture I never knew about most of the history so this video is such a great watch and I'll definitely be coming back to rewatch it and put it in my brain.

[@user-qy3fl3jo2i]

You're one of my go to channel when it comes to the subject of "Automotive history", i'd love to see a video about the volkswagen & porsche lore. It's a story that has been told countless times, yet i'd still love a video about the beetle & the porsche's.

[@TechIOwn]

Always a treat when Hunter's Moon posts, love that Law Break AE82 2 Door Corolla

[@Ninjaturtlemadness]

Came down to the comments to see if anyone else noticed the 82!!! 🤘 As much as I'd love a two door FX, I'm more than happy with my two sedans lol

[@thel8815]

Mr Moon I have to write something to tell you how amazing your videos are. About a year ago I watched your video about time attack and Under Suzuki. I was immediately drawn in, on the edge of my seat about the topic, the presentation and the music, it all fit so perfectly. Now the past few days I've come across one of your videos again and have watched almost all of them in a couple days. Please keep this up because the stories you tell deserve to be told, you do them justice in a very tasteful way with your own sort of feeling over the whole thing.

[@Kevinthemoplik]

Excited to see you cover my favorite cultures!

[@NatsukiMogiIsBestGirl]

Thank you so much for making this video! I hope this'll set the record straight, especially in regards to kaido racers.

[@seeayesix2817]

Always good with a new upload from Hunter's Moon! Very much appreciated :)

[@derekjanleen8217]

I always look forward to your uploads, thank you for the great content!

[@speedyboy7814]

I am so glad that you finally made a video about this, love it! This channel needs more attention too.

[@kylerose2952]

Another amazing video!! I gotta say your voice over on these makes them that much more awesome and the research you put in is epic! Cheers

[@halfwaytobedlam3234]

Its easy to tell just from the clips alone that you've done some serious deep diving for this video, thank you

[@ZinoSpool]

Thank you for making this video! Very informative on the names for each subculture presented, Now I know what terms to research myself

[@colossae3241]

Lets gooo!!!!!!!. The video i asking last year. Thanks for making this video

[@50629]

Super underrated channel. Always happy to see a post

[@bobsrx792]

Honestly, you shocked me. This is fairly accurate and well put together. Having some of these friends and living in Japan for a while this is one of the better videos I've seen.

[@Almindale]

Always love watching your vids mate. Thanks for another cracking clip!

[@meuranjanatennakoon2431]

Waited anxiously for the next upload bro 🙏🏽

[@TheIndianAlien]

no way a another grate video from hunters moon the quality of these are amazing

[@BundSama]

Very well put together, great stuff, hope to see more on niche Japan automotive culture.

[@AfroMyrdal]

As always, another fantastic video!

[@stan_de_malleman]

your video's are so professional it takes a bite out of time and space itself.

[@y0781]

Hunter moon has the best videos on this platform 🎉 thank you for another great one!

[@dosboss7589]

Really great video, I really learned a lot about Japanese car culture. As for future ideas, a video on the history on European folk racing (or Derby racing in the US) would be awesome.

[@Bonked_YT]

I KNEW YOU WERE DUE TO DROP A NEW VIDEO, DIDNT THINK THIS SOON SO EXITED ILL WATCH IT IN THE MORNING!!!!!!!!!!

[@freewulf_1214]

Your videos are amazing and stand apart from the rest. Love it

[@qalandaryar]

Hunters moon back at it again! Great work bud!

[@skyismyname285]

first time commenting. I wanted you to know that I enjoy all of your video's I rewatch them because of how nice they are, I love cars (the Sileighty is my favorite car) and your voice is always nice to listen to not only for taking in information but just having on in the back ground for comfort. my favorite video of your would I guess have to be: The Story of the Real Devil Z, a Cursed Pantera, and the Missing NASCAR Engineer. thank you for making this video I learned some more things. I cant wait for the next one, I don't mind the long wait in-between videos. I would rather you get everything you are talking about and researching right, then telling me something that's not true. I hope whoever reads this comment has a wonderful day or night and you are safe. 🖤

[@ThrasherDBS]

Love seeing these kinds of essays. It's a sect of car culture that I'm always interested in learning about

[@Aidan_-_]

Another beautiful video thank you so much

[@Billyspacerocket]

Fantastic video / Thanks so much 👍👍

[@zakiasakura6481]

This feels really short. Maybe it's because it's so interesting that I felt wanting more. Great work!

[@davidpistek6241]

Just absolutely awesome again, the window maker one was great too ,saw it last night

[@aliln5365]

Really glad I found your channel 👍

[@crazykidksyt2848]

you know that its going to be an amazing day when hunter uploads

[@DrSidewayZ]

Great job breaking it down man! -doc

[@AlexTrubinDesign]

Putting an anime character on a car and driving it around like normal. its so ridiculous. I love it.

[@andxx0r_the_second671]

This video, the Mid Night Club video, and especially the Devil Z/Mitsunaga Pantera video have already gotten very close to the topic by association, but - Have you considered making a video explicitly about the famed Yatabe Circuit in Japan and its history of Japanese manufacturers, tuners and (alleged) speed gang members doing top speed runs there?

[@ricky_empanada]

Love all your videos! Keep the content coming! A cool story to cover would be lowrider culture or DTM

[@suchybagnet]

Hot Hunters mood upload as always, thank you 4 being awesome

[@jonmandelbaum5395]

I remember reading about how Japanese motorcycle gang culture was one of the inspirations for Akira. That was my entry into the topic in the mid 90’s for me. I was like a tween or 14 at most. I’m disabled now so I can’t drive but I’ve always enjoyed this sort of topic and these sorts of mini docs. I prefer to enjoy cars in miniature these days and as an artist that requires I always be a student of their history and discourse. So thank you for making this content because it makes my life better. My gf’s too. I will share this with all my car friends as well.

