10 Ways Tokyo Drift is Not Like the Real Japan
The power moving revelation The Rapid as well as the Furious: Tokyo Drift that struck movie theaters back in 2006 really had a great deal of video footage shot within Japan. It would come to be renowned for radiating the spotlight on the sideways sensation known as drift. The film was additionally authentic in that most of the scenes from the film were shot on location in Tokyo. In the city itself, it attempted to repaint practical understandings into both day-to-day education life, as well as the sub-culture of underground drift racing.
Source: IMDB
The movie itself was heavily criticised by media doubters for its lacklustre tale and also dull acting performances. Yet, it got going crazy appreciation in regards to its special effects as well as technological driving expertise. However, due to constraints within Japan, a lot of these scenes were produced in Hollywoods yard along the roads of LA.
. So, as a movie apparently portraying authentic scenes from the worlds of Tokyo, specifically how realistic is it compared to what we know of this contemporary city. Lets consider the leading 10 things, this motion picture got wrong when based on real-world Japan.
Just a warning for those ill-informed. If you have not seen this movie yet, after that we advise you go enjoy this insane trip of an experience prior to reading on. The adhering to 10 points do consist of spoilers nevertheless.
Feel free to have a look at our 2nd blog post on just how Tokyo Drift resembles the genuine Japan. You may also have an interest in our article on the history as well as emergence of drift in Japan.
If youre thinking about our frequently asked question Section, you can check our page on Life in Japan or our committed Exploring Japan blog post.
1. Drifting in Public Carparks
All of us saw the accurate implementation of the drifting abilities scaling those winding ramps and flying past the concrete columns of the carpark. While these appearance most certainly really awesome, the majority of the driving series were caught in LA. Showing how tough it is to carry out such feats in Japan, despite huge flick budget plans. To be honest, carparks are very difficult to burglarize, and are probably the last location would certainly be drifters would certainly want to examine their abilities. The factor being, particularly for authorities it is very easy to shut down gain access to, whatsoever the entryways and departure factors. In addition, the possibility for mishaps or damages to peoples pride as well as joy is a great deal higher with the variety of obstacles, pylons and extremely minimal area.
Source: IMDB
In saying that, if you really intend to try your hand at the carpark drift scene, youre gon na require some quite amazing skills. Secret driving characters including Keiichi Tsuchiya, also known as drift king, were gotten in touch with and also choreographed much of the technological collections we might witness in the movie. So, to even obtain close to this sort of ability, youre gon na need a hell of a lot of practice.
In Japan, you can observe drifting both on the track and off. Yet when its off, it very much stays around the twisty curves of mountainous and countryside tarmac or quiet commercial roadways. Late during the night when there is very little web traffic and far away from civilisation individuals lockdown these locations to refine their skills. No one would certainly dare take this right into the cities, let alone a public car park, as the dangers are enormous.
2. Providing Autos to Strangers
After observing that Sean quickly obtains under DKs skin, after that Han soon hands him the secrets to his ride. His interest about the children prospective drift ability ultimately betrays him however. The risk costs him his auto, therefore Sean soon discovers himself helping Han as his individual task kid, to repay his gathered financial obligation.
Allows put that above scene in point of view though. Plainly, it is challenging to believe in a highly homogenous and also conservative society like japan, that somebody would provide you their automobile tricks based upon first perceptions alone. Whats a lot more, Sean probably didnt also have a Japanese chauffeurs permit. Further to that, in Japan, there are many individuals that hold driving licences however lack any real-world experience. Basically, they are classified as paper chauffeurs. So, particularly in the city where trains are so hassle-free, auto ownership is mainly the exception, rather than the guideline.
Possibly one other thing that is specifically relevant to Americans, due to the distinction in driving conditions in between the U.S.A. and Japan, straight trading driving permits need an expertise and practical test. Generally, for the majority of Americans, they require to carry out both an understanding examination as well as an extremely purely controlled driving abilities examination. The functional examination needs you to navigate a specific driving training course with marginal errors. From talking with lots of people, it is not uncommon to stop working on the initial effort either.

3. High School Lunches No A Grade Presentation Sushi
Among the important things that Japanese school cafeterias can be pleased with, is their normally favorable approach to a well balanced diet. Cosmetically, it might not be the most attractive, comparable to that of a jail kitchen areas cuisine. Nevertheless, you might be stunned to know exactly how nutritionally healthy they are.
Now, when we switch over to the senior high school image illustrated in Tokyo Drift, we find a drastically various scenario. Sean as well as his fellow students are devouring on some appealing well-presented baskets of sushi. It is the type of presentation, you would expect to see in your higher-end or fine dining sushi restaurants. No even routine Japanese chain izakayas could complete. So, they are overemphasizing the high school scene a little hereof.
4. Communication with the Yakuza
The below ground criminal offense lords of Japan, the Yakuza, are popular by picture as well as credibility. Yet if you look for one on the streets as well as cities of Japan, you might be mistaken for falling short to recognize even one, over and over again.
Source: IMDB
To be truthful, it is extremely unusual for immigrants to have any type of interaction with this infamous gangsta clan. Generally, they keep to themselves and are not easily prompted not to mention, differentiated. Even if they are covered in tattoos they tend to hide their body art as long as possible with long-sleeved clothing. Culturally, the Japanese are very simple as well as do not such as to stand apart in a crowd, Yakuza or otherwise.
In Seans intro to the underground racing scene of Tokyo Drift, it brings him face to face with DK. His antagonist with solid connections to the Japanese mafia. For the most part, if one were to come in contact with an individual, they would definitely back away as opposed to exacerbate the conditions. In addition, the chances they recognize English are likewise pretty slim. In our opening scene with Sean, not only does he get under DKs skin, he pushes his limitations with spoken exchange, as well as also challenges him to a race.
