Before I go back to Japan in a few weeks, allow me to take you back to Japan to look at some more photos I collected during my last trip. My original plans abroad a couple months ago consisted of just going to Sydney, Australia for the World Time Attack Challenge. It had been a couple years since I had been back in New South Wales and I promised Yasu that I would meet him there. It was his first time and he wanted to see what Australia was like so I agreed to join him. As usual, my schedule was pretty jampacked so I totally forgot to book my flight to Sydney until a week before. I don’t know how many of you have booked international flights before but trying to book them a week before departure is usually a bad idea. Prices skyrocket last minute to target procrastinators like myself and sure enough, I found myself looking at roundtrip flights that were over $2000. On average, if you were to book in a timely fashion like normal humans, a flight to Sydney from Los Angeles would range anywhere from $750 to $1200. Anything over that is pretty outrageous but a promise is a promise, so I wasn’t going to just leave Yasu by himself in a country he had never been to…

I started digging around some more, looking at more websites to see what my options were, and discovered that I could actually fly to Japan after for $100 more. That meant that I could go to two different countries and come back home for just a little more. LA to Sydney and back by itself was $2100. Adding Japan to my itinerary came out to $2200. It seemed random but Japan is amazing so why not just stop by for a week, eat a few meals, do some shopping, and come back home. At least that way it would feel like I was getting my moneys-worth. I talked to Yasu about it and he said I might as well stay two more weeks so I could go to Sendai with him. Our friend Takeshi Kobayashi was hosting his annual Kday! event in his hometown and I had always wanted to go. I always told him I would try but the timing was just never right as I’m typically not in Japan during that time. I thought about it and it made sense to just stay. That would make my trip even more worth the money and I’d just spend a couple extra dollars on hotels and train rides. Fuck it. Knock another item off my bucket list. Things happen for a reason, right?…

Kday, for those that don’t know, is an event with a heavy focus on USDM styling and culture in the Miyagi prefecture of Japan. Kobayashi has been running this event for over a decade now but like many events throughout the world, went on hiatus during the pandemic. The builds and the people who attend are enthusiasts of American car culture so Kday is filled with cars you’d likely see here at home. That’s what makes it interesting. It’s fun to see how Japanese car enthusiasts interpret our style since we grew up taking so much influence from them. My main reason for attending with Yasu was to debut a new Civic coupe project he had been working on. When you see it, you’ll instantly recognize it if you’re a regular here on The Chronicles. This Civic holds particular significance to myself and my friends because it once belonged to my good friend David Andrade, better known to the internet car world as DPK David….

He sold the chassis to Yasu a couple years ago when he decided it was time for him to move on from Hondas. It had always been one of Yasu’s favorite Honda builds here in California so he purchased it with the goal of rebuilding it to its prime form. Yasu was acquiring just the bare shell itself but was familiar with the build enough to be able to recreate the entire car…

(As a side note, if you guys want 16×20 prints of any of these photos, I’m making it a possibility for the month of December! Head over to the storefront to purchase a custom 16×20 of any of these photos!…)

As Yasu’s business grew over time, the less time he had to devote to the rebuild of DPK David’s Civic. Exceed was starting to do really well and personal projects just weren’t the priority. It wasn’t until early this year when he was finally able to sit down and fix all the things that were wrong with the car…

The area that needed the most attention was the engine bay. The shaved sections had started to crack over time and the body filler under the paint had started to wear down. Yasu basically had to scrape-off or even burn-off the areas that were overloaded with filler material. He didn’t like how smooth the firewall was so he dedicated much of his free time remaking it to look like a cleaner version of a factory firewall with all its grooves and edges…

Once the engine room was remade, the entire car was resprayed inside and out before a newly-sourced K20 engine was able to go back in. Yasu tested individual throttle bodies on the K-swap before finally deciding on a polished Skunk2 Pro Series intake manifold. When it is all said and done, the coupe should have a new black chrome valve cover added as well as a matching intake manifold…

