The Art of Driving – Episode 2: Kyushu ft. Kazuhisa Uragami
Forza
0:00 Oh!
0:02 Yeah!
0:05 Am I okay?
0:11 I'm Larry Chen, and I've spent most of my life photographing cars.
0:16 It's a passion that has taken me around the globe.
0:19 That's beautiful.
0:20 That's a good shot.
0:21 This time, Japan, a place I've been visiting for over
0:25 20 years and the setting for Forza Horizon 6.
0:28 But this trip is different.
0:30 Alongside me on this journey are three Japanese artists.
0:33 Together, they've created artwork inspired by the different regions of Japan
0:37 brought to life as murals in the game for players to discover.
0:41 Now, we're visiting the real world locations that inspired
0:44 their art long before it ever appeared in-game.
0:47 It’s the best!
0:48 We're here to discover what makes these regions special,
0:52 to meet the people shaping Japan's car culture,
0:54 and to experience it all behind the wheel of three iconic Japanese cars.
1:00 This is The Art of Driving.
1:05 Stop number two takes us south to Kyushu...
1:08 Japan's southern island.
1:12 A region shaped by active volcanoes,
1:15 heavy industry, and a gateway for cultural exchange.
1:22 For this leg of the trip,
1:24 I'm travelling with Kazuhisa, an incredibly talented artist from Tokyo.
1:28 His work takes a lot of inspiration from what Kitakyushu is most known for.
1:34 So it feels right that our journey starts here.
1:45 Hey.
1:46 Nice to meet you.
1:47 Nice to meet you.
1:48 Our car for this journey, a Honda Civic Type R,
1:51 a track-ready, hot hatch that anyone can enjoy.
1:56 This is my first time driving the Honda Civic FL5.
2:01 So, what you're looking at is a K20C1.
2:05 It's a 2-litre inline-four turbo engine with VTEC.
2:09 Out of this small engine, it makes 315 horsepower.
2:14 The Type R moniker has never been about all-out speed.
2:17 It's about driving feel and fun.
2:20 My favourite part about this is the fact that it's a normal usable vehicle.
2:24 I just wanna show you this really fun feature.
2:27 This has three exhaust tips.
2:30 So while it is practical, that's not to say, it's not fast.
2:34 This holds the front wheel drive record at Suzuka Circuit.
2:37 That's so cool!
2:40 Do you know how to drive manual transmission cars?
2:42 Kind of, but not really.
2:44 I'll teach you.
2:45 We'll get you in the car.
2:47 You'll have a lot of fun.
2:49 Push the clutch in.
2:50 Give it some...
2:51 Just like this.
2:59 You ready to go?
3:00 Please go ahead.
3:01 I'll drive.
3:07 Before heading further inland,
3:09 I want to take Kazuhisa somewhere to see the industrial heart of Kyushu,
3:13 the shipyards, factories, and the ports that helped power modern Japan.
3:18 Wow!
3:19 What is it about this landscape that inspired him the most?
3:24 Things that are too new feel too clean.
3:27 So I think there is a lot of beauty
3:30 and charm embedded in the history of these objects.
3:32 To begin with, I knew that Kyushu is surrounded
3:35 by the sea and has a strong industrial presence.
3:38 So I definitely wanted to incorporate what
3:41 we’re seeing right now into my design.
3:43 There's some beauty from the patina, from the rust,
3:48 from the colors that industry produces,
3:52 but also the way it interacts with nature.
3:58 Yes, I thought it was fascinating to see
4:02 the fusion of nature and man-made objects.
4:07 This is a region where the natural beauty and the man-made artifacts coexist.
4:20 This area serves as a reminder that inspiration can be found anywhere.
4:25 And with that in mind,
4:27 we head out to explore what else this incredible island has to offer.
5:03 On our journey, we pass through the Aso Caldera, a picturesque volcanic crater.
5:11 And there's no better route to take in these sights than Milk Road,
5:15 a 45km highway around the crater's ridgeline.
5:20 It's my first chance to show Kazuhisa what the Civic can do.
5:23 Ready?
5:24 Oh.
5:25 Woahh!
5:30 These roads are what the Type R was made for.
5:37 It’s like a roller coaster!
5:38 Yeah, exactly.
5:41 As the rolling Aso hills fall away behind us,
5:44 we drive further through the countryside to reach our next destination.
5:50 Waita Village.
5:54 A place almost entirely powered by the earth itself,
6:00 with thermal steam rising from all over the ground.
6:05 We meet a local onsen owner who shows us how steam
6:08 is used not only to heat hot springs, but also to cook.
6:13 No gas, no electricity, just nature doing the work.
6:18 For more than 300 years, we’ve had natural hot springs here.
6:22 I see.
6:23 The volcano in front of us is called Waita, a sleeping volcano.
