July 7th in Japan only means one thing to car enthusiasts: 7’s Day.
We’ve been covering this car culture spectacle since the very start of Speedhunters in 2008, and 15 years later the official unofficial gathering of RX-7s and other rotary-powered machinery still can’t be missed. Because, despite the fact that Mazda no longer produces a rotary-powered car, the passion surrounding the famed RX models is as strong as ever.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_09](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225252/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_09-1200x800.jpg)
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_05](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225236/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_05-1200x800.jpg)
As I do every July 7th, I visited the mecca of Japanese car meets – Daikoku Parking Area in Yokohama – to join rotary enthusiasts from all around the country (and abroad) and check out some spectacular sights and sounds.
Every year, the 7’s Day gathering is a little different.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_07](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225246/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_07-1200x800.jpg)
Sure, there are always the familiar cars, but at the same time plenty of fresh rides drop by.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_11](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225258/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_11-1200x800.jpg)
And being Daikoku PA, you can always count on vehicles of the non-rotary variety showing up too, like this pristine Autech Stagea 260RS on BNR34 BBS wheels.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_13](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225305/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_13-1200x800.jpg)
Knowing that the on-site police would ultimately shut down the parking area – like they do every time a big meet happens – I arrived early in the evening to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_12](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225302/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_12-1200x800.jpg)
Being a Friday, it was pretty quiet when I arrived as people are still leaving work at this time. But that just meant I got to see every single car arrive and park up.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_14](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225308/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_14-1200x800.jpg)
My first observation after a good hour at Daikoku PA, was that the stock and OEM+ look is definitely still in favor with enthusiasts. It’s happening right across the board of Japanese performance cars from the golden era, so not really a surprise to see RX-7 owners going down this route, even if the rotary-powered coupe has traditionally been one of the most modified models.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_15](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225311/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_15-1200x800.jpg)
While I’m always on the look out for some cool Cosmos, it was another car from Mazda’s back catalog that caught my attention. I wasn’t alone, either. What is everyone looking at here?
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_16](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225314/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_16-1200x800.jpg)
An FC3S RX-7-derived 13B turbo, fitted to Mazda’s large four-door sedan from 1990.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_17](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225318/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_17-1200x800.jpg)
This particular Luce is one I’ve spotlighted before, and it’s still a stunning example running SSR mesh rims and an FC3S 5-speed manual transmission swap.
Into The Night
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_20](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225328/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_20-1200x800.jpg)
For how cool Daikoku PA is during daytime hours, there’s a whole new atmosphere when the sun goes down.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_21](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225331/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_21-1200x800.jpg)
I’m always blown away by how surreal Daikoku PA looks and feels at night, and this is coming from a guy who’s been coming here for three decades!
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_23](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225337/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_23-1200x800.jpg)
Rotaries and all manner of other cars kept flowing in until around 8:00pm, when the first police announcements over the parking area’s loudspeaker system began. We all knew that the meet was on borrowed time.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_25](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225343/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_25-1200x800.jpg)
I’ve been wanting to feature this sinister-looking FD3S ever since I first saw it at the Tokyo secret car meet a few months back.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_24](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225340/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_24-1200x800.jpg)
It’s the only FD3S I know of that runs hydraulic suspension, hence the lowrider-esque stance it can pull off.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_26](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225347/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_26-1200x800.jpg)
Who wants to see a full feature on this car?
Over To Umihotaru
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I put my camera down for 20 minutes to grab some dinner (onigiri at the convenience store, of course), and in that time Daikoku PA really emptied out.
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The word on the street was that an invitation-only, curated meet organized by some prominent rotary guys was happening at Umihotaru PA. I headed straight over, but by the time I got there all the cars gathered on the ground floor for the meet were being kicked out by the police.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_28](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225353/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_28-1200x800.jpg)
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_32](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225405/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_32-1200x800.jpg)
There were rumors that the cars were heading to the back-up spot – Decks Tokyo Beach parking lot in Odaiba – but rather than chase the small group all around the bay, I decided to stay at Umihotaru and see what else turned up.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_34](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225411/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_34-1200x800.jpg)
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_37](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225423/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_37-1200x800.jpg)
There was plenty to see, and after about an hour, some of the RX-7s that had left began returning.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_38](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225425/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_38-1200x800.jpg)
I came across this wild Nismo GT-R on 21-inch AL13 rims and a wrap that kept changing color with the smallest shift of perspective.
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_40](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225431/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_40-1200x800.jpg)
What’s a rotary celebration without a few Nissans?! At least they didn’t get kicked out…
![7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_02](http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/07225216/7s_day_2023_dino_dalle_carbonare_02-1200x800.jpg)
7’s Day in Tokyo is always a fun night out, and with Japan being totally open again the event had a nice international feel to it with plenty of tourists enjoying the spectacle. Until 2024!
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com
#Day #Japan #Rotary #Celebration