Yasuyuki Kazama wtf happened?

[all show no go]

Totally off topic as I was sitting & watching Drift society vol. 1 & saw Kazama Yasuyuki back in his hay day as a Kei office driver. Now I'm really wondering where the hell did he go & what is he doing now? I've heard he had problems with Tsuchiya and lost his sponsorships, but Is there any news on this guy lately or any details of why he totally disappeared?



http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x62/aznanhnhan86/D1_Grand_Prix_Update_2.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b378/amsterdam2005/D1%20Expo%202005/DSC00093.jpg

[karl wasabi]

He was a really great driver. IDK what happened to him either.

[all show no go]

He went from being Keiichi's right hand man to becoming as mythical as bigfoot. I kinda wish he would come & compete in Formula D, it would definitely be a nice addition.

Now all I know is he's randomly spotted at Ebisu Matsuri events & Youichi Imamura Is picking up wins & winning championships in his old car. :confused:

[slider2828]

He does have a blog... But I keep up with him a LOT because I think he was the best drifter out there... Anyways, the rumor is that when he left D1, it was the time when NOB and Max left as well. They left because they were pissed at the judging. It was way subjective and the judging was biased towards the new drivers and new rides. Because I believe more differences in chassis and drivers it makes things diverse and keeps things more interesting for viewers..... So Max, NOB, and Kaz started a new drift series called MSC... NOB and Max and Kaz did that for awhile then they came back to D1.

Kaz was never too into the series and basically after 1st and part of 2nd season he left, but sometimes he comes back for judging... Basically right now he is concentrating on his business and it is NOT Kazama Auto parts, its just a garage and he helps people fix his cars and stuff. Its his own shop, so he does the work.

He also started his own drifting school and does private lessons as well.... Jyeah... pretty sad.... but he's still going strong...

[all show no go]

^^ for sure, thanks for the info.. I'm glad he's still doing good & doing his own thing. I hope he drives again soon.

[tricky_ab]

Well you learn something everyday! Good to know!

[fcdrifter20]

i was wondering the same thing for a long time now..

glad to finaly get some info on this

[conrad_s13.5]

holy fuck thats crazy!,...me 3 was also just wondering wheres he's been,...haha

[azndoc]

Yeah I would say that he was truly one of the best. Really sad when I heard about what happened to him. Basically outcast into nothing.

Sad.

[4DOOR_LIFE]

d1 lost so much character after kazama left, and he definitely was one of thee best.

on a side note the option dvd's lots tons of it(character, humor) over time as well.. why did they stop selling them in the US? or was it just the spot i go to. last they carried was volume 43( im talking about the english subtitled ones).

[Kwonza Says]

Def one of my top fav drivers...sad to hear what happened and drama about the D1 but finally good to hear some news on what he has been doing all this time. So you think he would come out with new parts??? prob not : /

[IIIXziuR]

...I heard he was living in the Midwest w/ s0apgun and his family.

[drift freaq]

...I heard he was living in the Midwest w/ s0apgun and his family.

in s0apgun's fantasy's. :rofl: j/k

[Brian]

Miss his red s15 from long ago. That thing was DOPEGUN.

[slider2828]

Def one of my top fav drivers...sad to hear what happened and drama about the D1 but finally good to hear some news on what he has been doing all this time. So you think he would come out with new parts??? prob not : /

Kazama Auto as I have said is NOT his company... Different kazama and people really get them confused.....

He just does garage work and teaches nowadays, NOT even public events but may MSC once in awhile, but rare.....

[IIIXziuR]

I also liked his Blue Kei Office car too

[all show no go]

Quick Kazama timeline..

RED
sy-gjV7eD7c

BLUE
OWDRlh4ydNc

GREEN
b4Jw54fPToo&NR=1

No light blue M.O.V.E. car..
No doubt one of my favorite drift guys ever.

[slider2828]

Come on no one will ever do his signature RODEO DRIFT!!!!!!! COME ON!!! That was his signature and I rarely see people do it at the rotational speeds he does it at....

[meteorite_flo]

I always wondered what ever happened to him. Thanks for the info slider. :)

[illvialuver]

I am glad I was able to watch him all the times he was here in the u.s, after everything panned out, that is why I don't like Keiichi Tsuchiya, When I first heard got into drifting I was like omg fanboy spec but once I learned more I am now like FUCK THAT GUY.

AND NOOOO not thatguy, k.tsuchiya

[slider2828]

LOL^^^ Well he is back to the s15... I'll post pictures later as his blog doesn't allow external links. But I will update this thread with anyhing interesting off his blog

[PRADOgy]

I did notice D1 was like that through lots of observation. Favorites and shit. I noticed Yoichi kissing sooooooooo much ass.Hierarchy is cool to an extent.

[JayDee M Rolly]

his blue S15 was so epic and amazing. god.

he went from the top to nothing, his last appearance was in the Blue move S15 that imamura drives now i believe.

[conrad_s13.5]

D1 is all drama

[all show no go]

D1 is all drama


Just like all the drama that happened at almost all rounds of D1 usa last year. lol & how NONE of the D1 drivers came to participate at Red bull world championship.

[tricky_ab]

Just like all the drama that happened at almost all rounds of D1 usa last year. lol & how NONE of the D1 drivers came to participate at Red bull world championship.

Yeah Team Orange won't be back for the North American D1 rounds this year...

[sil80sr20]

old thread i know, but what front bumper is that on kazama's red s15?? i know its not oem

**edit
actually the whole kit doesnt look stock, anybody know the name of it?

[Xbroke_kidX]

Cool hair
Cool car
Cool driving
Come back

[lflkajfj12123]

kazama is still around in drifting

he runs his shop called rodextyle

they do lessons through out the year and follow customers cars on track days

he did judge a couple events in the last couple years i think

his current personal car is another s15 its red with custom fender work all around its really really cool looking

[worangejuice]

http://www.driftmechaniks.com/events/121804_gtLive/images/74.jpg

[lflkajfj12123]

Kazama Auto as I have said is NOT his company... Different kazama and people really get them confused.....

He just does garage work and teaches nowadays, NOT even public events but may MSC once in awhile, but rare.....

yeah to confuse it more kazama auto had sponsered him for most of his pro days

:keke:

[Xbroke_kidX]

Pics of said cool red s15?

[HAWAII]

I think D1 is more entertaining to watch than Formula D. If you think D1 is full of ass kissing and favoritism. What about Formula D? Think about all the corporate bullshit that goes on with FD. Another thread I guess.

I too love to see Kazama come back.

[worangejuice]

http://blog.gtroc.com/dino/bx8.jpg
http://image.turbomagazine.com/f/31693338+w750+st0/turp_0507_14_o+d1_grand_prix_usa+yasuyuki_kazama.j pg
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0S020yamU9M0i8AT7SjzbkF/SIG=12koo25fg/EXP=1280371482/**http%3a//doristars.com/v-web/gallery/albums/D1GP/kazama6.sized.jpg

[sil80sr20]

anybody know which volume of doriten this scene's from??
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/4ArCAOjotBs&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/4ArCAOjotBs&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
really i just want to see more of kazama's old red car

**edit
got un-lazy and found it, nevermind

[slider2828]

His drift school at owara circuit

http://coomac.jp/pitwebowaracircuit/index.php?Action=RACE&y=2010&m=7&sid=2491

and

tried to put up pics of his new car, but too tired.... and I have to download and up it....