Asian America Research Paper

Hot Rods, Bosozoku, and their Asian American Offspring

In this report, I will examine the roots of the import scene, and the effects that US-Japan relations has had on car cultures in the US and Japan. The importance of the cultural and trade relations that occurred due to the defeat of Japan, and the US occupation of Japan. These events played a vital role in the exchange of culture between the two countries. However Bosozoku and hot rods hold an equally important place.

A car culture of great importance is Hot-rodding in the US. It started in the 1930s, when the advent of the Great Depression made purchasing new cars unrealistic. This caused younger car enthusiasts to “refurbish” older cars. The hot rodding enthusiasts took these older cars

(Kwon 2) Import culture was a counterculture to predominant stereotypes present at the time, in a similar fashion to Greasers and Bosozoku. The culture defied the concept of Asian Americans as “model minorities” and countered the stereotyping of Asian Americans as effeminate. Import culture established an association with masculinity similar to early hot rodders. Early hot rodders were marginalized because of their lower social class standing, but were able to use their mechanical knowledge and high-powered cars to showcase their masculinity. (Kwon 13) The youth of import culture strived to be seen as “cool” and “tough” as opposed to the studious as opposed to “smart” and “geeky.” (Kwon 14) Through the formation of crews, they sought to replicate this “coolness” on a larger

The bond that is created with the formation of crews in import culture is strong. It could be considered a familial bond. It creates a sense of belonging within the Asian American community. The trade agreements and prevalence of Japanese vehicles in the US market were vital in the creation of import culture. The Japanese auto industries presence in the US would not have reached the same proportions without them. I would argue that the import scene might not have come into existence if not for the agreements. Import culture has not reached its place in history in the way Bosozoku or hot rods have. They may never reach that level. However Import Culture should hold its place in automotive history, as a culture that helped to form Asian American