JDMphasis's tagline is this:
"To select automotive enthusiasts "JDM" is more than just an acronym for the Japanese Domestic Market. JDM is not simply rare parts. It is a way of life. A culture. A modus vivendi. JDM is a lifestyle."
Just from his tagline, I can tell that he is not only a knowledgeable enthusiast but he also understands positive and negative aspects of the Japanese tuning car culture. He has great respect for the industry and the amazing parts and development that stems from the legit producers from Japan. However, it is because of this high respect for the Japanese tuning gods that he also looks down upon those and berates those that do not worship the brands of HKS, Trust, Tomei, and the like. From reading his posts, there is an air of superiority and slight haughtiness that surrounds them that is uncommon in the automotive world. But it is also quote refreshing and I find his posts quite entertaining to read.
His post titled: "Unoriginal. Unimaginative. Unworthy. Unacceptable." Published on March 11, 2013 starts off by quoting the 19th century health-conscious undertaker William Banting, "Yet the evil still increased, and, like the parasite of barnacles on a ship, if it did not destroy the structure, it obstructed its fair, comfortable progress in the path of life."
When was the last time you saw somebody tie in a quote from literature or history to relate back to Japanese rice rockets? The blogger used this quote to comment on companies in China and Taiwan knocking off the brand new lightweight racing wheel produced by Yokohama Advan, the GT:
These companies that are knocking off legit wheels are "parasites" to the industry and do nothing but slow it down.
The author of JDMphasis is fully capable of writing in elevated prose throwing many rhetorical questions out and really showcasing his writing prowess. However, he also takes the time to dumb it down and to really synthesize what he is trying to get at.
For example in his post titled "Disillusioned" published on February 20, 2013. He goes on a tirade about how Nissan USA featured a car on their Facebook paged that was dressed up in replica aero parts.
"These wheel companies, rightfully so, take umbrage to companies stealing their designs, and they find it necessary to warn potential customers of the phonies and counterfeits permeating the marketplace. As stated above, I embrace these caveat emptor bulletins."
"The aspect of this I find a bit ironic and, bluntly, hypocritical, is that some of these legitimate wheel companies have no problem featuring vehicles that are sporting their wheels, but are clad in replica aero. We see it all the time. Their brochures are printed with these cars, their websites are full of them, and their fan pages broadcast them daily. Frankly, I don’t get it. Is there no kinship between pioneering companies? Is there no fraternity? No alliance or partnership? No common support for originality and authenticity? I have written about this before (JDMphasis: Authentic Alliance?) and some surely label me obtuse or naïve, but is business that cutthroat that companies have the gall to denounce only the replica companies that steal their designs, and not those other hack companies cashing in on the fruit of other legitimate companies’ labor? Not only do they not denounce them, they feature them! They reward them. Where is the defense of authenticity? Where is the love and loyalty to the culture from which they were born? Is that not from where everything in the aftermarket scene stems? Would these companies have success if it weren’t for enthusiasts like you and me? Have they forgotten what this is all about?"
The blogger is not only angry at the knockoff companies but also at the legit companies as well! He is angry at everyone! He does have a point though. Companies are just watching out for themselves. However, if companies only featured cars that were 100% legit with no corners cut, there wouldn't really be much out there.
"Let me put it another way… Nissan is showcasing a car tattooed with a replica company’s logo on a fake Amuse front bumper. We are all aware that Nismo is the performance division of Nissan. Like many other parts from many other JDM companies, many of the Nismo aero parts designs have been stolen and replicated. Thus, Nismo has suffered at the hand of replica companies. That said, do we think Nissan would be willing to showcase a Z33 on their Facebook page that wears a big decal advertising a replica company on a bumper that looks identical to the popular Nismo V2 front bumper? Perhaps the same company whose name is resting comfortably on that fake Amuse front bumper on the Z they just broadcasted to over 1,000,000 people on Facebook? This same replica company has profited from the theft of quite a few Nismo aero designs. Just visit their website and you’ll see for yourself. Is this not an overwhelmingly transparent and ironic conflict of interest?
Why? Am I missing something? Nothing surprises me anymore..."
So in the end he breaks it down and tries to make the situation more relatable to everyone. He is obviously flustered and angered about these events. However, he wants to educate the masses in hopes to spread awareness and prevent situations like these from arising and becoming even more common.
JDMphasis may have a slightly elitist point of view but, he is looking out for the industry and tries to cover all bases in an attempt to educate the masses on the harm that knockoff companies present to the aftermarket industry. He clearly articulates and argues his point of views with logic, examples, and backup. He isn't just spouting nonsense and the way he conducts his posts exudes maturity and understanding. He understands why people buy knockoffs and why people buy legit. Through his experiences and expertise he hopes to nudge the knockoff crowd towards going legit so he can see his ideal JDM tuning world come to fruition.
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