Mooneyes’ 30th Anniversary Hot Rod Custom Show in Yokohama, Japan
By Rob Fortier – Photography by the Author
08Way back in 1999, a conversation between myself, Anthony Castaneda, and Mooneyes owner Shige Suganuma outside Castaneda’s recently acquired Doll Hut bar in Anaheim, California, ultimately led to my first of many trips to the land of the rising sun—Yokohama, Japan—to be an honored part of Mooneyes’ amazing Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show.
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Over the last three decades, I’ve watched—and, for many of those years, witnessed firsthand—the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show grow into the world-renowned entity it has become. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, which put a huge hamper on international travel, Suganuma held off on officially celebrating the show’s 30th anniversary until 2022 so that everyone, including myself, could have the opportunity to attend and be part of what would turn out to be a landmark event.
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Originally, the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show was limited to vehicular entries of the four-wheeled nature. However, over the past 10 to 15 years, the show has opened its doors of the Yokohama Pacifico to motorcycles, which can be attributed to the overall growth, both in vehicle exhibitors and spectators. Even with a masked recommendation for all, I believe Suganuma definitely broke some records in 2022!
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Suffice it to say, it was truly an honor to take part in Mooneyes’ 30th Hot Rod Custom Show this past December. I’d like to officially thank everyone from Moon USA/Japan for continuing this amazing tradition and allowing us “foreigners” to celebrate accordingly!
