The longer I ve been exposed to Japanese automotive culture, the more I ve begun to pick up on these regional variations in motoring habits.
I don t think there s anything more distinct than Osaka s Kanjo culture, of all these local flavors . I suppose I should answer the question, What is the Kanjo? before I move on to the cars. The Kanjo Loop itself is an elevated section of the Hanshin Expressway which circles in a clockwise direction at the center of Osaka.
Not surprisingly, info on the history of the Kanjo is hard to come by, and I m still trying to learn all I can about the beginnings of this movement. The craze kicked off in earnest in the mid-1980s, and the Honda Civic was the popular choice from the get-go. The Wonder Civic in Japan, the third-generation Civic Si, became an early favorite among Kanjozoku with is DOHC power plant and responsive chassis that was well-suited to the loop s tight bends. You don t see too many of the classic Wonder Civics today, but they are still loved and respected on the streets of Osaka.