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pimp my ride

pimp my ride by highglosshighs.
More colourful version here!

Hmmm... it appears that my photo has been featured somewhere. Hello everyone!

Yes, there are many many vehicles like this in Japan - especially in the new town where I'm living. There's a guy that's got a huge hello kitty sprayed on the side of his - but sadly I never seem to have my camera when I spot it. 

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A-Wix  Pro User  says:

Once Batman had kids, he needed to upgrade to something with a little more space. Unfortunately, it was only available in white.
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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highglosshighs  Pro User  says:

hah! yeah..

"In the back kids, Dad has to go and fight some crime and injustice!"

"Awhhhh Daaaaaaaaaaaaad, we're watching Smallville!!"
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

photo guerilla [deleted] says:

Are you in that Japan I know as a high civilised country?
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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EricGjerde  Pro User  says:

I've seen other hideous customized vans like this, with giant tail fins and everything.

I'm not a huge fan of Ayumi Hamasaki; but these guys sure are.


Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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teruterubouzu  Pro User  says:

Hilarious!
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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Esther17  Pro User  says:

Yep, that pretty much takes the cake for fugly!
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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highglosshighs  Pro User  says:

photo guerilla - well Japan is a country that routinely closes its ATMs at 7pm so I don't know about civilised ;)

origomi - this one wasn't painted... but maybe they were just picking up supplies! We were next to a big store called Yellow Hat which has all kinds of stuff for cars...

...i showed the photo to my Japanese teacher and she said there's a few of them in her town. One is bright pink and has Hello Kitty pictures all over it. And is driven by a man.
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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EricGjerde  Pro User  says:

They close their ATMs at 7 PM? how are you supposed to get money to continue drinking??? :)

It's not like it's any more or less expensive to keep them running 24/7. sheesh. strange country.
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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maybemay says:

Haha, awesome! I see monstrosities like that in my neighbouring (bigger) town but as yet have never been quick enough to whip out the cameraphone. I can't believe they're allowed on the road!
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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fjordaan  Pro User  says:

Saw several chromed trucks like these in Kyoto...
Shiny
You gotta sorta admire the over-the-topness. If you insist on pimping your ride, you may as well go overboard...
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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highglosshighs  Pro User  says:

soooooweeeet! that takes mine and stomps all over it, in a big shiny robot stylee. i do only live in the countryside though... so you have to expect things on a smaller scale here ;)
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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gnosis / john r  Pro User  says:

yanki style!
BTW - adding custom airbrushing of Ayumi Hamasaki means that you are going to hell.
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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agent lover  Pro User  says:

HOLY SHIT! That is fucking fancy
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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buck82  Pro User  says:

Seriously highglosshighs, that is the yakuza. Not kidding. I saw that van in Takaoka once, pointed and laughed, and everyone was like, "abunai!" ("dangerous!"). Watch out! ;)
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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highglosshighs  Pro User  says:

hah! but in toyama even the yakuza are soft and fluffy...
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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re-Verse  Pro User  says:

Haha - Oh my. Must be a nightmare to park.
Posted 54 months ago. ( permalink )

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A is for Angie says:

monstrosity really is the only word... great capture. rofl
Posted 51 months ago. ( permalink )

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IceBone  Pro User  says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Carbage, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.


Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

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NorthWestNirvana says:

Looks awesome! Let me guess highglasshighs, you drive a honda accord? You car snobs are funny.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

sam_elliott_photo [deleted] says:

can't we all just have a laugh...
we all know the vehicle won't eccede 30mph, but go faster stripes make it look as if its travelling at 40mph, if they're good
and maybe someone wants a white batmobile
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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petzke_42 says:

Just a heads up...red pens might offend some Japanese people. It signifies a broken relationship or something. So if your professor is going to see any of it, might think about going purple or green.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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Perilous Photography  Pro User  says:

<3 boso

It will never catch on in the US.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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TonyRockyHorror  Pro User  says:

that sort of extreme modification to vans is a pretty big sub-category of car mods in japan. this sort of thing isn't unusual at all.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Michael J Photography [deleted] says:

You've been DUGG, WOOT!!!!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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caraa815 says:

That really just pisses me off.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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Fried Toast  Pro User  says:

It's a sickness. The things can be found anywhere in Japan.

Save the Whales

Tochigi 112 Whale-Tail
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

markbmarkbmarkb [deleted] says:

God's Ride.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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!!stefan (SH) says:

haha, hilarious! :)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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rasdourian  Pro User  says:

Daz freakin funny
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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spdorsey  Pro User  says:

Let's see it in a parking garage.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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Big Dubya  Pro User  says:

How is this any more grotesque than a giant McMansion with a three-car garage? I love it.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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mikem1115  Pro User  says:

Smile your on Digg! digg.com/
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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Kowaretatenshi says:

Tell Batman that the version in black is avalible up in Aomori, Although its slightly shorter than this but I think the body kit is slighty more crazy. Oh and the black version comes with blue neons >_<
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pixel Fantasy  Pro User  says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Totally Boss!, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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jmccorm says:

Optimus? Is that you?
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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ConceptJunkie  Pro User  says:

You can often find whole flocks of these swarming around streetlights at night. I suggest a bug-zapper.

