ZOKUSHA is a unique Japanese custom culture
Many machines arouse the curiosity of car enthusiasts. However, it is ZOKUSHA, as known as the Bosozoku gang’s car, that makes people look at it with a sense of curiosity. Cars made by men who are not satisfied with ordinary specifications have a special charm that makes them exciting to look at. Their cars have their original style. Although they may look similar, the details are different and each one appeals to its individuality. This is the world of ZOKUSHA that they love.
Remembering his younger days, he recreated the Fukuoka-spec machine
In Japan, there is a critical public sentiment against ZOKUSHA representing modified cars, but the view overseas is a little different. ZOKUSHA has been introduced in many cases as an artistic custom car. Today, the term ZOKUSHA and its specifications are recognized by car enthusiasts around the world as a uniquely Japanese custom culture.
Several cars that directly express ZOKUSHA were displayed at the 2023 Osaka Auto Messe. Among them, the car that attracted the most attention with its flamboyant coloring was the favorite of Tomoharu Monji, who owns the sushi restaurant “Sushi Monji” in Osaka.
The car, so modified that it is hard to tell what it is based on, is a TOYOTA GX71 Mark II. At the time when street racers started appearing, They thought a car with just low-profile tires and lowered suspension was not enough. The coloring of the car was created to make a statement.
This car was also painted in an eye-catching paint job. In the world of street racing, this type of paint job is well-known and commonly referred to as “Fukuoka-Spec”.
Monji, a native of Fukuoka, remembered the cars he drove in his youth and recreated this Fukuoka-spec car. Young Monji could not paint the car beautifully due to his inexperience, but now that the technology and tools have been developed, he was able to create the Fukuoka Specs of his youth without any difficulty.
What is the new school for street racer specifications?
This GX71 Mark II just attracts attention for its flashy coloring, but it is more than that; it is a new-style street racer that combines old and new parts.
The front end has a standard long nose with a chin lip spoiler and an external oil cooler. The fenders were made of sheet metal working instead of using over fenders, and the mirrors are the old-fashioned Vitaroni F1 mirrors. The sushi restaurant logo and the word 麗心愚（Racing）are on the Windshield Banner Sticker.
This is the old-school part of the street racer specification. The parts installed are exactly the style that was popular in the past.
And the new school part is the suspension. The old theory was no suspension or to cut two and a half coils of stock suspension, but this car is equipped with an air suspension that allows the driver to raise or lower the height at will.
This car has been remade in a way that makes aggressive use of modern conveniences while preserving the traditional ZOKUSHA aspects of the car. This is the new-style street racer by Monji, a sushi chef.
In addition, the painting technique of using glitter made the entire body shine, which was not available in the past. This is also a modern arrangement.
We asked Monji if he drives this car. He said that he does not drive the car daily but mainly displays it at a car show.
“I exhibited it in the hope that everyone would remember those days when they were young.”