Most of the body was also renewed before it was painted, as there had been a lot of wear on the chassis while it sat outside enduring the harsh Osaka summers. Since David’s paint color was a custom mix and didn’t involve a paint code of any sort, computer technology had to be used to recreate the green mixture. We were able to get the car put together just in time to load the thing up onto a trailer. Our friend Mori took over the responsibility of getting the car to Sendai while Yasu and I headed to Tokyo a few days early. He picked us up from our hotel and we were able to arrive in Miyagi just as roll-in had wrapped-up. They dropped the car, I pulled out the camera, and our ‘Kday’ began…

Shunichi Sato’s imported USDM 2004 Civic SI wearing a complete Honda Factory Performance (HFP) lip kit and black Volk SE37K wheels…

Under the hood of Shun’s EP3 is a K20A3 that hosts a Skunk2 magnesium valve cover and a complete TODA Racing Sports Injection Kit…

The new individual throttle body set-up was installed by Tsuneo Sonoda from IMPACT! and is tuned by the specialty shop using a Haltech Elite 1500 management system…

Nice 205/50 Dunlop Direzza rubber on this very OEM+ EK on Enkei Sport RC-S wheels. This looks to be an interpretation of a lightly-modded EJ6 hatchback from the U.S., USDM headlights and all…

Norifumi Kobayashi has had quite a run in 2023, winning multiple awards everywhere he has gone with his USDM Integra GS-R. The incredibly-detailed K-swapped Integra build has garnered top honors at Wekfest Japan, another award at USDM Jam, would later take home top honors at this Kday event, and just recently won “BEST JAPANESE” at the annual Mooneyes Hotrod Custom Show…

It’s easy to see why the Integra was met with such high-acclaim, judging by the overall execution throughout The engine bay is fantastic, cut down smooth with even the K-swap mounting bracket on the driver’s side seamlessly integrated into the chassis as if to appear stock…

Kobayashi typically has HRE wheels mounted over his StopTech big brakes but for the Kday event, he switched it up and chose Titan7 T-R10 forged wheels…

Inside is a refreshed factory GS-R interior with a pair of Recaro seats replacing the factory leather seats, a Renown steering wheel, and controller for the air suspension system…

I should also mention that in addition to all the awards, this Integra was also on the cover of Stance magazine recently as you can see it sitting atop his dashboard here…

The GS-R sits nicely tucked on air suspension but at this angle you can also spot his Comptech rear lower swaybar brace and rarely seen Comptech exhaust…

Masafumi Eto is not only one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in Japan but he also owns this JDM DC2 Type R which has been converted to full OEM USDM ’97 ITR-spec. Like Kobayashi’s GS-R, Eto’s ITR is pristine and likely better than original showroom condition…

When I say it’s “full OEM USDM ’97 ITR-spec”, I mean that essentially everything was converted with the exception being that the DC2 is still its original right-hand drive orientation. The engine itself is also USDM in that it’s a true B18C5 from an American Type R…

Even the B18C5 is unique, as it’s been sent-off to Type ONE for a complete refresh before acquiring true Spoon Sports certification…

Shoma Saito’s Frost White EK4 Civic SiR with Spoon Sports carbon fiber front lip, 949Racing wheels, Advan A052 tires, Spoon Sports mirrors and Spoon brakes…

Yoshiyuki Kubo’s B18C-powered Zenki EK4 Civic SiR on 15-inch CE28 wheels, and refinished Spoon Sports brakes…

Kohei Sato’s EK9 CTR will always be a favorite of mine. I appreciate the commitment to replicating the style and intentions of a modified USDM Civic DX. Even in 2023 it is still incredibly uncommon to take an all original Civic Type R and repaint it a lower-trim Midori Green…

Hideo Shingu holding-up his copy of my book next to his ’97-spec Integra Type R which was once a ’98 ITR. He’s got a variety of set-ups for his DC2 including a full Mugen aero kit but for Kday this year, he chose to run OEM aero with 15-inch Advan RGs…

USDM 98-01 Acura Integra facelift on this repainted DC2 on 15-inch white-faced Work RSZ-R…