If you put yourself in the very same circumstance, Im not sure how video game you are or well you talk the Japanese language. Yet I would be backing down pretty quickly. Furthermore, I would certainly be doing practically anything I can to attempt to snuff out any type of possible hostility or bad blood.
5. Weapons in Japan A Really Rare Sight
In one of Tokyo Drifts later climactic scenes, DK challenges Sean by pulling a weapon on him. Clearly, DKs links aid him get access to such a tool. But, in all honesty, guns and gun-related violence simply isn’t that usual on the roads of Tokyo or the rest of Japan. Actually, gun-related criminal offenses tend to primarily be connected with inner yakuza clashes, as opposed to include the public. Rather, knives are more prevalent in criminal associated occurrences.
However, it would certainly be pretty foolish for DK to pull his weapon on a person, not to mention an immigrant, specifically one with military connections. Likewise, it would be futile for Seans father, that is enlisted in the navy, to pull a tool on an indigenous Japanese. It just seems like a difficult event, that would certainly never truly pertain to fulfillment.
Japans weapon laws are really rigorous in their very own right. Farmers as well as Seekers are primarily the only type of individuals with a weapon. The obstacles called for to obtain a weapon are likewise considerable and also consist of substantial training, background checks and so forth. For farmers, this is clearly to fend off pests from their pets or create. For hunters, this is obviously to assist them make a living hunting swine and various other potential pests. That plus the authorities, who rarely attract their tool to begin with, are the only lawful weapon proprietors in this country.
6. The Underground Tokyo Drift Race Scene
The below ground race scene is just one of those occasions typically arranged by close friends or groups of individuals that know each other. Generally, this develops into meets at specific spots, like highway haven areas where people and also their makers congregate.
Source: IMDB
Consequently, the scene itself is hard to break into unless you have contact with of the organisers. These groups don’t upload occasions on social media or publicise anything for the anxiety of cops crackdowns. So, the only method is to sign up with some of these underground societies is to befriend the key people affiliated with these teams.
Additionally, they will certainly have a tendency to maintain any kind of below ground drag or drift fulfills to really cities, away from residential areas, so as not to cause a scene. Industrial park with broad tarmac and also windy mountain crossings are the perfect places to manipulate people tram cred.

Tokyo Drift shows Sean as well as Twinkie (Bow Wow) easily go into the below ground scene of the carpark. Actually, the majority of the school appears to have some link to the team. Certainly, the driving age in Japan is 18 years old, secondary school age. However, I extremely question that many pupils would certainly be into the scene, let alone have cars worthy of wandering.
7. Cars and truck Chases After on the Streets of Tokyo Wander
Specifically in the cities, while you may see the occasional hoon or car scream down the main road. It is very rare to see any type of sort of automobile chase on the city roads. Specifically, the groups of individuals and the existing amount of website traffic, the potential for carnage is extremely wonderful.
If anything only authorities relevant episodes would splash onto city streets, however are far more likely on highways and open roadways. In my five years of staying in Tokyo, I have never ever once experienced an auto chase, not to mention become aware of one in the suburban areas or city roadways.
In Tokyo Drift, the auto chase including Han, Sean and DK again is something that would certainly be closed down quite rapidly by the Japanese Police. Particularly, as it occurs in the main roads of Tokyo, thats something that wouldnt take place for as lengthy as it did.
8. Extreme Hairstyles in Schools
This is completely dependent on the school in many situations, however, schools often tend to take discussion extremely seriously. This starts from their standards regarding individual grooming, to dress code and even extends to women hair colour as well as designing as well.
As a matter of fact, there have been events reported where students who change the colour of their hair have been sent residence by colleges. In some extreme conditions, we have also become aware of instructors colouring the pupils hair back to its initial black hair. This is an apparent misuse of an instructors power over their trainees
Tokyo Drift paints this picture in different ways, as although Seans high school seems to have a quite modest attire. Most students hairdos, particularly those included with the below ground auto racing scene have bleached hair as well as other severe designing. Schools would not typically tolerate this in most cases.
9. Getting Away a Mishap (spoiler caution)
We have all observed that heartbreaking scene where Han is a casualty of the auto chase scene including DK, Han and also Sean. Sean as well as Neela see Hans cars and truck take off and also leave the scene of the mishap to stay clear of any conflict with the authorities. Of course, when you think about that they are both immigrants, and also the city of Tokyo is surrounded in security video cameras. Simply, it would be challenging to think that Authorities wouldnt have the ability to track them down, particularly as they run away using the train.
Source: IMDB
Crashes in Tokyo are taken very seriously in Japan, and when a fatality happens they will certainly everything in their power to account for any person entailed. This would include taking statements from Sean, DK as well as Neela, and also possibly charging them for web traffic violations likewise.
10. Resolving Yakuza Disagreements with Drift Races
In the culmination to the Tokyo Drifts final competition, Seans gutsy plea to the head of the Yakuza and DKs uncle is to solve their difference with a race. This winds up being a race to figure out the fate of either Sean or DK. Naturally, which sees Sean thriving in the long run.
Source: IMDB
The whole idea of how this film reaches its final climax and fixes the issues in between the personalities of Sean and DK is just crazy. Nonetheless, the implementation absolutely produces some amazing driving performances, with some truly unforgettable video footage. Just keep in mind to not take it also seriously. Inevitably, I really seriously examine the feasibility of this solution to Yakuza related problems. Yet hey its a motion picture, so thats Hollywood for you.
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