Whether it may be in the form of psychedelic television advertisements or colorful street clothing, Japan is known for its outlandish and bizarre culture. Cars are no exception to this quirk that only Japan can pull off.
Pimp My Car
The automobiles in Japan are known to be top-notch. With cars like the Dome Zero and the Toyota MR-S, one would think that the innovations of Japan can’t get any better than this.
That’s where you’re wrong.
The creator’s mind is heavily ingrained in the culture of Japan. One of the ways we can see this is the way they modify their perfectly-fine cars into another level of awesomeness. There are three levels of pimping your car according to the Japanese: ricing, VIP, or bosozoku.
LEVEL 1: Ricing, for the Ka-Chow Effect
No, it has nothing to do with eating rice. Ricing is basically the act of modifying your car. For ricers, it’s all about upgrading your car to look fast. Whether by decals, lights, or extra engines, it’s all about the appearance of high performance.
Ricers typically take a common car like a sedan or a minivan, and bling it up. A sports compact is typically modified by adding oversized exterior accessories. Some people add stickers. Some people lower the car. Some people add an extra exhaust. No matter what people add, ricing is basically all about one thing: attitude. By giving a normal car a unique appearance, the ricer adds his personality to his car. It’s about standing out. If anyone knows a thing or two about being outstanding, it has to be Japan.
LEVEL 2: VIP, when you Gon’ Get Low, Low, Low
Photo by ryanmotoNSB. Licensed under Creative Commons.
In Japan, a VIP is not about being on top. As a matter of fact, it’s about going low. Way, way low. VIP, or bippu as the Japanese call it, is a type of style wherein cars like minivans, sedans, and Kei cars are modified to sit low.
These cars also have wide, deep-dish wheels to add that extra punch of swag. Some drivers even add wide fenders and air suspension in their cars for that European feel. If anything screams VIP, it’s the glossy paint job. The VIP style is reminiscent of the traditional hip-hop style. It’s about bringing your swag into what you drive.
There are misconceptions that people who use bippu-style or VIP cars belong to the mafia or high ranking executives. While this is untrue, anyone can pimp up their cars to bippu standards to feel like the king of the road.
Japan shows us that what it takes to be a VIP is looking like a VIP.
LEVEL 3: BOSOZOKU, for the Wild Child
Bosozoku is typically the combination of all styles written above: from the decals to big fender flares. Bosozoku is basically modifying a car into anything a regular car is not.
In Japan, the bosozoku is not just a style. It’s a statement in one word: rebel. Bosozoku is not merely for cars. It is actually a youth subculture of motorcycle riders in Japan. The word, bosozoku, means violent speed tribes. Nothing screams speed more than exhaust. More than being a rebel, the bosozoku’s outrageous style is about showing the rest of the world that you are not afraid of anything. You’re willingness to face no matter what happens is reflected in the boldness of what you ride.
Pimp My Car, Pump My Attitude
The out-of-the-box car modifications and the flashy displays may be annoying to some, but behind the loud decoration screams a louder statement: you are who you are and you are proud of it. There is no need to stick to a certain standard. There is no shame in standing out.
So Japan, just do your thing and enjoy this ride we called life.
SOURCES
Banner photo from MaxPixel. Licensed under Creative Commons.
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