Task Ogihara’s EF2 Civic 25X S-Limited hatchback with a Civic Shuttle front face and aggressively-sized 15-inch Sprint Hart CP-R wheels…

The D15B engine inside Ogihara’s 25X utilizes a set of individual throttle bodies and operates on a tuned Link engine management system…

Kentaro Unuma’s fully-restored EG9 Civic Ferio SiR sedan on Mugen MR5 wheels. If you’re wondering about the color, it’s actually an OEM Honda color called “Opal Green Metallic” (G-73M) which, if I recall, was a factory color for the CB-chassis Accord…

Inside the Opal Green Mettalic engine bay is an exceptionally-clean OEM B16A set-up…

Takeru Tojo from L2P Japan’s real FD2 Civic Mugen RR with color-matched Spoon Sports mirrors and Desmond Regamaster EVO II wheels…

Daisuke Ito’s DC5 Integra Type R with full Mugen aero, minus the hood, Magical Racing mirrors, and white Mugen MF10. If you look through the driver’s side window you can even get a glimpse of Ito’s rare Vision Technica Imus seats…

Seiya Suzuki’s Sunlight Yellow Mugen-equipped Integra Type R with just a few subtle hints of Spoon Sports…

The EG6 G.O.A.T. Masaki Fukuda’s Civic wearing one of many set-ups he has stored away. For Kday this year, he chose a Mugen front lip, Vision corner lights, Spoon brakes, black USDM ITR Recaro seats, and 15-inch Work RSZ-R…

Check-out the minimal clearance he has between his Spoon calipers and the spokes of his RSZ-Rs…

I know they’re not for everyone but I for one, thoroughly enjoy the Work RSZ-R wheel…

Noriyuki Ebara’s AP2 S2000 with a freshly-installed Mugen SS front to match his hood, rear wing, and bronze MF10 wheels. Ebara also has a set of Mugen S1R seats inside as well to follow the theme…

Kohei Taguchi’s mint condition imported USDM Acura Integra Type R sitting simply on 16-inch Sprint Hart CP-R…

Eishin Saito’s Mugen CR-X PRO.2 tucking the tires of his super rare S2000 optional 16-inch wheels which were produced by BBS and also forged…

A very USDM-themed engine bay inside the EF8, hosting components from Skunk2 while paired with traditional JDM products like the Maxim Works header…

Takeshi Kobayashi making his speech towards the end of the day, thanking everyone for attending before he presented the awards to the winners of the day…

Parked near the Type_K booth was Takeshi’s own imported Acura Type R on Mugen MF10 wheels…

Junpei’s USDM-inspired EG6 Civic slammed on Sprint Hart wheels…

He was parked alongside a couple other EGs, one an EG6 with a Sergeant front and Mugen lip, the other an EG9 Ferio also rocking a Mugen lip of a slightly different variety…

The boys from L2P Japan chatting and deciding how lay-out their cars for photos after the event…

I don’t see myself ever owning an Integra but I will say that I’ve always thought that the JDM DC2 has always been a favorite platform of mine. I love the bodylines and how proportional everything is, if that makes sense. I think the lines are perfect. I never understood why we got stuck with the bug-eye front-ends when the JDM DC2 face looks so good. My favorite kit for the DC2 ever is also the Mugen aero kit because the lines also flow so perfectly with the factory lines. This set-up by Seiya Suzuki, in my opinion, is the (visually) perfect Integra Type R—even with the Spoon brakes that contrast just a little too much. You know what else makes this DC2 look so good? Ride height. It’s everything…

Some prefer the Gen.1 version of the Mugen wing but I’ll always choose the second generation…

Attention to detail is also top-tier here with Masaki Fukuda’s EG6. OEM mirrors are typically color-matched to the body, but Fukuda understands contrast. With a look like this with black mudflaps and optional black bra, Fukuda chose black mirror bases to match and flow with the trim while making his actual mirrors white to match the body. Takeru Tojo also does the same with the Spoon mirrors on his Mugen RR if you paid attention…

