Just about every import fan knows about Tokyo car culture, but not a lot of people know about the cities outside of Tokyo, such as Saitama. The region has had its share of insults, with some even referring to it as "DaSaitama" from the word "Dasai," which translates to "lame" or "uncool." But Saitama will surprise you with underdogs like Takashi Haruyama, founder of Car Modify Wonder. He's the real deal old-school body kit craftsman who does everything in house. We visited the esteemed man at his humble shop to see what he was up to.
While the shop's upstairs serves as a goldmine for spare Nissan parts, it's the first floor where the magic happens. That's where Haruyama handcrafts every single Car Modify Wonder piece himself, from front bumper to diffusers. Long live the Saitama soul!
For as long as he can remember, Jofel Tolosa has always had a passion for photography and writing. Being born and raised in the small town Delano, California the Filipino-American decided that Southern California was better fit for his lifestyle. After graduating from Cal State Fullerton he landed a job at Source Interlink Media as an associate online editor. As an associate online editor he specializes in photographing and writing on the import car scene. Being a car enthusiast he is in charge of producing exclusive online content for Super Street magazine, Import Tuner magazine, and Honda Tuning magazine.
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