Evenementen Hal Hardenberg, The Netherlands May 22nd, 2025: JDM cars have been a part of the Tuning community since the start. There are many JDM-only car shows worldwide, and the same holds true here in the Netherlands. Evenementhal Hardenberg is this year the new host for “Welcome to Japan,” a car show with a car meeting feeling open to all JDM cars, tuned or not! Around 100 vehicles were selected by the Welcome to Japan team for the primary “selection” area this year. Approximately 750 cars were present at the Exhibition Hall in Hardenberg.  The weather was a little chilly in the morning, but once the temperature rose to 20 degrees, it provided the right vibe on this JDM Sunday!

Text: Willem van Lamoen
Pictures: Willem van Lamoen

Welcome to Japan is a relatively new car event with Dustin de Jong, Ditmar van Duuren, and Melissa Aalderink as the main pillars. The idea came during the pandemic to organize a car meeting for fun. However, they developed this idea quickly, and by April 2022, the first event was a fact. This was held in Meerdijk, Emmen. The number of cars visiting the event is growing fast (350 cars in 2022 vs. 700 vehicles last year). The team behind Welcome to Japan also increased from three to eight people to keep up with all the work required. This year, Exhibition Hall Hardenberg was the place for Welcome to Japan, which is more central and spacious enough to grow even more.

We also took the opportunity to ask the team some detailed questions, such as what the criteria were for selecting the 100 cars. Well, we went to look for stunning cars that were unique, replied Dustin. Not only custom cars but limited editions, stock but clean restored, etc., but not only cars, but there were bikes too. We chose a wide variety.

What are your plans they have for the future? We will continue to do what we do, replied Dustin. We aim to organize at least two more editions in Hardenberg. We will evaluate this one after this one to confirm this. We are intending to host an event at a racetrack in the future. We have a vision for the future but need to grow as an organization to make those dreams come true.

The 100 selected vehicles were the entrance to the JDM Walhalla. There was something for all tastes, from Nissan to Toyota to Honda. One of the cars chosen was a 1996 Honda Civic (EK3) owned by Rishi Sewgobind. Rishi is a well-known Honda fanatic on the island of Curacao. Rishi recently moved to the Netherlands and couldn’t escape the car scene. He bought his current Civic in 2023 and started modifying it to make it his own. His Civic has VTI EK4 front/rear seats, armrests, and door panels. It also has a MoMo steering wheel, race shifter, and race cables. The exterior is mostly in stock but has 16″ Rota gunmetal wheels. Knowing Rishi, this stock look will soon change. So, is this build finished? Oh, no, still so much to do, Rishi replied. I have always loved the EK base for customization and have been driving a Honda for over 20 years. I love working on this car and wish to get it to 280 horsepower just for cruising!

In addition to the top 100, spectators could have enjoyed the paddock, which was converted into a candy store for JDM enthusiasts. One of the eye-catchers was Bradley’s 1993 Red Honda Civic with a K20A2 in it. Bradley bought it in 2022 because he loves the EG model and finds it easy to get parts and work on it himself. The interior is equipped with a Recaro front seat, GSP steering wheel, Ktuned shifter, and custom shift light, to mention a few. The exterior is mostly stock but has a drag-race wing, black housing headlights, and clear LED taillight hood risers. But don’t let this stock appearance fool you, as this engine has been recently rebuilt and has several internal performance parts, including Nitrous oxide, to get the job done during a race. Also, we asked Bradley if his car was finished in his eyes or still a work in progress. I love what I have achieved with it, replied Bradley. But it’s still a work in progress. I like that it’s an all-rounder; it’s a daily, clean for a car show, and mean for a race!

Of course, during car shows and car meetings, the question will arise: Who has the best wheels, the slickest engine bay, or the best all-around? But the team from Welcome to Japan and Hoplite Care had that covered. Competitors could have enlisted their vehicle to compete for the best of the show, Best Engine Bay, or Best Wheels. The jury went through the selection, with only winning cars, but in the end, only one could take the title home!

Randy Veenstra’s Nissan 370Z won Best of Wheels, Kenny Hoftijzer’s Honda Civic EJ6 won Best of Engine Bay, and Patrick Fontijn’s Nissan 350Z won Best of Show.

The 2025 edition of Welcome to Japan is a fact! It has a new location but the same vision: an old-school car event with a car meeting feeling. Keep the Welcome to Japan website for the subsequent editions! Enjoy the photo gallery.