Ebara’s AP2 S2000 was all smiles as the afternoon came to a close…

This EK9 CTR had a nice selection of parts, running a C-West front, C-West sides, gold Advan Racing RG wheels, retrofitted Craftsquare mirrors, vented hood, and Escueleto bucket seats…

I forgot to mention that Suzuki also has rare yellow Recaro ITR seats that came on the Integra Type Rx…

Somehow the black USDM ITR seats just seem right at home in Fukuda’s Civic…

I always like the last hour or so of meets or shows because they’re just so much more relaxed. Everyone just arranges their cars however they want, some take off, leaving more open space, and people just hang-out until the sun sets…

I guess I didn’t get any photos of Chan-oka’s Integra GS-R during the event itself but found the perfect moment to capture it as the day winded down. He’s really settled into a good ride height and wheel/tire size lately. His Integra looks nice and low even with a bagged DC2 right beside it…

The AP Racing brakes are a nice touch as well. You can see here how much, or how little, clearance he has between the pavement and his custom one-off FEEL’S-inspired front lip…

Instead of buying a domestic Integra Type R to build, he rather imported a USDM Integra to build in Japan to resemble an ITR. As his favorite quote goes, “JDM Honda that doesn’t look Japan”….

Caught a photo of some cars as they were leaving…

But the main focus after Kday was to get some set shots of some of our friends’ cars with the new Exceed EJ1 coupe. Since Takeshi and David have been good friends for years now, it was only right to get a shot of Takeshi’s Integra with David’s old Civic coupe for the first time ever…

Hideo Shingu joined us as well so I was able to get his ’97-spec DC2R with Takeshi’s USDM DC2R…

The Exceed front lip makes such a big difference to the front end of this car. When we pulled the coupe out for USDM Jam a few weeks earlier, it didn’t have the lip yet and the car just looked so off…

The trio re-arranged, two imported Hondas and one disguised as one…

Really enjoyed getting this shot of the Integra Type Rs together…

And of course we had to wrap-up the day with a group photo with everyone who helped-out at Kday together…

Big thanks to Yasu for always taking such good care of me while I’m floating around in Japan…

After Kday, we all met-up in Sendai for a big gathering to grab drinks and dinner together. We still had a 4-hour drive ahead of us to go back to Tokyo but the one thing Yasu and I wanted to do was get photos of the coupe in Shibuya by the world-famous intersection. We arrived pretty late unfortunately, around 4AM or so, so most of the big signage had already been turned-off, but we still unloaded the car for photos…

Unfortunately, the Civic wasn’t registered for road-use in Japan yet so we had to be extra cautious about putting the car on the street. The moment the police came, we would have been in a lot of trouble. The exhaust also wasn’t hooked-up yet so the car was FUCKING LOUD. All the drunk people who were still meandering around Shibuya were a bit shocked to see why this loud-ass Civic with the steering wheel on the wrong side was causing such a scene…

So we unloaded as fast as we could and put the coupe near the street. If you look at this photo and see the cars across the street with their headlights on, right next to it is a Koban (Police) station. We were in plain sight so we tried to be on our best behavior…

I don’t think it’s too often that cars get unloaded off of tow trailers at the world famous Shibuya crossing. We knew we might not have the opportunity again since Yasu isn’t from Tokyo so we just said ‘fuck it’ and went for it…

Honestly the car looked better sitting on the tow truck. It just made way less sense with the truck there as well, haha…

We pushed the car back into the alley to be a little less obvious about what we were doing but realized that there was a security guard chilling in his office right as we shot this photo. After we fired the car up, much to his chagrin, and got the car loaded up as fast as we could. Mori dropped us off at the hotel after that and he made the even longer drive back to Osaka…

And that is where this one concludes! I’m so glad I finally got to experience Kday for the first-time so I could support my good friend Takeshi. Will I be back again? Who knows. It might be a one and done thing for me since I don’t visit Japan during this time normally but stranger things have happened—and could happen again so I’ll never say never. Thanks for looking!!…