6:28 As the owner explains,
6:30 dormant volcanoes have been part of people's lives for generations,
6:34 helping them cook, bathe in hot springs, and stay warm in their homes.
6:38 The altitude here is about 720 meters, so it’s a bit cold.
6:42 That’s because we’re on top of a volcano.
6:46 So, this place is different, Kyushu is a place to unwind,
6:49 with many hot springs popular among Japanese people.
6:54 It’s as popular a destination as Hokkaido and is
6:58 known as one of the most relaxing places in Japan.
7:02 Well, the steam is rising, and it seems like lunch is just about ready.
7:07 Uh-oh.
7:07 Lens has fogged up.
7:15 Woah.
7:15 So exciting!
7:17 Cooked by the earth.
7:18 Yeah.
7:18 Yeah, right.
7:20 Yeah.
7:21 Cheers.
7:21 Cheers.
7:22 This is amazing.
7:24 I cannot believe how good the inside is.
7:26 This felt like the perfect time to show Kazuhisa his artwork featured
7:30 in the game and find out why he chose to design a pirate.
7:34 How cool is that?
7:37 I watched the ‘Dev Direct’ video that showed
7:40 a preview of what the game looks like,
7:42 and I saw this piece of artwork unknowing that it was your art,
7:46 and I was blown away.
7:51 What I wanted to do in my art is depict this amazing,
7:54 boundless nature and its interaction with things created by humans.
8:00 In Kyushu, I felt that nature and humans are in harmony,
8:04 and that everything works together almost miraculously.
8:08 When I think of Kyushu, the first thing comes to mind is a hero.
8:12 Then I thought Kyushu is surrounded by the sea.
8:18 Based on that, I thought a pirate would be a suitable motif.
8:29 Cheers.
8:33 After soaking up what this village has to offer, we head west to Fukue Island.
8:41 Our ferry doesn't leave until the morning,
8:43 so we make a pit stop in Kyushu's most significant port city,
8:49 Nagasaki, a melting pot of different cultures and cuisines.
9:01 I'm starving.
9:02 You want to get some food?
9:03 Yeah, I'm hungry.
9:12 We arrive in the heart of Nagasaki
9:14 and make a quick stop in Chinatown before dinner.
9:21 Awesome.
9:22 Over two centuries, Nagasaki was the only Japanese port open to foreign trade,
9:27 creating a unique mix of Dutch, Chinese, Portuguese, and Japanese cultures.
9:34 For dinner, I want to take Kazuhisa to one
9:37 of the last remaining yatai ramen places left in Nagasaki.
9:44 There's barely any room to sit, but that's the charm.
9:49 Cosying up with strangers, laughing, chatting,
9:53 and enjoying good food together is all part of the experience.
9:57 They're regular customers.
9:58 Oh, really?
9:59 She comes here once a week.
10:00 He comes here every day.
10:02 Really?
10:03 Wow.
10:04 I love how kind and connected people are here.
10:07 People here are nice.
10:08 It’s really warm, you know.
10:10 We’re very chilled.
10:12 We’re never rushing.
10:13 We take things slow.
10:14 All right.
10:15 Try it.
10:16 All right, let’s eat.
10:18 Let’s eat.
10:20 Oh, it's so good.
10:22 You can't make this soup overnight.
10:24 We’ve been topping it up for years.
10:27 Oh, wow!
10:28 Thirty years ago, there were like hundreds of yatais.
10:31 But this is one of the two yatais that are still remaining.
10:35 Oh, really?
10:36 Yes.
10:36 Wow!
10:37 It's the last of its kind.
10:38 Yeah.
10:39 I hope this place stays open forever.
10:41 As long as I’m alive, it should be fine.
10:46 I'll show you some pictures of the car.
10:58 Thanks so much.
10:59 Please come again.
11:00 Yes, we’ll come back someday.
11:02 Thanks so much.
11:08 The next morning starts early.
11:10 We catch the first ferry as the sun comes up,
11:13 heading across the water towards Fukue Island.
11:19 The noise of the city fades away,
11:21 and I often find the best part of a journey is the space in between places.
11:26 That's what I love about driving.
11:29 Our first stop on the island is an engineer tuner with a global cult following.
11:34 Inside, we meet a mechanic who builds engines for customers all over the world.
11:40 The shop is modest, but you can feel their stories hidden in every corner.
11:45 And I can't help but wonder what treasures might be tucked away out back.
11:48 Can we take a look at the RWB?
11:50 Yeah.
11:50 Is it your RWB?
11:52 Yeah, owner.
11:54 This is R32.
11:56 GT-R.
11:57 GT-R ‘89.
11:58 Rocket Bunny.
11:59 Rocket Bunny?!
12:00 My daughter is a drag racer In USA.
12:04 Yeah.
12:05 Really?
12:05 My dreams come true.
12:06 What's the engine package going to be like?
12:08 RB30.
12:09 Twin turbo.
12:10 HKS RB30?
