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As the midnight hour approaches on the first Saturday of every month, Shibuya’s backstreets rumble with the sounds of finely tuned mid-century American car engines. Soon the streets are filled with brightly colored shiny cars that reflect Shibuya’s countless neon lights. They add even more color and excitement to this already energy filled shopping district.

Before the police manages to chase them away, Japanese fans of mid-century American cars use these streets as their unofficial meeting place. Once the police arrives to politely request them to clear out, they all move on to Yoyogi Park. Here they talk, laugh and exchange tips until the early hours of Sunday morning.

Although cars have a macho image, there are almost as many women as men. Some of them bring their own flashy cars, others accompany their boyfriends. I asked the girlfriend of one of the car lovers what attracted her more, the guy or the car. “The car,” she told me with a big smile on her face. Her boyfriend laughed out loud. One more reason to keep his flashy car in good working condition.