Although there’s been mixed reactions and some controversy, Michelin (French tire manufacturer which also produces some of the oldest, best-known and most influential European hotel and restaurant guides) issued its first Japanese guide this year. And according to Michelin’s three star restaurant rating system, restaurants in Tokyo (191 total stars) have received more Michelin stars than Paris (94) and New York (54) combined. Taken from Yomiuri Shimbun: “It shows our respect for Japanese cuisine that 60 percent [of the restaurants] happened to be Japanese restaurants,” Michelin Guide Director Jean-Luc Naret said, indicating that Michelin’s first Tokyo edition was produced with local tastes very much in mind.

Here is Yoshioka sporting the new red colorway for this season at Irwindale. I’m feelin this the most, out of all the colorways he’s run for the 86 in his career. Thanks to the homey Allen Chu for providing the pics, since I am camera-less and still too lazy/poor/insertexcusehere to get one. Peep his blog over @ g-tastic.com, he’s the photographer that you never heard of, cause his skills are UN-heard of.

He also snapped this illin pic of the D.O.M.obile. You ain’t gots to park all HAORD like that, Dom. I look forward to seeing off tracks, or dirt dropping, of this car in the near (but probably non-existant) future.

My boy Akio san is too funny! Jenny Chu-woo-woO-wOO!

New Yoshioka sticker made by Works Bell Japan, just got these in yesterday (come by Sunday @ D1GP in the Works Bell booth to get one for free). But enough about stickers, let’s talk about…

HOOTERS! After Day 1 of D1, the coworkers bitched out to grab eats, so that left Allen, Akio from Works Bell Japan, and myself. Here is Akio, doing his best impression of a french fry snot rocket. I think he was saddened when I made him aware, that in Hooters, you are not allowed to “touch.”

We decided on starting off small, with (2) orders of boneless wings, fish n chips, steamed clams, and curly fries. Allen felt that we lacked enough tartar sauce in our lives, so the waitress brought us another 5 cups of it.

After blazing through that artery clogging goodness, we felt it necessary to add an order of train burgers, and an order of 20 pieces hot wings.

This is where the night got all Criss Angel on us. And for our next trick, I shall make these wings…

DISAPPEAR! Mindfreeeeak! Ugh…an awesome, yet regretfully delicious, evening.

(Note: for those who are curious, we did not provide pictures of the Hooters girls because we are car dudes and car dudes only take pics of foods and doods. True story.)

The posts been getting somewhat non-endemic as of late..but I digress. For the ear candy connoisseurs out there, don’t you sometimes wish you could listen to something other than repetitive mainstream hip hop/pop music on the radio? But don’t really know how to find good stuff out there? May I suggest peeping KCRW 89.9 FM (www.kcrw.com).
Alot of solid programs, but my favorites are probably Morning Becomes Eclectic and Chocolate City hosted by Garth Trinidad. Some highlights include J.Rocc, a J.Dilla tribute, ?uestlove, Goapele and many others. Peep it here. It’s archived since 98! I don’t know why, but it seems as if not enough people are tuning in to it in the car (if you’re in SoCal) or via internet. Seriously, good quality, rare grooves. The unfamiliar with sprinklings of the classic familiars. Please do e-mail me with any recommendations on any good radio/music sources. Although I like Big Boy, I can only handle so much Souljah Boy yules and Universal City Nissan commercials.. Public radio is refreshing. Happy Thanksgiving.

I know, I’m so f#!@ing nice to think of you while I am sitting in Niigata at my customer’s kitchen utensil warehouse/shop.

Another Japanese item to file under the “Only a Japanese person would try to increase productivity by making this stupid item.” This Pasta Fork was made for making eating pasta easier. I laughed when I saw it, but then I tried out the sample they had. It actually does work VERY well.

The middle prong is longer allowing the fork to spin by simply sliding your fingers down the handle. The prongs are waved so the pasta doesn’t slide off after it gets wrapped around the prongs. No wrist movement at all. Just let your fingers slide down the handle. It is on its way over. You will laugh when you try it out.

