The Road to Karuizawa

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Work needed me to be in Tokyo for meetings last week and then another one was scheduled on Monday in Kyoto. With Karuizawa in between it would have been rude not to go, right? Especially since I was giving up my Memorial day weekend. If you opened this post I’m guessing you know what this is about and are interested in seeing the cars. If so, get a cup of tea or mug of coffee and let me boar you with my journey to Karuizawa. *WARNING* This is not just a car feed! I’ve added a bunch of pics and color commentary from the trip.

If you don’t know, Karuizawa is an annual roadster meet that has been taking place in May since 1993. 138 people attended the first one, nearly 2k cars last year with just over 1,100 this year but only because the parking space was limited. In the original "Ask for participants", it was written: "Please bring the feeling to enjoy the Roadster!". Judging by the attendees that mantra holds true as much today as it did in the beginning. Karuizawa is a ski resort 90 minutes north of Tokyo by bullet train.

So, at the start of my journey I left Monday and landed Tuesday after 11 hours of flight time from LAX coupled with a 17 hour time change.
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Inflight entertainment helps pass the time.. even if you’ve already watched the particularly movie in question atleast a dozen times or more.
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Get used to not understanding much of what you’ll eat but expect it will taste really amazing.. or atleast completely interesting.
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Always land at Haneda if you can (Narita almost seems more known but it takes a lot longer to get to Tokyo)
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The first thing that always blows me away (after the humidity drains your jetlagged soul) is the cars. From my math, the vast majority, like 83.7%, are cars that have never been exported to the US. The delightful and colorful old school taxi’s…
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…to the new school vans (with a face only a mother could love). They have so very many vans, kei vans are my favorite…
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A few days of meetings and then a work trip to Akihabra to check out the retail environment
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Of course there was a simply beautiful and completely period correct TR6 just nonchalantly driving along…
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And eating in Shinjuku
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Friday was a load more meetings that wrapped so it was time to have a little fun. Some form of social media informed me that Ben (benpopham/ CarMakeCornsUK) was going to be there too so a perfect opportunity to start adventuring with someone that had more experience getting around Japan. We met up to train out to the CMC HQ.

The only roadster content in my past trips to Japan has been getting out to Corns but I’ve gone every time and its always a delight. A short enough trip from central Tokyo and a wonderful experience with amazing people and a long history back to my earliest HyperRevs and Road&sters. I think Tomoyo said they opened 23 years ago. Looking around the shop is like being on a treasure hunt. There are always so many interesting surprises. Almost came home with a set of NOS tan seatbelts but didn’t want to start too much shopping ahead of Karuizawa. Besides, Tomio was already holding a large package for me that he’d help win on YJA many months ago.
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A little KINOD and RevLimiter repping (gutted I didn’t have a sticker to hand for MR.net.. sorry Randy)
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Behind those secret doors, the hidden treasures didn’t disappoint…
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And there at the side of the building was an 1002. A very pretty one indeed. Such a beautiful color combination…
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Tomio and Tomoyo managed to take some time away from work and took the Corns family and I out for dinner about 90 minutes from their HQ. It was a magical place hidden off the beaten path and steeped in history, majesty and beauty…
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Accompanied by such very lovely people in the Corns family…
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And extraordinary food to help enjoy the company even more…
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And then the return trip to Tokyo and back to the hotel after such exceptional food and hospitality with both my belly and my heart feeling over-stuffed.

The next morning, I wrapped up some work calls (8am Saturday is inconveniently 4pm PST on Friday) after which Ben had some plans. His business partner is a Skyline owner which helped inspire our first stop with a visit to Nismo’s Omori Factory.
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Some GTR keys that even make the latest Royal Clover prices seem insane…
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Racekors…
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… and a truly inspired way to decorate a bathroom.
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While in Yokohama, how could we not pass by Racing Service Watanabe.
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Except for the fact they were closed (Saturday + lunch time and all) and that their website is quite explicit about booking an appointment.
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There wasn’t a ton of resistance to our nosing about, Ben ecstatic with the 10” mini correct specs and the deep dish R’s for me. 1968. That has been a long time to have sustained an iconic wheel. Seeing the artisanal craftsmanship to how they manufacture only sold me more. Very kindly though slightly annoyed, we did get a bit of a tour and some attention. When we’d gotten close to over-stayin our welcome, the words “wait here” were uttered. He disappeared and returned with some brochures and stickers and then abruptly sent us on our way.
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We then made our way to Autobacs in Shinonome (for those that remember, it used to be a SuperAutobacs but had been “upgraded” to an Apit version. Part Coffee bar, part newsstand and a smattering of car parts). Absolutely loved being somewhere that was a dedicated stop for petrolheads. Reprinted back issues of HyperRev were ¥3180 or above what seems to be the going rate of $25 on this side of the pond.

