Throughout TAS 2025 week, the Peaches Underground Tokyo meet returned for one more 12 months of brain-melting high quality and infinite selection. Nonetheless, very like final 12 months, there was not a lot ‘underground’ left about it.
However I don’t say that with any negativity. Curating an occasion like this entails a lot greater than meets the attention.
Tokyo automobile tradition is undeniably top-of-the-line on this planet, but mockingly, displaying it off in its purest kind is now close to unimaginable.
Gone are the times of central metropolis automobile parks stuffed with cool vehicles, a scene harking back to The Quick and the Livid: Tokyo Drift. Immediately, any trace of a automobile meet at such venues is met swiftly with a closed gate and the police.
However for Korean-born, Tokyo-based media/clothes firm Peaches, ‘no’ was not an possibility. They searched excessive and low throughout the area to discover a venue for over 200 vehicles and a pair of,500 spectators.
And that brings us to the Ajinomoto Stadium automobile park in Chofu, Tokyo.
Luke, one of many occasion organisers, defined that this meet wasn’t about replicating a Tokyo Drift set. As a substitute, it’s about sharing the town’s huge and vibrant automobile tradition with the 1000’s of worldwide guests who come to Japan throughout Tokyo Auto Salon week.
The occasion continues to be a three way partnership with Takashi-san of Underground Tokyo, with each automobile personally chosen by him.
And Takashi-san’s decisions had been completely on level. Selection was key. With solely 200 slots accessible, Takashi ensured the automobile park wasn’t simply stuffed with Skyline GT-Rs and Porsche 911s. As a substitute, the choice ranged from drift-ready S13s to Bosozoku Laurels and concours-standard classics.
In fact, there have been nonetheless loads of GT-Rs and 911s with a few of Tokyo’s finest in attendance, together with this beautiful white BNR32 on purple RAYS Volk Racing TE37s.
This 12 months additionally noticed assist from each Nissan and Porsche. Seeing producer backing at fanatic occasions like that is at all times refreshing.
Porsche showcased their 992 911 GT3 RS, commanding respect even amongst such an eclectic mixture of vehicles.
But it surely was Nissan that actually stole the present, bringing not one, however two of their most prized vehicles out for the evening. One was the 2013 IDx idea automobile, a tribute to the Silvia and the Fairlady Z.
The actual crowd-pleaser, nonetheless, was the R34 Skyline GT-R JGTC GT500 Pennzoil race automobile. Usually seen at occasions just like the Nismo Competition and different Nissan occasions, bringing it to Underground Tokyo was a daring transfer that strengthened the automaker’s ties with the fanatic group.
Nissan’s current efforts within the fanatic house are led by Iso-san, a key determine in Nissan’s Prototype division and an enormous presence in Tokyo’s automobile scene. This wasn’t Iso-san’s solely contribution throughout Tokyo Auto Salon week, however we’ll save that story for one more time.
M’s Machine Works additionally made an look with its time assault Cayman. For these unfamiliar, this blisteringly quick Porsche laps Tsukuba in simply 56 seconds. Just a few of M’s’ road GT3-kitted vehicles additionally made their rounds.
Choosing a single spotlight was no simple feat, however the Mid Night time 964 constructed by Storage TBK was a particular standout. Mid Night time’s resurgence has sparked pleasure amongst a brand new era of Japanese automobile fanatics, and other people had been fairly stoked to see this automobile out and about.
The occasion centrepiece wasn’t a automobile, however a large moveable lightbox designed to indicate them off of their finest mild. One of many hardest challenges the organisers face is guaranteeing correct lighting for the vehicles, so what higher option to clear up that than with a studio-grade subtle lightbox for them to drive below?
With so many spectators, getting a transparent shot was a problem, nevertheless it’s clear simply how well-liked this fixture was.
The Low Mind crew was out in full drive, together with Takuya-san’s Corolla wagon and John’s Corona, which I noticed earlier that day within the Makuhari Messe automobile parks.
Honda Civics had been out in drive too, and the lineup included a few Kanjozoku-inspired creations.
These two sound machines made certain nobody left with out listening to the house owners’ 2024 Spotify Wrapped choices.
The worldwide automobile scene continues to shift as enforcement round meetups and occasions grows stricter – and Japan isn’t any exception. From the skin, some might criticise organisers or firms for ‘capitalising’ on the more and more well-liked JDM scene. However the fact is, occasions just like the Peaches Underground Tokyo meet have an actual place. They provide a uncommon probability to share these vehicles and this tradition with those that don’t have the luxurious of experiencing it year-round.
Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco
