Art meets machine | The cult of Japanese street machine modification by RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF comes to Canberra

Something you don't see everyday in the garages of Fyshwick, the unmistakable widebody and ducktail silhouette of an Akira Nakai creation. The visionary and master craftsman putting on a rare live display of auto tuning in motion. The canvas a Porsche 997.

Mustard Flats | Photography and words by Darcy 0

101 Performance in Canberra invited car enthusiasts to witness a live RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF (RWB) build in person, done by the famed tuner and founder of RWB himself, Akira Nakai.

Nakai’s work has gained a cult-like following, with Porsche owners paying to fly him out from Japan to install one of his uniquely crafted body kits, requiring severe modification to the existing bodywork of these cars. For enthusiasts, it’s more than just a body kit, it’s an art installation for your Porsche.

While Akira Nakai’s tendency of ‘chopping up’ these expensive Porsches may stir controversy in comment sections online, it was definitely a unique experience seeing one of his builds come together in person. Working in between cigarette breaks on a 34 degree day, building at his own pace while we all waited patiently. 

Like a master sculptor chisels a solid block of stone, today Akira will be sculpting a Porsche 997. The now iconic shapes are synonymous with the Japanese shop and have been exported around the world, gaining millions of fans. Crowds watch as he adds his signature widebody-style kit along with an appropriately sized rear wing to match. Blending his own version of Japanese and Euro styling.

The 101 Performance workshop was accompanied by many other Porsches on display, from modern street cruisers to classic track and race style setups.

Akira Nakai has turned his craft into a live performance, whether you’re a fan of his work or not, nobody else does it quite like him.

He finished the day off in true Aussie fashion, celebrating with a burnout and leaving his mark on the shop floor.