12:11 No, no.
12:12 More original.
12:14 Oh, yours?
12:14 Yes.
12:17 Is this the only tuning shop on this island?
12:21 Of course.
12:21 Only one shop.
12:22 Well, there was no place to study on the island.
12:25 So, at that time, there was no internet either.
12:27 I went to the library to read and study.
12:31 And then, when I was about twenty three, I stopped learning altogether.
12:36 Otherwise, I felt I’d end up copying other people.
12:40 After that, everything I made was completely original,
12:42 and this is the fourth generation that came out of it.
12:48 Generally, the spotlight is on the drivers...
12:51 Yeah.
12:52 ...not on the people behind them.
12:54 So I want the world to know that there are people who build these cars,
13:00 not just me, but many of us.
13:02 I agree.
13:03 Thanks to people like you, cars can run.
13:07 Thanks so much.
13:09 This has been so much fun.
13:10 It's so nice to meet everybody.
13:12 What your dad is doing here is very inspiring.
13:15 Oh, what?
13:19 That is so cool!
13:20 He looks so young.
13:22 Can I put a sticker on here?
13:26 Next up, we're hitting the beach.
13:51 To understand the island better,
13:53 we join a local historian for a tour along the coast.
13:57 I heard that you drew a pirate character.
14:02 I was asked to create a hero inspired
14:04 by Kyushu and that’s the illustration I made.
14:08 In earlier times, many local people couldn’t get much support.
14:11 Yes, that’s right.
14:12 Some turned to the sea, through trade or fishing, as a way to survive.
14:17 I tried to portray people who stood up for others.
14:22 Not only does she know a lot of history about the island...
14:25 This Tomie Peninsula itself was formed by volcanic eruptions.
14:30 ...she also turns out to be quite a fan of the Honda.
14:33 Yeah?
14:34 Yeah.
14:34 Yeah.
14:36 Oh!
14:37 Yeah!
14:43 Am I okay?
14:48 We head west with her to a little alcove straight out of a painting,
14:52 Japan's westernmost point.
14:56 Here we learn more about the island and its local traditions.
15:00 She also introduces us to Minyo,
15:03 traditional Japanese folk songs passed down from generation to generation.
15:07 …that’s how it was don’t sing...
15:14 In the history of Japan, there is an old saying:
15:16 ‘the Land of the Rising Sun.’ Based on this, Fukue
15:21 Island is said to be the place where the sun,
15:25 which rises in the east, finally sets.
15:29 Yoneyama, the population is good too...
15:33 The Goto Islands don’t have the bustle of a city.
15:38 However, they are very unique islands.
15:40 For me, they are a place that gives me the will to live.
15:43 I feel alive because of this place.
15:46 Well...
15:50 I also heard that you used to ride motorcycles.
15:53 Yes, I’ve got jeans and a leather jacket.
15:56 This is how I ride it.
15:57 Okay.
15:58 All right.
15:59 I’m a grandma rider, can you tell?
16:02 A grandma rider!
16:03 Did you enjoy riding in the Honda Civic?
16:05 It’s the best!
16:11 Now for our final stop of the journey, one last surprise for Kazuhisa.
16:16 Ready?
16:18 Yes.
16:18 Yep.
16:18 The destination?
16:20 A lighthouse on the corner of the island.
16:23 A signal for ships.
16:25 But today, it has another purpose.
16:27 Oh.
16:31 As we turn the last corner, he sees it.
16:47 A depiction of Kyushu's strength, standing tall, facing the elements.
16:54 What do you think?
16:54 Give me a hug.
16:58 It's so beautiful.
17:01 I absolutely love the road so much because
17:04 I could see it off into to the distance, and I saw that you saw it.
17:09 I was looking at the lighthouse, thinking there might be some painting on it.
17:16 I didn’t expect to see this.
17:25 Being able to come here for car culture,
17:28 but also get to experience art and history
17:31 and making friends with the local people, it's been so eye-opening,
17:37 and that's one of the big reasons why I love this project so much.
17:42 I can’t really put it into words.
17:47 I enjoyed driving with you, since I don’t usually get to drive a sports car,
17:50 so it was a completely new experience for me.
17:52 I could really feel the speed like this!
17:58 That's me.
18:00 That was the first time in my life.
18:02 This trip was only made possible thanks to you coming along with me.
18:06 It was a journey I’ll never forget.
18:10 Kyushu is a region forged in fire.
18:13 Volcanoes shaped its land.
18:16 Industry shaped its cities.
18:18 And the people here have learned not just
18:20 to live with the heat, but to harness it.
18:24 Maybe that's why the welcome feels so warm.
18:27 This place leaves a mark.
18:29 And watching Kazuhisa see his work come
18:31 to life for the first time, Yeah, go, go.
18:33 Good.
18:34 it's clear, Kyushu has left one on him too.
18:42 Looks pretty cool!