[@captain_slow8307]

I have a suggestion if you're up for it. The "California-Look" culture of the air-cooled Volkswagen culture. Street racers from California who would race souped-up Beetles and Karmann Ghias against themselves or V8's muscle cars on the streets or drag strips. They have a lot of clubs that were formed and they all have interesting stories to it and also for the culture itself. Hoping you can make a video on this soon if you'd consider this topic Hunter

[@sheldonlamey7010]

Always love when the Kanjo Civics get mentioned......this was very informative 👍🏾

[@matt_hayward]

Fantastic vid mate

[@dobo2232]

Hey there hunter’s moon I just wanted to say that I absolutely adore your videos because they are so well researched and so interesting. For a video idea I would love to see you cover the lotus Carlton 40RA or just cover the joyriding era in Britain during the 80s and 90s. I think that you would do an excellent job

[@patdire7578]

This video was sick. Just wanted to say thanks.

[@BatCaveOz]

Excellent video. I was hoping that the Mid Night Club would get a mention.

[@c_roballo8274]

bro ur vidios are so relaxing

[@shermarslight]

It’s a good day when Hunter’s vid drops 🙏

[@fish_br7649]

you know its a good day when hunter moon uploads

[@reifenverlustdeluxe6936]

Born to late to be there. Born just in time to hear their stories.

[@christinejohnson451]

Thanks for video. More please

[@Faad3e]

great video!

[@finleywood6083]

Dam that part with the civics was too good, recently bought an eg and I’m hyped even more now. A recommendation for vid suggestion would be the lotus Carlton specifically with the plate: 40 RA. Not sure if it has been mentioned before.

[@user-hr4ri4ot3m]

This video is spot on! I was stationed on Okinawa from 1986-1988 and lived this culture. I have a ton of photos, magazines and some home video from that time. Would like to share but not gadget friendly at my age. I fit into the Haiso, Kaido Racer and Hashiriya category.

[@GlitteratiLive]

Very interesting, thank you

[@parasali8524]

nice vid my love i hope to see more form you

[@GhostOfDamned]

When hunter moon uploads, its always a good day

[@alexromero8374]

love the videos we need more content like these so we don't forget car culture history

[@Mattojumala]

Nice video once again! Maybe if there is more to in depth about liberity walk and other brands that would be nice 👍

[@thrash512]

How did I miss this upload. Damn you youtube and your ambiguous notification style.

[@Lazl0ow]

Man, of all the subcultures and eras I wish I had lived, this would be my number one.

[@John-mf6ky]

5:24 The same imagery was used by hot rodders, bikers, and even surfers in the US. Mainly for shock value, and to rebel against their parents before them (many who fought in ww2)

[@thejdmeffect3257]

Great video

[@AmmoGuy83]

As always, tip top content.

[@raymondkoledoye9941]

Thank you make the video about history of japanese car culture I very liked it.❤❤

[@nitroushusky4284]

best video iv seen this year

[@Sentient6ix]

I think a video on the flying Finns, more specifically Timo Salonen, would be a good one

[@hankimitsu8188]

Ari Vatanen, Hannu Mikkola, Henri Toivonen, Juha Kankkunen and Markku Alén should be mentioned too. Group B was just something else...

[@Sentient6ix]

@@hankimitsu8188 yes

[@o.fuchs911]

The best channel!

[@bayandasibiya7000]

Would be cool if you could make an in-depth video about the kanjozoku

[@67fordmustanglover]

Tokyo Extreme Racer 3 was one of my all time favorite games. Used to race C1 loop for hours. Would’ve been incredible to see it happen in person.

[@skyline4521]

this guy never misses

[@Skooby59]

Top dog is back

[@lanternsown3525]

An interesting summary of Japanese Car Culture.

[@2seater_mx5]

and inbetween all that, there is the rise of the touge racing AND drifting. amazing. i drive with a group that is heavily inspired by the kanjo racers, and they have so much fun with their civics. i own an mx5 but i rep a little no good racing team sticker on the window :P

[@02lucy666]

I wouldnt mind a full in depth documentary really.

[@doctorwho3029]

Absolutely awesome video. Here is another subject for a future video. The American muscle cars in Japan. They also have shows car shows. With American muscle cars. Even rocket Bunny took a Corvette and a Camaro and put a wide body kit on those 2 cars.

[@otaku0698]

I like to see more of this subject. More about the trucks "Dekotora".

[@drivingdaily582]

I'm so into this!!!

[@somerandoonline5852]

We have missed you

[@secs]

9:58 damn i guess they formed the Hanshin Expressway Loop route in Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune lol

[@Primedwhite]

As a fellow JDM car nut, I would love to look into your sources! Could you list/link them?

[@sidekick258]

I would love a series on more unknown subcultures, like Dajiban's for example.

[@SuperLuckyCat7]

Very interesting historic Vid. Thxalot for sharing; gives some more 'meat' to the origins of the JDM trend 🧐

[@DannySB991]

I'm not sure if it was ever big enough, or maybe too niche (As I was still a kid while it was at it's peak), but the whole "Max Power" modification scene in the UK in the late 90s early 2000s. A well known magazine which often spawned some of the coolest (or most hideous) cars you'll ever see on UK roads.

[@frivio.]

Didn’t know the bike rivalry in Akira was based on real Japanese bike gangs. It makes me like the anime even more