4X4 RISING

When it comes to off roaders, the Japanese don't do things by the book...

- TOBY THYER

We're crawling along a river bed, a convoy of Jimnys and Buggies unperturbed by boulders and icy torrents. "It doesn't look like Japan, right?" a driver yells, while wrestling his Suzuki over Martian terrain surrounded by mountains covered in an explosive display of autumnal colours. He's definitely been on the sake, because you couldn't get any more Japanese than this.

What he means, I think, is that despite Japan building some of the world's greatest off roaders, and the country being 75 per cent mountain and 65 per cent dense forest, off roading isn't as popular as you might think. Not compared to Australia, the UK or US.

Japan's 27 million acres of national parks pales in comparison to the USA's 840 million and gives you an idea of the restrictions faced when the desire to bash some bogholes takes hold. Thankfully, there are more ways than one to enjoy your 4x4, and the Japanese are extremely good at problem solving. They've figured out ways to get their 4x4s higher, further and more comfortable than they were ever designed to be...

CHAPTER ONE CITY SLICKERS

Google 'silly cars - Japan' and you'll be fed images of kei trucks and kaido racers, or maybe even those Mario Kart go-karts that whizz around central Tokyo. But those are all white belt, this lot are 10th degree black belt bizarre. The locals call them 'high lift'. Inspired by American monster trucks, they are the exact opposite of the Japanese kei truck.

Back in the 1980s and 1990s, these giants roamed the streets of major cities across Japan. Hilux trucks, Land Cruisers and Delicas all became favourites among Japan's cash laden youth. All good things come to an end though, and once the economic bubble burst, these behemoths started dying out.