How I started: I began racing minibikes when I was 16. When I was 18, I entered aHonda-sponsored All Japan Mini Bike Race at Suzuka Circuit and became champion.At that time, I drove a caravan to tow my bike. When I was 19, I bought a Toyota AE86 and started touge driving. In 1999, Bride was looking for someone to drive its Civiv in the Suzuka Clubman Race. I ended up taking first place, and that is when I started getting recognition as a driver. HKS was the first to grab me. Here's the interview. SS: Do you still touge drift at all? NT: Not at all. SS: What do you like best about being an HKS driver? NT: HKS is one of the top aftermarket manufacturers in the world, so I am privileged to be its driver. SS: Why the change from the Silvia S15 to the IS220 Altezza? NT: That was a decision made by HKS. SS: You have a reputation as a girl-puller/ladies man. is it true? NT: No, this isn't true. That's the role I play in the Video Option series. I'm not like that at all. SS: What is your daily driver? NT: It's my S15. I have a collection of silvias actually. SS: Do you have any bottles of Cristal in your crib? NT: What's that? SS: Do you ever play ding dong ditch, or egg, or leave 20 cartons of tofu at Ueno's house? NT: If I'm having a bad day, I go out on my balcony and start shooting BBs into Ueno's house. Then I usualy get a call telling me how much I scared him. That usualy cheers me up.
My fans and any new drifters or racers.
This is one of the best drifting videos I've seen. Great music and drifting cars.
Final Battle from Autopolis in 2004 where I beat Yoshioka.
I am working on a diary or book about my life. It will come out soon. I think it will start in Japanese but they'll make one in english translation.
This video is of Katsuhiro Ueo who is the most respected AE86 driver in the world.