Mid-week holidays are always “blah” status. Most especially when you have to go back to work on Friday and set up for D1GP (then work Saturday + Sunday). See everyone out there, I’ll be at the A Spec booth as usual. I am hoping to not run into JDM EGO Jay, as he might punch my lights out.

Enjoy this old school cut by Kool & The Gang on this chilly, Wednesday evening in Socal. No words, but it speaks on another level.

I was going to the convenience store to buy a Diet Coke and saw this guy put his cell phone up against the vending machine downstairs and out pops a Diet Coke. Wow, free Diet Coke! So I whipped out my high end, super special cell phone and put it up to the machine and nothing happened.

One of the girls from the office was coming back from lunch and told me that there was ZERO chance of getting a soda unless I was registered to buy from vending machines. Need to check on that. Ended up at Mini Stop waiting in line like everyone else. I am not yet cool enough to buy with my cell phone. (Sorry for the poor picture quality due to my lack of picture taking skills combined with my not-so-great camera.)

While I was at Costco Japan, I was stocking up on the usual stuff and thinking that the Costcos in the US must offer completely different food.

So I took some pictures of the big sushi plates they offer here that are good for one night of not making dinner.

They also offer Kobe beef in huge packs and squid ready to eat in huge packs also. Probably not a big seller in the midwest.

So yeah, today was real surprising, but in a good way. We got a phone call earlier today from a forum member, saying that he saw Francis’s 86 parked in L.A. Long story short, being a good samaritan allowed us to RECOVER THE CAR IN ONE PIECE. The guy staked it out, until the LAPD was able to arrive on scene and we were able to head down there. Thanks to the LAPD as well, for being extremely courteous and helpful!

Safe and sound. The wheels, bumpers, all vitals intact. They did take the Trueno emblem though, bastards (rice points lost). The sounds are gone, but oh well, that’s well overshadowed by the fact that it’s back to its rightful owner! Oh, and they stole all of Francis’s trance and J-Pop cd’s, along with his prescription sunglasses. I hope the thief uses them to stare into the sun.

Thank you to everyone who helped, this is definitely a refreshing taste of justice. I’m sure I speak on Francis’s behalf when I say how grateful we are to have the support of the community to get this car back! Keep those cars safe!

This morning, my coworker Francis’s ultra clean AE86 GTS coupe was stolen near his house in Monrovia, CA. This totally sucks, what a bad way to start off a week.

Wheels are Wedssport MA86 15×8.5 -10, has a fresh silver paint job (with custom bodywork), and also has new Trueno front and rear bumpers. Sideskirts are OEM replica.

I wish the worst to those who steal and ruin the hardwork and effort that people put into their possessions. Karma will serve all.

Congratulations to the Endless GT300 Fairlady for taking 3rd place at Round 8 of the Super GT series. Kind of an awkward podium photo.. but..

Here I am prepping the Z for morning warm-up……………………………………. j/k

Nutzo.

So it looks like my Tokyo Banana spokesperson privileges have been revoked by the higher power they call Jay. Since all of this *waving hand in front of face* is the moneymaker, I cannot risk it. LOL, but I digress. While walking around SEMA, I spotted this in the Suzuki booth. Road Race Engineering, known for their Mitsubishi prowess, teamed up with them for a demo car, and came up with this wild idea. Sport bike handlebar steering setup on a car, but wait, that’s not all.

Works Bell Rapfix II Quick Release in special Team Orange colorway. I wonder if Kumakubo, Tanaka, or Suenaga got a chance to check this out. I’m just glad Road Race chose real OG Works Bell products, rather than the the copies out there made by some unscrupulous individuals.

I stumbled upon this shirt, from Mi Gente. You’ll probably recognize them since Fat Joe + the WE THE BEST DJ KHALED LISTENNNN!!! crew rocks their stuff. Fuck the copy cats, stay true and support the originators.

As soon as I got back from SEMA on Saturday night, I saw a Japanese cat cruising down La Brea in this. This eye catching whip is such a good look. I can see myself in one of these.. Jerry, I am feeling envious..