Try anything once.
That’s a life philosophy that could end you up in a whole lot of trouble. But hey, life’s short. Before last weekend, I’d never visited Japan’s annual celebration of stance, so it felt like time to dive in and discover what this alien-to-me world is all about.
Since 2015, StanceNation Japan has been held in Tokyo’s events and entertainment district of Odaiba. This year’s event was the first time it had been run over two days, and the first time it was combined with a music festival. Thirteen hundred cars took part – a new StanceNation Japan record.
Odaiba Ultra Park is a spectacular venue and one of the main reasons I was drawn to the event. The Fuji Television building dominates the Eastern skyline, its 1,300-ton titanium ball suspended in a mesmerising network of pillars. An architectural marvel, it’s one of my favourite designs by Kenji Tange. The Yurikamome monorail is another, offering stunning views across the sprawling Tokyo Metropolis.
As I wandered through the rows of cars, one thing became clear: people love these machines. The sheer amount of time, money, and energy put into achieving the perfect stance is commendable.
But what exactly defines the perfect stance? Are the wheels kicked out like the Back to the Future II DeLorean soaring through time or tucked way up the wheel wells like a broken Tomica?
There’s an impressive variety of camber and fitment among stance cars.
I gravitate towards those with flush fitment, but this slammed Volkswagen Karmann Ghia looked stunning with its tucked wheels. It boasts the engine and transmission from a Type 3 wagon and rides on air suspension.
Daiki Hiroshima’s previously-featured Subaru Impreza WRX STI makes a statement with its aggressive stance.
And this DC2 Honda Integra Type R sat perfectly with its K-series engine on display.
A fully tucked Nissan Skyline? Why not!
I won’t bore you with my commentary any longer, so let’s meet further down the rows. Look out for an amphibious truck, an octopus, and another ultra-cool Honda. If something catches your eye for a potential feature, drop me a message in the comments section.
Jun’s Group A-inspired, REINIK-powered R32 Skyline GT-R proves that stance and racing modifications can successfully coexist in a build.
StanceNation Japan 2024 was also my first CYBERJAPAN experience, and I must say, these girls go hard! They dropped some good tracks, and the sound system was mega.
That’s day one done. See you back here tomorrow?
Ready for day two? To my surprise, there were quite a few new cars on display.
I would 100% daily this Ford Probe.
Have you found the perfect stance yet? No, I do not want to hear about the cars you don’t like.
Even though I’m not really into the stance scene, my experience at StanceNation Japan 2024 was surprisingly good. The vibe was super chill, the weather was milder after a sweltering summer, and with so many different styles of stance to explore, there was something for everyone amidst one of the best backdrops of any event.
It’s true what they say: you should try anything once.
Toby Thyer
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tobythyer.co.uk
