Page 56 - Experience Magazine Spring 2022

We often hear about different trends making their watching movies like Cheech and Chong, and American
way into American car culture from Japan, like the Graffiti. After a trip to Los Angeles, Shimodaira was
overwhelming popularity of Wataru Kato's Liberty inspired by what he saw and opened his shop in Nagoya,
Walk kits and the influence of Porsche tuner RAUH- Japan. Named Paradise Road, Shimodaira's shop became
Welt BEGRIFF. Japan gave birth to drifting and the an international sensation in 2002 after the Yokohama
increasingly popular Kansai style of super-aggressive Hot Rod Custom Show, where he presented the 1930
driving and wild styling. We can attribute the VIP luxury Ford Model A Tudor Sedan that has come to be known
scene within tuner car culture to Japan and the advent of as "Rod-Riguez."
shakotan (lowered car), massive camber, takeyari (over- Blending hot rod, custom and lowrider styling cues,
size exhaust), and perhaps, one of the lesser-known “Rod-Riguez” has become the definition of a Japanese
trends but a unique bunch: bosozoku cars.
rod and custom. The build also played a significant role
Yet it's not all that often you hear about one of America's in helping propel the Japanese Kustom car scene in the
car culture trends making its way into the heart of early 2000s.
Japan's car culture. Junichi Shimodaira is regarded as a The car took home several awards, including the Best
founding father of Japan's lowrider scene. Street Rod and Best Body Work. Shortly after the show,

He grew up reading American car magazines and Shimodaira tore down the car for more modifications,

STRAIGHT

OUTTA

JAPAN

“ROD-RIGUEZ” DEFINES JAPANESE KUSTOM CULTURE
LOT #780 - 1930 FORD MODEL A TUDOR SEDAN CUSTOM 'ROD-RIGUEZ' – NO RESERVE

56 BAR R ET T -JA C KS O N E X PE R I E N C E S U M M E R 2022
56 BARRETT-JACKSON EXPERIENCE SUMMER 2022