Other racing related places to see in Japan

[myhui]

Best Motoring's "Fuji Fast" video best describes it:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044980KU

The first 15 minutes (if you pay US$1.99 for download) shows the Group C races held in Japan back in the 80's and 90's, and other Japan-only races prior to the FIA running their Formula 1 races there. Those are the cars you want to see, and they're all on display at museums run by the major Japanese car manufacturers.

At the 15 minute mark of the video, the original Nissan GTR is driven once more around the track. It's not much more than a reinforced Datsun 510 that I saw people racing when I was just a toddler back in Asia.

At the 1 hour mark till the end is a touge (峠?) race on a twisty road with modern cars. You have to watch the video to find out which car won.

 

[myhui]

Blog from KANSEI + TOUGE-R: http://kansei.wordpress.com/

with lots of videos. It's like racing on U.S.'s Tail Of The Dragon, except at night, and with mostly older but highly modified cars.

 

[myhui]

BMW M5 touge:

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Seeing the above is reassuring: that Asian men still have a high enough level of testosterone to pull that off, in case you believed everything said in this NY Times article predicting the demise of Japan:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/world/asia/17japan.html

You see, guys, I'm preparing you for your trip, gently.

 

[oneofthesedays]

Preparing us for final summer good sales?...lol:biggrin:

 

[myhui]

Preparing us for final summer good sales?...lol:biggrin:

I hope you savor it properly. Don't be a bull in a china shop!

 

[passline]

I hope you savor it properly. Don't be a bull in a china shop!

If I pretend that I am you .................... where should I go first?????

 

[myhui]

I would go here:

Nature Aquarium gallery

Address: 8554-1, Urushiyama, Nishikan-ku, Niigata 953-0054 JAPAN
TEL: +81-256-72-6666
Open on Saturday, Sunday and Japanese National Holiday
(Closed during weekdays)
Opening hour: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission is free of charge, but we kindly request all the guests to fill in a questionnaire and write down the impression of gallery.
*The gallery may be closed by unavoidable causes. Please confirm the opening of gallery by telephone or e-mail. We offer the latest issue and back issues of Aqua Journal, as well as photo books of Mr. Takashi Amano. But we do not offer any of our ADA products.
Access to Niigata Niigata is located on the Sea of Japan coast of Honshu Island, and it is easily accessible from Tokyo by Joetsu Shinkansen, a high-speed railway connecting Tokyo and Niigata in about 2 hours. So JR (Japan Railway) Niigata Station is the first destination when you visit Nature Aquarium Gallery.
From Niigata Station, you can access to Nature Aquarium Gallery with following route.
1) JR Echigo Line and Taxi Ride
2) Niigata Kotsu Express Bus​

Then here:

http://www.realwasabi.com/Photos/index.asp

Water grown wasabi grown in misty mountain streams:

The reason is that those things are done very well in Japan. They are not unique to Japan, just as the panda bear is not unique to China anymore. But seeing and tasting them in Japan will ensure you the best the world has to offer for those specific things. Being a California resident, I don't think I have ever tasted real wasabi in my life, no matter how expensive the restaurant I go to, or which brand of wasabi I buy from a Japanese gourmet market.

 

[passline]

Thanks Michael ........... will definitely try and fit that in. :smile:

 

[NonStopReaper]

you can visit daikoku futo On a friday night around 9 pm. Theres always a gathering of cars there. its the rest stop right off the bay bridge in Yokohama.

 

[oneofthesedays]

Sounds like ill have to take a looksy over there. Yokohama is at the end of the line im staying near. (^O^)／

 

[myhui]

Consulate General of Japan responds to NY Times story

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/03/opinion/lweb03japan.html?tntemail1=y&emc=tnt&pagewanted=print

To the Editor:

By oversimplifying and exaggerating certain socioeconomic aspects at the expense of the broader picture, “Japan Goes From Dynamic to Disheartened” (“The Great Deflation” series, front page, Oct. 17) depicts some interesting “trees” but misses the “forest” that is Japan today.

Unfortunately, the story’s few anecdotal views do not accurately reflect a diverse nation of 120 million people and one of the world’s largest economies. During these times of severe economic challenges around the globe, similarly pessimistic views about the future could surely be found in almost any Group of 8 country.

Far from being an “afterthought” weary of its global role, Japan remains committed to active leadership in the world. This international outlook is best reflected in Japan’s policies and the vibrancy of its young people. Take Afghanistan, where a $5 billion aid commitment supports 96,000 local policemen, has built 650 schools and has provided polio and other essential vaccines to 47 million children.

Additionally, Japanese youngsters, supported by the affluence of the past decades, enjoy diverse career choices, and, according to recent surveys, the most desirable job for Japanese university graduates remains working in the field of international trade.

Yasuhisa Kawamura
Director, Japan Information Center
Consulate General of Japan
New York, Oct. 29, 2010