Billing itself as the “extreme super show” Cross Five roared into Tokyo last month for stop No. 3 of its annual tour across Japan. This year’s Tokyo edition held at Ajinomoto Stadium, Chofu, featured some 200 souped up and suitably “extreme” rides that delighted the crowds who turned out in their droves despite the equally extreme weather.
The Cross Five event started out in 2002 to place a spotlight on the American way of customising cars and has grown in popularity on these shores bringing to light some of the craziest and creative rides in all of Japan. The variety of motors on display at Cross Five is indicative of the event’s increasing diversity. 2017’s lineup includes Harleys and cruisers, 400cc plus replica racing motorbikes, customized hot rods and lowriders, American and Japanese manufactured off-road trucks and SUVs, four-doors, hatchbacks and SUVs imported from Europe, as well as import / domestic coupes and sedans.
(Image: May Nagoya)
(Image: May Nagoya)
(Image: May Nagoya)
The “five” in “Cross Five” represents “sound”, “sports”, “car”, “gear”, and “girls”, all of which were on display at the Ajinomoto Stadium across the medium of booths, contests, and shows. For many though, Cross Five is synonymous with motocross with the Tokyo stop delivering displays laid on by a field of legendary and young, up-and-coming Japanese riders.
(Image: May Nagoya)
(Image: May Nagoya)
(Image: May Nagoya)
(Image: May Nagoya)
(Image: May Nagoya) - Motocross riders (from left to right): Ehara Sora (江原大空), waka (若林祐哉), Kobayashi Tatsuya (小林達哉), Kugimura Kota (釘村孝太), Wakabayashi Yuya (若林祐哉), Ehara Daichi (江原大地), MC WADAPOLICE (Wada Yosuke)
After stops in Fukuoka, Osaka, and Tokyo, Cross Five next heads to Miyagi Prefecture and the Sekisui Heim Super Arena (グランディ21) on Oct. 22. The tour final is set to take place Nagoya’s Portmesse December.