The Parking lot and garage was still filled with a wild collection of motors…
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Two Tommy K’s
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And a wild ass custom van
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After Autobacs we went back to Ben’s hotel to pick up his wares and took the bullet train from Shinjuku station to Karuizawa followed by a short walk from the station to the Karuizawa Prince West hotel. The registration card validated that if fact the next day I would indeed be there…
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After checking in I went outside for a little fresh air. I’d started to stroll around the car park and realized there was a lot of treasures to discover ahead of the show!

The very first car I saw was a stock mariner that reminded me of where my roadster journey began
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The second was an M2 1001! In fact Gone in 60 seconds spun through my mind many many times over the next 24 hours (the 1974 original of course, not the Nicolas Cage remake)
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Original door pulls still intact!
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Honestly had to pause after that and catch my breath. Had seen two M2’s in less than 24 hours. Little did I know what was ahead of me. Not ten feet from this first one was another 1001. Well loved and used. All the brightwork had a little patina, it wasn’t pristine though certainly not neglected…
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And some other random spatterings

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A hot pink Esqueletto!
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I’ve absolutely fallen for Esqueletto’s NB in part thanks to Goff and his exceptional execution. It was great to see one in person finally. And then a few more.
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A very yellow NA with a unique take on their Zoom fuel lid…
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And a beautifully painted NA with an M2 inspired nose
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Just a couple cars over from yet another real deal
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A common site with many cars that like to display how many meets they’ve joined
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DAMND!
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Further cemented my need for a GV Type II hood
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And a very loyal attendee! (The owner brought his plaque into the Banquet so I had a chance to make lots of hand gestures and smiles and excited comments I’m sure he didn’t understand about how much I appreciated
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I skipped over it but as I was first leaving the hotel for my stroll, a man with a huge smile came up and said “Oldgrayleather!!!”. It was Kenji. I’d been in touch with him for a while and really enjoyed all his even coverage, the effort he put into finding and caring for his KGW works louvers. An incredibly warm person, he totally looked out for over the whole event trip. At the start, it was wonderful when I finally came across his car in the parking lot.
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It wasn’t until I’d shared it that Garrett pointed out the TD-1001R I missed parked right beside it.

I have really been impressed with the custom work from Car Service Shin-kai when I first caught sight of some of their cars at a prior meet so it was truly special to come across the crew…
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The custom lip fits the custom bumper perfectly. They haven’t modified them to work with an OEM shaped bumper. I asked. Very, very nicely.
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I had the chance to meet the crew the next morning after breakfast and had just about enough help to share my appreciation and respect for their work. I think they understood my enthusiasm and didn’t mistake it for madness.

Afterwards checking out the cars, Ben and I made our way to the banquet. Didn’t understand a lot of what was going on (hard to explain a room full of people playing group “rock paper scissors” to win hand painted Miata pillows but seems it was a thing). Hama-san joined our table to add some flamboyance and very kindly help translate and make introductions. Goto-san was also sat with us and eventually understood he owned the original GV demo car (the white one with the type II hood) and still has it.
Takeshi-san was at the next table and showed us some pictures of his M2 1028 that he found for a price so low I’m still trying to forget about it. He also has another NA, the 10AE that was featured in one of Mazda’s promotional videos and a 124. He’s also trying to get into the lotto for the 30AE

Katagiri-san was very kind to help make introductions to special Mazda guests: Mr Fukuda (NA designer), Mr Kijima (chief engineer of NB/ NC) + Mr. Nakayama (chief engineer ND).

Later on we met the four other “English” speakers from Australia ;). Adam, Vincent and Jeff (+ Mrs. Jeff). That made the whole event that much more fun especially with their incredible enthusiasm and energy. Truly wonderful guys.

And with that it was time for bed and peaceful dreams of Roadster dancing through my head.

Watched the parade of cars coming in for a good long time with the event organizers who were helping direct traffic and loud welcomes. Amazing how most drivers had huge smiles and happy waves
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And then through the gate…
An NB coupe. Perfect!
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And another, ouff
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Actually, no commentary needed is there? Let’s just get these out there…

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C Spec baby (sat next to yet another M2 1001)
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Then at last I finally met the Pit Crew brother’s Daisuke and Vaho who had done a 500km trek with only a little Russian to Japanese translating device and a shared love of the Crew.
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I absolutely love this car and even more in person. And these guys? Brilliant!

