Whenever I arrive in Japan, my first stop is to catch up with Daikichi, stock up at a conbini, and visit his father, Mikami-san, at 3UP—a legendary tuning shop in Saitama specializing in S-chassis and SR20s. Mikami-san is a true icon, having competed in D1GP and D1SL in the 2000s, driving a 180SX, S14, and R33 in their signature green shades. The original dark green came from a Honda NSX, later transitioning to a brighter Kawasaki green, both worn by iconic 3UP builds.
Despite the language barrier, Mikami-san and I manage to talk for hours with a mix of broken English, Japanese, and Google Translate. His office is an incredible mix of organized chaos, filled with rare parts and memorabilia. One topic we dove into was Kaneko-san’s airbrushed green-and-flames 180SX, a car that carried 3UP stickers and was built in nearby Shiki City. Kaneko-san ran Hanatomidori, a brand that created a legendary 180SX front bumper used by early D1 and BM cars. These days, he’s running a flower business—still on theme.
Last year, while visiting 3UP, I picked up a 3UP x Silkroad stainless steel manifold, designed for a deeper tone. Mikami-san was kind enough to walk me through the install, including the tight clearance near the ABS unit. I haven’t installed it yet, but more on that soon.
Daikichi and I have built a solid friendship over the years. He drives an S14 Zenki that’s currently getting a new motor setup, which should be exciting. He also runs the Daikichi Cup, a laid-back grassroots drift event featuring Mikami-san and other OG drivers. During this trip, we even discussed an exciting collaboration.
I’m beyond grateful for these connections. Talking cars, drifting, and even fishing with Mikami-san is always surreal, and his effort to share stories from the golden era means so much. Stayed tuned for some exciting news on us working with 3UP and Daikichi, its going to be fun for sure!
Garage Sokudo 
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