A Tokyo Thursday with FAT International and Peaches

Thursdays in Tokyo: packed trains, mid-week salaryman hangovers and one day until the glorious Friday clock-off.

But not this Thursday, because this time around we’re kicking off Friday-junior with less caffeine and more cars. You join me at Ebina Parking area for the Peaches and FAT International community drive from Tokyo to Hakone, with a handful of the country’s best Porsches – amongst others.

Late September means typhoon season here in Tokyo; weeks of rain, cloud and humidity. Lucky for us, it turns out the weather gods share our same enthusiasm for Porsche, blessing us with a crisp and clear Autumn morning this time around.

By the time six AM rolled around, we had filled the rear Ebina Parking area with over 30 cars. From 964-generation Porsche 911s to Honda N-Ones the variety was plentiful, especially for a Porsche-curated drive. Our chariot for the day, Dino’s R34 GT-R, the first time we have had the chance to stretch its legs since its pre-summer Motec refresh. 

The star of the show however, was Takeshi Moroi and his Porsche 962 LM. This street-legal legend is no stranger to Tokyo roads, Moroi-san taking the car out for an occasional spirited drive when the stars align. But as the one of two Schuppan prototypes becomes more valuable and roads busier, it’s a real treat to spend some time alongside it. 

Our drive started with a cruise up to the Hakone Turnpike, a road many of you will be familiar with, and the one which may have inspired a certain other Turnpike’s name…

Also joining us was Luke Huxham in his newly-acquired and freshly-registered Porsche 911 996 Cup. Yes you read that right. Registered. This is a proper, competition Cup car – race proven, and it still makes all the right noises. 

This was one of those ‘only in Japan’ scenarios where you’re paralysed by choice. No matter which direction you point your camera you’re bound to catch a photogenic shot. As the sun began to be eclipsed by the mountains, it was time to fill the turnpike up with one hell of a traffic jam.

Once at the peak of Hakone we parked up for a well deserved coffee break, Thursdays can be tough…eh?

Built for 200mph straights, the Porsche 962 isn’t a fan of the turnpike’s slower corners, but like any Schuppan owner, Moroi-san came prepared with a backup Mercedes-Benz 190 E. 

This particular car is more than meets the eye, however, built off a standard W201; another brainchild of Moroi-san, but that’s a story for another time. Alongside his 962 and 190 E Moroi brought along his genuine 190 E DTM race car, as you do…

Once at the peak of Hakone we parked up for a well deserved coffee break, Thursdays can be tough…eh?

Built for 200mph straights, the Porsche 962 isn’t a fan of the turnpike’s slower corners, but like any Schuppan owner, Moroi-san came prepared with a backup Mercedes-Benz 190 E. 

Hakone Turnpike coffee consumed, we headed off for what would be our final stop of the day – Lake Yamanako – where FAT International and Peaches had arranged a lakeside Wagyu lunch and display for all of the cars. 

Not all Thursdays look like this, but Tokyo Thursdays are unlike any other.