For you diecast collectors, imagine having your own exact car modelled down to the tiniest detail?
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Pricing is not for the feint of heart

In person? Nope, not better for me but who can’t appreciate the effort that went into this car, rotary and all!
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This one? MMMM1006 tribute. Caught me by surprise! Never did manage to get a look under the hood to see if it had the V6
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Takeshi-san and I in front of a 1028, but not his. Because of course there were several around.
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Repping the Palooza!
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The GHO booth had some bargains to be had. On top of this great red collection there was an minty M2 1001 seat for ¥30,000. A faded Bride bucket for ¥5,000. There were loads of Roadster sills, typically ¥500 or less. My sense is that YJA has figured out who their buyers are.
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Kijima-san
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Jeff from Downunder, Takeshi-san, Daisuke, Vaho and Weldon (ueru). It was so brilliant that this expat Texan who I first connect with via MR.net made the trek with a backpack full of camera’s. Since I’m crap at taking photos perhaps we all just need to hound him enough to post up his shots? :)
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And finally a face to face meeting with Yoshida-san from Zoom – a kind soul who has helped me countless times over the years!
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Kenji with Max (Rev9) in the background
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And with that there was the group pictures, warm farewells and I was on my way back to the station and onto Kyoto. It was brilliant to have a farewell beer with Maxime and his assistant on the platform before we were all whisked away at something like 150mph.
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The Crew from Sydney spotted me on the sidelines and yelled for me to join them. It was awesome to be an honorary Roadster Bros
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Should you go? Yes. All of you! Every single one of you! We should all go together. It was like my entire collection of Hyper Revs, Road&Sters complete with all the cars and their wonderful owners all came together to celebrate this crazy little tribe of ours. It was less than 24 hours and was gone in an instant. I missed out on so many pictures that I now wish I’d taken. More interiors and rear but I have not a single regret. Every roadster nut should get to mecca atleast once!

This is just amazing, and my mind and eyes are exhausted just looking at all these photos of Roadsters, and im sure you are physically exhausted as well.

I would love to go to this one of these days !!!

This is on the bucket list and thank you for all these great photos you have shared with us here!! Too much awesomeness in this thread!! :bow:

Thank you so much for sharing, Pete! If a picture is worth 1,000 words, a picture and words is priceless.

So many amazing examples, and inspirational builds. That Pitcrew with the weathered fenders and stripe really is awesome.

Thanks again,

-Matt

Thank you very much for sharing this awesome experience with us.
Looking at these pictures brings back memories from my trip to Japan. Time passes to fast when being there.
I hopefully will be there one day, too. Until then, I enjoy every day with my Eunos. :lol:

it keeps getting better and better every year. I believe this is one of the events that any miata enthusiast should attend. you can feel the camaraderie right away despite the language barrier. you won't feel out of place. when you arrive, the atmosphere is that "it just feels right" to be there.

great great write up. thanks pete for sharing your experience. hair at the back of my neck was standing reminding me of my experience back in 2017 while going through your photos

Hi Pete,

Thanks for sharing the photos and the experiences! It is something I would love to do at some stage. Highlights for me on the photos above is using meeting Yoshida-San. Helped me many times as you know and would love to share a coffee with him at some stage. Likewise I really like some of the cars. The yellow MK1 on the first page is simple yet beautiful while it is great to see the 'Pitcrew King' aka the crème white Pitcrew is still wowing enthusiasts. For me back in the day that was a inspiration for me getting the vibe to like Pitcrews (to begin with I wasn't a fan).

Cheers

James.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Madaboutmx5s

Highlights for me on the photos above is using meeting Yoshida-San. Helped me many times as you know and would love to share a coffee with him at some stage.

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If it wasn’t for meeting up with you when you invited me to test sit the Type R’s and your introduction I would never have connected with Yoshida-san. Meeting him brought it full circle to the fact my inspiration has been built on the amazing community we have. xo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by oldgrayleather

If it wasn’t for meeting up with you when you invited me to test sit the Type R’s and your introduction I would never have connected with Yoshida-san. Meeting him brought it full circle to the fact my inspiration has been built on the amazing community we have. xo

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Pete when you are next in the UK come to dinner mate or hopefully with a change of job I will have more time I have missed the last few years and I could meet in London. Your car is amazing mate and Karuizawa is something any of us JDM enthusiasts would love to do. I look forward to what you do next. I almost think you need a new blank template (read another car) for a future project too!

Thanks for sharing your trip, what truly great experience! I’ve been seeing pictures of the cream pit crew for yours. Glad to see it still receives love.

Lovely write up Pete, and awesome to get to meet and travel with you for a few days. Same time next year? I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

http://i.imgur.com/uwUZoqK.jpg

I'm just now getting around to scrolling through all of this. Thank you for the photos and for taking us there Pete. :bow: I look forward to going one year, maybe 2020?

Ooooo. 2020....

Thats when I would like to go too.

let's go