2005 Tokyo Auto Salon

The Cars, The Wheels, The Parts, The PeopleAnother year, more Sapporo beer and millions of yenjamins of the trickest Japanese car gear. Judging from the preponderance of new parts, products and other assorted automotive excesses at the 2005 Tokyo Auto Salon, the aftermarket is surviving, despite an otherwise tepid Japanese economy.

International appreciation for the Japanese automotive manufacturing ethos, "build good shit," fuels the kind of consumption that is helping keep the Japanese economy afloat, and with it, the aftermarket. A majority of Japanese tuners and aftermarket firms show up each January to the Makuhari Messe convention center, about 40 minutes outside of Tokyo, to publicly display their wares for both the newest models and perennial favorites. Walking the show is an all-day commitment with 1,000-hp Skylines blending into 21-inch chrome wheels and carbon clutches interlaced with titanium tubing.

There was no real standout as car model of the year as in years past, but Nissan 350Zs and G35s were spread thick throughout the show; the performance and luxury camps alike embrace the cars. Regardless, there are enough drool-inducing hard-core parts and cars to offset all the chrome. It is Japan, after all, so lots of space remains dedicated to vans, minivans, mini-minivans, and, of course, vinyl-clad women.