Even the better engine bays you’ll see in these photos still retained their stock fuel set-ups. There were probably a handful of K-swapped Hondas back then and tucking of engine bays and custom brake lines and all that were few and far between. I say things were more “fresh” back then because there were still a lot of unknowns back then when it came to extensive modification. Even those guys were realizing that their time had passed and it was time to move onto another project. ![]() You’ll notice that many of the more “wild” Hondas pictured below had for sale signs on them. Japanese-spec Honda builds were becoming all the rage and whatever wild conversions or crazy bodykits you saw on Hondas were on their way out the door. In the Honda community, the bodykit era was on its very last legs and enthusiasts were starting to gear their builds more towards the three letters “J-D-M”. Around ’03 was when drifting started to really take the forefront of the industry while Hondas and other makes that were more popular a couple years before that took a backseat. It seems like ages ago now and I’m sure it makes all of us older guys feel that much older when we think back at how this event has happened almost a decade ago. I don’t really know the exact word for it, but I would venture to say that the scene was a little more “fresh” back then. Motomachi train station is 3 min from Sannomiya Station, 25 min from Osaka Station on the JR Kobe Line, and 30 min from Umeda Station on the Hanshin Main Line.2003 was a very different time in the import community. During the Lunar New Year and the Mid Autumn season, two major festivals celebrated by Chinese people worldwide, New Year's delicacies and Moon Cakes appear. Some examples include dim sum, dumplings, buns, and Chinese pastries. Most shops show off their cuisine on display stands for potential customers. Along the streets of Nankinmachi are restaurants and stalls that serve both Chinese Japanese food, Western steak houses as well. Many establishments such as mahjong clubs and souvenir shops abound throughout Nankinmachi, but none are as prevalent as food businesses. This is a popular resting place for visitors, as well as a favorite spot for taking photographs. A pavilion with stone carvings of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs marks the intersecting point of the north–south/east–west axis of Nankinmachi. There is no archway at the northern entrance, which is guarded by a pair of lions. Three archways demarcate Nankinmachi proper: Chang'an Gate in the east, Xi'an Gate (西安門) to the west, and Nanlou Gate (南樓門) from the south. Subsequent projects include the addition of a pair of lions, granite floors, and other initiatives. Nankinmachi is considered a tourist attraction for the important role it plays in Kobe's cultural landscape was demonstrated in 1985 by the erection of an archway, Chang'an Gate (長安門). There are currently 10,000 people residing in Nankin-machi. It was quickly rebuilt, and once again thrives as a center of Chinese culture and activity throughout the Kansai region. In 1995, it was severely damaged during the Great Hanshin earthquake. That all changed, however, during World War II, when it was destroyed during the allied bombings of Kobe, Nankinmachi was re-built after the war by the remaining Chinese community that stayed behind in post-war Japan. By the early 1920s, Nankinmachi was a vibrant area bustling with businesses, restaurants, and homes. During that time, many Chinese people from the city of Nanking also immigrated to the city of Kobe, hence the name of the neighborhood "Nankinmachi" (Nanking Town). The newcomers settled in the western end of Kobe's foreign district, which soon became the focal point for subsequent Chinese migrants. Nankin-machi originated in 1868, when Kobe's port was opened to foreigners including Chinese immigrants from Guangdong and Fujian.
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