To MysticMaven: I drive a Honda Accord and I love it. I love the fact that it's a very inconspicuous car, which I bought solely for its utility and economy, but if you want, I can hot-glue 100 pounds of fiberglass to it and make it look like some kind of Chernobyl Lepidoptera.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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honeychunks says:

classic samurai helmit influence there
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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Joits  Pro User  says:

oh man... what a catch! wish i could have seen this in person. i'd hate to see what this person's myspace page looks like...

--
Seen on digg.com (?)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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kdynamic  Pro User  says:

good old Toyama! Almost makes me miss it... congrats on getting on Digg ;)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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bamfmonkeyheist says:

a little far
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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imnotminkus says:

if you're wondering where all the views are coming from, it's because you made it to digg.com's front page

digg.com/autos/Dude_you_ve_gone_too_far
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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cutlerite  Pro User  says:

There was on in Maebashi Gunma Japan that had an Ax in the back that would continually chop! I have told people about these daikusan vans, but no one believed me!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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highglosshighs  Pro User  says:

I'm not sure what a Honda Accord is. My car is a lovely battered little Toyota Starlet. His name is Bruce, but the most I've ever pimped him is by giving him a Hello Kitty cupholder.

My goal is to find me a boyfriend with one. Here's hoping! I have the Hello Kitty slippers already, just need the tracksuit to complete my look.

Haha, I like your thinking! I should have poked it to see if it moved...

hey there! long time no speak. I'm quite scared by it, to be honest! ;) I've moved to a new part of Japan now and there are even more impressive ones here... they put little inaka Toyama to shame...

Thanks for the heads up! I figured it out a while ago. Never knew the power of the digg could be so strong!

That's freaky, I just talked about Maebashi today in my first period class - I had to report on some news and I chose the story about the drunk guy who was arrested for picking a tulip there (no, not policing going mad, apparently some 1900 others have been illegally cut down already this month?)

Thanks for all the views and comments people - it's been...bizarre.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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fuzzybeard1965 says:

The vans look like someone got a hold of a giant over-pressurized oxy-acetylene torch and flamed it until it started to melt.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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gullevek  Pro User  says:

When you are in Japan, a camera with you is a must. There are always some funny things to see :)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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Sha Sha Chu  Pro User  says:

You're on Digg!

--
Seen on digg.com (?)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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terw0015 says:

I took a similar picture in Japan a few years ago. It would have been great juxtaposition were the car not between the two vans:

www.flickr.com/photos/49399003@N00/12773601/i n/set-721576...
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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optoomistic says:

dugg
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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highplains  Pro User  says:

I Digg it !

--
Seen on digg.com (?)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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thecaveofthedead says:

Very cool. Saw it on reddit.

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http://reddit.com/?count=125&after=t3_6gk kz (?)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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kdynamic  Pro User  says:

I didn't know you'd moved. Where are you living these days?

By the way, Buck82 wasn't kidding. It's always those vans that the "innocent" little joshikousei are lured into by older sleazy guys. If you ever get a look inside, it's like a mobile Love Hotel. [shudder]
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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Dave Child  Pro User  says:

There's a very similar vehicle in Hove, UK. It's pink though.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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Indigo Vapour says:

2939 diggs, hahaha. :-D

Man, if only you'd put up a shot of the Purple one we used to see around AEON.

This really takes me back. Thankyou! x
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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RedandJonny  Pro User  says:

awesome!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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Kain Blackthorn says:

WTF!! A white 4X4 Batmobile!!! :)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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robertg1234 says:

You can find anything in Japan:
ranma.com
Straight from East L.A. to Ginza!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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_high plains drifter_ says:

really excellent!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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highglosshighs  Pro User  says:

I'll bear that in mind - do not go anywhere near the vans, no matter how kawaii! I'm in Mie now - studying Japanese at a uni here, hopefully finding employment in Kansai when I'm finished! Are you still in London? Hope life is treating you well!

3389 and counting! I remember one time I was driving along the 156 in central Tak, probably to Shangrila actually, and almost crashed my car because there were about 6 beautiful specimens in varying colours parked along the side of the road. Oh just think how many hits a shot of those bad boys would have got me! ;)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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auctionsellingrevealed says:

i think, the world is going to see more of these soon!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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Mullenkedheim  Pro User  says:

Excellent. :D

--
Seen in my recent comments. (?)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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Brian O'Mahony  Pro User  says:

I think the word METAL describes this the best!

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called One Hundred Thousand Club (100,000 Photostream Views), and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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occhevy02 says:

i would love to add this to my new website guilaa.com. Would that be ok? Please let me know or submit it at the website.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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joadoor says:

Hi, Funny things happen i saw a copy of this van in Kingston Upon Hull, UK coming from the Ferry port . What a van !!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

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highglosshighs  Pro User  says:

A sure sign that the end of days is upon us!
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

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kappy IV says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Funny McGiggle, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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view photos Uploaded on July 8, 2005
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