"JDM, a way of life for some, trade for others"

It has been a while since I posted on this blog, the reason that I didn't know where I wanted "FPM" to go and I didn't know what I should write about next, now I know what direction I want "FPM" to go in, I want posts with first hand information on the subject at hand, which I can use for input into my blog post, post wont be every week like I wanted but I will try my best to publish them as often as possible, now on with this post!For this post I'm going to be looking into the term "JDM" to see what it means in different cultures and where its origins originate!

An "Eat Sleep JDM" sign

The abbreviated term "JDM" stands for "Japanese Domestic Market" which in Ireland is not used in that exact way. In Ireland "JDM" is the way the car look and when it has a certain spec and component set-up etc..... and I'm sure its the same in other countries too!

(Now some back story into the term "JDM")

The term "Japanese Domestic Market"  "JDM" refers to the local market in Japan for Japanese-made motor vehicles and components. Within the car hobbyist import scene, this term, and the related term Japanese domestic model, most commonly refer to Japanese-brand auto mobiles and parts designed and constructed to conform to Japanese vehicle and equipment regulations and to suit Japanese market preferences. "JDM" vehicles migrate to other markets through ordinary commerce and the Gray market. "JDM" vehicles often differ in features and equipment from vehicles sold elsewhere. For example, Honda has produced many different versions of the B18C, B16A and K20A engines for various markets worldwide. This is done due to varying emission regulations in different countries. Vehicles built to "JDM" specifications may have stiffer suspensions and improved throttle response over vehicles built for different markets, due to differing driving styles and different road types. For example, the USA features long highways where a smoother ride would be preferable, while Japan's roads are short and twisty, where a stiffer suspension is desired for improved handling capability. For the US and European market versions, some features may be removed in order to stay below a certain pricing goal for the car, such as using a conventional rear suspension instead of a double wishbone suspension and lack of electronic devices, furthermore, engine power of "JDM" sports cars is sometimes reduced because of stricter emission standards in other countries.

Ok so there's some back story of "JDM",so you see in Japan "JDM" is actually a way of life, you could even say its life in general in Japan "Domesticated everyday life there", but in other countries "JDM" is a different way of life, its a life surrounding the car culture itself! consisting of clean cars non-abused in terms of looks but instead tastefully sculpted to create your very own masterpiece, a one off to beat them all and turn heads along the way using all Japanese parts to help you!

Now, when it comes to cars created in Japan there all technically "JDM" but there are some ways to complete the "JDM" look and others that go a little too far...

 (Above) a "JDM" car I consider "Just Right" clean and not over the top.

(Above) a car made for the "JDM" market but done a bit over the top, what some might call a "Riced/Ricer", I personally hate the term ricer but its true!

Now, when it comes to thing associated with "JDM" in Japan and other countries there is differences to! for example, over here in Ireland there is a sticker/sign (pictured below)

In Ireland this is really just there as a symbol to represent the "JDM" car culture scene while in Japan the is a sign associated with learner/beginner drivers like the "L" sign here in Ireland (pictured below)

(Both mean the same thing in different cultures)

There are many more things like this which I will not gi into detail about, but it shows how something which is basically "domestic everyday life" in Japan can become morphed/mutated in to a different form of "lifestyle" in the western society!

This is all for this blog post, stay tuned for the next one, if you enjoyed reading this go read my older posts and go follow me on twitter @ (www.twitter.com/FPMotorworks) for car related things and check for updates of stuff to come, also search me on instagram under @David_FPM for more car pictures

I hope you enjoyed this, all there views are my own and I hope you agree with aspects of this post.

Thank you for reading, i appreciate it a lot :)