Periodically, I like to go to Mitsuwa market to look at magazines in their bookstore. I like seeing how the tuning culture is in Japan and I would collect every issue of Option magazine I can get my hands on but with the exchange rate nowadays, it’s not financially a good idea to be buying these things. I mean, at one point I remember paying only like 7 bucks for an issue but now with the way the dollar is, I end up having to pay over 10 bucks for it. I even tried subscribing one year but it ended up costing more than it would cost to buy them individually. So I’ll normally just glance at them at the market and put them down. Same thing with the VIPcar and VIPstyle magazines. Those are awesome to look at because VIP stuff just isn’t as abundant on the internet compared to drifting, time attack, etc. but like I said, shit is just too expensive to buy. I’ll only pick up an issue if it comes with some free stuff like stickers or keychains because then it might actually be worthwhile. So I show up and I just so happen to catch the Jan. 2010 issue available…

I actually bought the issue because this month they had something featured that they normally don’t; Hondas. Sure they’ll include the smaller pics of some Hondas here and there or they’ll throw in some NSXs but that’s about it. Honda isn’t as mainstream as it is over here so to see some appear in Option is a pretty cool sight…

Maybe their resurgence in American car culture has led for them to grab a bit of the spotlight back from the rest of the crowd, I don’t know, but attention America; Hondas are still alive and well in Japan…

Now I would have used my sister’s scanner to show you guys but I honestly just hate that fuckin thing so I just used the camera and took some pics of it. That scanner is a bit dated so these might actually come out clearer than it would have with the scanner…

I don’t really know what it says so just look at the pictures. That’s what I do…

The white EF8 has a B16B EK9 swap in it with a Stack cluster and carbon roof. Notice the two-toned bay…

If you look at the pics closely, you’ll notice that it says “north latitude, 36 degrees” all over the car. Even on the windshield. Not really sure what it means but I think they’re representing Yokohama, Japan, because well, it’s located 36 degrees north latitude. Again, I don’t know for sure, but if it was their intention, that’s a pretty cool idea. More creative way of putting the city you’re reppin instead of just stating it…Oh and notice the header and side exhaust exhaust…

The other CR-X is black and has a full carbon front end, even has the carbon fiber Z3 style fenders…

It also has a B16B swap like the white one. The gauge set-up with the bracket hanging off the rear view mirror mount is pretty cool idea. Not sure if I would be cool with the wires hanging all over but hey, not my car to judge…

Pretty cool though right? Just to see what the “other” guys are doing overseas. I wish Option had more coverage on Hondas, especially cool little builds like this. It’s like something you would see over here, but not, you know? Like the white rex, you could see a car similar to it over here but it wouldn’t have the little details to it like the nitrous and the custom fuel set-up in the trunk. The exhaust and header set-up as well. I mean, on a full race car or a car that never sees the streets, it’s possible, but for a car like that to be driven everywhere? No way…Shit would get jacked or impounded by the police the moment it sets foot on the street…I mean, do you honestly think you can drive around here with a big nitrous bottle attached to your cage and your side exit exhaust screaming down the road?