Highway racer, the name was coined by the magazine Holiday Auto in 1975 for their reader submission photo section called “Oh! MY Kaido Racer”

Lowered car

Old car

Old motorcycle group, replaced Bosozoku

“Violent running tribe,” Motorcycle gangs, no longer used

Visually custom and performance custom cars/motorcycles, older term

Grand Champion, referring to the race series held at Fuji Speedway in the 1980s, where many modified cars showed up to

High Society. A higher end car, or a car equipped with luxurious items. A precursor to VIP styling. Also called Haiso Car, ハイソカー

Short for Chiba and Ibaraki. Mostly know for having long takeyari, works fenders, and long front chin spoilers (deppa).

Decoration truck, large trucks covered in chrome and lights

Vanning. A van customized in a specific style. Inspired by 1960s American van culture, but done in a Japanese style.

Slang for kids acting with bad behavior, American with their hairstyles and fashion.

The first sunrise of the new year meeting where they drive their cars on the highway

Non-slip differential Festival. Non is short for the non-slip differential and suri is the suffix for “matsuri” which means festival. It is also a type of kaido racer event that became popular in Hokkaido and later in Kyushu. Kaido racer teams would assemble, do donuts together, and have a car show.

Octopus Dance. Flailing your arms like an octopus

Box riding. Leaning out of the window and sitting on the window ledge. Sometime hanging your legs on on the door and doing tako orodi.

Lower front valance/spoiler

Train Handle

Removable exhaust that looks like bamboo. Small diameter, 1.5″-2.5″

The exhaust pipes that comes out the side of the car, resembling a scorpion. Example

Rear under spoiler that looks like an upside down trunk wing. Originally produced by FET.

Extended hood and fenders, often mislabeled as “shark nose”

Overbite. It’s usually made of wood or fiberglass and has a metal mounting structure underneath it.

Ha Shaped. Rear camber that resembles the ハ character

Wheels extending the width of the car. Sometimes called “poke” in the west.

Wide fender flares made for cars like the RX-3 / Celica / Fairlady Z, but can be used on any kaido racer. These are usually paired with some racing slicks.

Putty Filled. Smoothed FRP fender or aero lines with putty to appear as part of the body.

Droopy eyes. Tilted headlights to make the car look sad.

Suspended Eyes. Tilted headlights to give the car the angry look.

Octopus legs. Slang word for exhaust headers.

Borrowed German word. Refers to the racing number plate.

Underwater flower shift knob

Pioneer car audio from the ’80s

From the past, older items, vintage

Vintage item attached to the window that would wave as your car moved.

A small light placed near the ground on motorcycles and cars, flickering like a firefly

Vintage sealed beam headlights

Any type of blocking off the headlight for racing look.

Mirrors

Mirrors

Short fender/door mirrors

A specific type of air horn

A specific brand of air horn

A type of 3 tone air horn. Sounds like “pa-ra-ri-ra” when used. Example.

Steering Wheel

Steering Wheel

Steering Wheel

Steering Wheel

Steering Wheel

A metal sheet with patterned openings to cover silhouette aero openings, blinkers, taillights etc. Found at hardware stores.

Tail lenses come from the 1971-1980 Mazda Titan truck

Usually mounted at an angle. Comes from the 1975-1977 Toyota Carina hardtop coupe.

Slightly smaller than Kenmeri tail lights, these come from the 1972-1977 Skyline Sedan (yonmeri)

Usually mounted at an angle. Comes from the 1973-1977 Nissan Cherry X1R.

Comes from the 1973-1975 Toyota Celica LB

This particular one comes from the early model Skyline Japan (C210) but late model is also sometimes used.

Comes from the early Suzuki Carry trucks (Pre-1979)

Usually mounted at an angle, come from the Mazda Porter Cab.

A light with the letters LOVE in LEDs. Was a popular dekotora part.

A hatchback that is similar to the DeTomaso Pantera or Toyota MR2. Example

A long single tail light on the rear of the car. Example

Racing style lines made famous by Kunimitsu Takahashi often seen on hakosuka. Example

A color design usually found on Mazda, in yellow and green. Example

Descente, a Japanese sports brand. The sponsor livery found on Mazda with blue, green, and white zigzag pattern. Example

Tri-color livery, often red, white, and blue. Example

Short for Nihon Radiator color.  White with yellow lightning pattern on Nissan Silvia silhouette. Example

A paint job with polka dots.

Bright colored paint jobs from the Fukuoka area. Can be seen on their motorcycles and kaido racers. Example.

The single diagonal line used on the side of the car and helmets. Usually red. Example

Lightning line. Lightning shaped line usually on or near rear fender. Example

Lamé paint. Lamé is a type of fabric with metallic fibers in it. This refers to the paint that have a high glitter / flake in them.

Flashing color bulb. The lights look like Christmas lights and they rotate between them.

Car air horns that have multiple trumpets

The metal mesh design used to cover tail lights and blinkers, and also used behind ducting.

Manifold Split. Dekotora modified exhaust manifold. Splitting off the runners into a separate exhaust pipe to create a whistle sound.

Motorcycle and Car magazine covering these styles.

A line of plastic model cars with an exaggerated roof and shape

Manga and Anime staring teengers that drive around in a kaido racer.

240z / 280zx / etc domestic name

Shark Bluebird
Refers to the face the 1971-1976 Nissan Bluebir
U-2000GT (G610)

Refers to the 1977-1981 Nissan Skyline.

Yon means 4. So it’s a Kenmeri Skyline with 4 doors.

Pig ass. Refers to the 1972-1977 Nissan Laurel (C130) coupe

Gamera is a kaiju (Japanese monster film). Refers to the 1972-1977 Nissan Laurel (C130) Sedan using a specific grille

Iron mask. Refers to the facelifted 1983-1985 Nissan Skyline RS (R30)

1973-1978 Datsun Sunny Excellent Liftback using a specific rear end with 6 round tail lights.

The body line featured on Hakosuka, Kenmeri/Yonmeri, and Skyline Japan

Sunny Tuck. Refers to the 1971-1978 Nissan Sunny Truck (GB120)

A combination of the words “tate” or vertical and Gloria. Refers to the 1967-1971 Nissan Gloria and it’s stacked headlights.

Box shaped Skyline (C10)

Nissan Skyline

Skyline C110, referring to the commercials featuring an couple by the name Ken & Mary Played by Jimmy Zinnai and Dianne Krey.

Pig eyes. Refers to the 1976-1980 Toyota Mark II/Cressida/Chaser

Another nickname for the 1976-1980 Toyota Mark II/Cressida/Chaser. Keroyon is the costume puppet from the show “Kaeru No Bōken” or “Frog’s Adventure.” This nickname comes from the Fukuoka area.

Demon Crown. Refers to 1978-1983 Toyota Crown (S110)

Whale. Refers to the 1971-1975 Toyota Crown.

Refers to the 1st Gen Celica coupe

Refers to the face on the 1982-1984 Toyota Mark II Hardtop (GX61)