Final Bout: Special Stage Japan 4 Pt. 1

Final Bout: Special Stage Japan 4, Part 1
3/30/2025

Final Bout: A Grassroots Drifting Legacy Bridging the U.S. and Japan

Since its inception in 2014, Final Bout has carved out a legendary name in the grassroots drifting scene. Born from a deep appreciation for 90s and early 2000s car culture, Final Bout quickly became a cornerstone of the North American drift community. The events are known not just for the driving, but for the aesthetic—a rolling tribute to the golden era of Japanese drifting, where style and substance go hand in hand.

Final Bout’s gatherings have become must-attend showcases, drawing teams from all over the continent with beautifully built, period-correct cars and a shared passion for the culture. It’s more than a drift event—it's a celebration of style, nostalgia, and community.

In 2017, Final Bout took its passion back to the source: Japan. Their first international event was held at Mikawa Motorland, featuring legendary teams such as A~Bo~Moon, Sexy Knights, Magician, and many more—marking a full-circle moment for the movement.

Since then, the Final Bout Special Stage Japan series has become a recurring and eagerly anticipated event:

2017 – Special Stage Japan 1 at Mikawa Motorland
2019 – Special Stage Japan 2 at Sports Land Yamanashi
2024 – Special Stage Japan 3 at the iconic Nikko Circuit
2025 – Special Stage Japan 4 is set for March at Mobara Twin Circuit

Each stage is a cultural exchange, uniting like-minded drivers across oceans and generations, and solidifying Final Bout’s role as an ambassador for grassroots drifting worldwide.

It has been a privilege to have been able to shoot Final Bout events stateside these last few years.

Previous Galleries below:
Final Bout Special Stage West (2020)
Final Bout Special Stage West: Pre-Meet (2020)
Final Bout Gallery: West (2021)
Final Bout Gallery: West Pt. 2 (2021)
Final Bout 5 (2022)

So when my cousin, @baylifejp, told me he had attended Final Bout: Special Stage Japan 3 last year and shared photos from the event, I thought it was super cool. Fast forward a year, and he forwarded me @finalbout’s Instagram post announcing Special Stage Japan 4, which he planned to attend. I liked the post instantly—but never imagined I’d actually be back in Japan in time to experience it myself.

I had been yearning to visit my hometown, Okinawa. In my mind, any upcoming trip to Japan would be about reconnecting with family, childhood friends, and visiting the places that made up my earliest memories—those class field trips, scenic corners, and familiar neighborhoods. Car stuff? That wasn’t even in the plans. Not because I’m not into it—I am, big time—but because growing up in a car-loving family has made cars such a constant in my life, I figured this next trip would be about everything but that. Still, seeing even a glimpse of Japan’s car culture would be the icing on the cake.

When I told my cousin I probably couldn’t make it to Final Bout, I wished him a great time and hoped to catch up in Okinawa soon. Around the same time, I heard from my good friends @rod_knee and @roxy_sathia from @90sforever, who had finally set a date for their long-awaited event at Owara Circuit in Toyama—just a week after Special Stage Japan 4.

After a few back-and-forths with the 90s Forever crew, the stars somehow aligned. Everything fell into place—last minute. So I took the plunge, requested the time off, and booked my trip.

My tip to anyone reading this: take the time off. Book the trip.

Whether it’s to visit your roots, chase your passion, or better yet—both—it’s worth it. And if that trip happens to land you at a Final Bout event, stateside or in Japan, trust me: your socks will be knocked off.