Auto Service Watanabe - Shop Visit
AS Watanabe is known within Japan as one of the manufacturers of high HP L-series Engine parts. If you want to go fast in the 1/4 mile (Zeroyon), you have given Watanabe san a call. 
Many of Japan's fastest S30Zs and Hakosukas run AS Watanabe valvetrain, cam, and bottom end parts. Watanabe san is a wealth of knowledge and I was able to sit with him at his shop in Saitama to chat a bit about drag racing and his love for drifting.
I have found that many serious kyusha shop owners find immense joy in drifting. A completely different mastery than that of drag racing or circuit racing but while those other motorsports can make one feel isolated, there is a camaraderie inherent in drifting. Drifters share techniques and feedback more freely and it is more about having fun than targeting a time or besting a rival.
I originally went to speak with Watanabe san on behalf of a client looking to make 400 HP from his L28 engine build bound for his Hakosuka currently being restored. When I brought the conversation up, Watanabe san was very frank in saying there are no guarantees. One build that produces 400+ HP can be replicated down to the finest details on another block and make 350 HP. In his words "There are hits and there are misses."
He spoke at length about where power can be made for Zeroyon and that peak HP numbers are often not as important when compared to something like how quickly the car gets from 4000-8000 RPM under load. Things like this are true indicators of speed and often, before Zeroyon events, many competitors dyno their cars at the same place, and based on this, the result of who will be victorious at the event can be foreshadowed.
Outside of his shop are a variety of cars including a few S30Zs rotting away, his personal Zeroyon S30Z (under a car cover) and a beautifully patina'd Hakosuka 2000GT getting prepared for inspection.
Inside the shop, the floor was littered with heads and transmissions awaiting rebuilds. The walls were plastered with parts and all lifts had cars waiting on the attention of Watanabe san (including a KPGC10 Hakosuka GTR waiting on an S20 rebuild). I am always impressed with how much can be accomplished in these small and often cramped shops throughout Japan. It just goes to show that the only limitation in what you can accomplish is you!
For anyone interested in buying AS Watanabe parts for their build, please reach out to us! We will be working with Watanabe san to get his catalog of parts on the Final Heaven web store but until then, we can still order parts based on customer inquiries!