Donut Media’s Past Gas Podcast launched a series on JDM
Photo by Iban Lopez Luna on Pexels
Donut Media's Past Gas podcast just started a series last month covering the history of JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) car culture. I'm really happy to see them dedicate a series to this subject. It's not only an important piece of automotive history in Japan, but a significant chapter in global car history as well — and honestly, a landmark moment in the broader arc of Heisei culture.
This culture, of course, crossed borders and influenced enthusiasts all over the world, particularly here in the US. Street racing and car modification were huge in the late '90s and early 2000s, and the passion for it is still very much alive today.
I'm not sure how long the series is going to run, but so far it's covered the early history of the Japanese auto industry, its venture into professional racing, the oil crisis of the 1970s (and how that shaped the design and production of Japanese vehicles), and their reception in the US. It's also gotten into illegal street racing and the foundations of JDM counterculture — things like independent zines and underground car clubs, as well as the more formalized, legitimately sanctioned versions of those same communities.
Photo by Komorebi Photo on Unsplash
Personally, I think it's a great way to get a quick, digestible understanding of the Japanese car scene: the events that led up to it, the influence it had going forward, and just an appreciation of JDM culture in general. As I mentioned, JDM is kind of a foundational component of what I'd consider the greater impact of the Heisei era. It's something a lot of fans have a real passion for, but may not necessarily know the history behind.
And that's kind of the point, isn't it? Taking our own personal experiences and memories and grounding them in a broader historical context, understanding where they all fit in. Sure, we all have our love for the culture, but I think a lot of people may not fully realize just how significant it is or how much bigger it is than we even recognize. So I'm glad Donut put this together. It's a great way to better appreciate where all of this came from.
As far as the format goes — it's a pretty straightforward podcast. It's just Nolan (the host) reading through a script they've put together. If you're a fan of JDM and car culture and want a bit of a deeper dive, this is a great way to do it. That said, don't go in expecting the high-production-value, fun and entertaining content you'd normally find on the Donut YouTube channel. This leans more academic. And for those who want to really dig in, I think that's perfectly appropriate. Just set your expectations accordingly.
Hopefully there are many more episodes to come. Right now there are six, and episode one mentions that JDM is the subject of season two (which is how it's listed in my podcast app). The only thing throwing me off is that season one apparently has 318 episodes, and season two only has six so far. I can't imagine them doing 300 episodes just on JDM — but hey, if somehow they pulled that off, I wouldn't complain.
Head on over to your podcast app of choice and subscribe to Past Gas. You can also check the show out on Spotify (first episode below). Let me know what you think.
