By: J. Anderson

Enthusiasts of Japanese import cars know that a Honda, Nissan or Toyota driving the streets of Tokyo probably has better-looking details such as tail lights and bumpers than its counterpart in America. Don Mester, buyer for Super Autobacs, explained that it's because the cars were designed and built for the Japanese domestic market.

However, the strict laws and requirements of the United States result in slight changes in the outward appearance of those cars. Drivers who want to restore Japanese imports to their original state have difficulty finding the needed Japanese parts and products. It's not that the parts aren't legal or allowed in the U.S. for aftermarket use, it's just that few retailers offer them.

The single biggest exception in the nation is Super Autobacs. Aside from thousands of domestic products for American and European cars, the store is filled with Japanese Domestic Market products, identified by aficionados simply as "JDM." "With 500-plus stores in Japan, we have the ability to locate and import JDM products at very competitive prices," Mester said."What's really big is anything for the Nissan 240 SX. Parts and products for the Scion XB are also very popular."

JDM items are a small but important mainstay of Super Autobacs, in part because they warm the hearts of those who appreciate the Japanese auto esthetic.

"Our JDM customers want to take their Americanaltered import and make look like the Japanese car it was designed to look like," Mester said.

While Super Autobacs' "exclusive" hold on JDM is only because other retailers find it tough to beat the store's competitive JDM pricing, the store does have exclusivity on another highly valued aftermarket product line for the Honda S2000. It is the only legal source in the U.S. for ASM, a line of well-crafted high-performance racing parts designed for Honda's beloved sports car by Shinichiro Kanayama, Japan's legendary king of Honda tuners.

"Things like JDM and ASM make us unique," said Mester. "A small but signifi cant customer demographic loves us for making these products available to them."