About TR imports UK – Why I Started This Journey
Where It All Began
People often ask me,
"Why is a Japanese person living in the UK restoring and importing Japanese cars?"
The answer began long before the TR imports UK existed.
I was born in downtown Tokyo and have now lived in the UK for more than 25 years. Cars have fascinated me for as long as I can remember. As a child, I loved sitting in my father's car. During junior high school, I spent hours reading car mechanics books, and after passing my driving test at 18, I bought my first used car and spent countless nights driving around Tokyo's famous Shutoko C1 loop.
Back then, I never imagined that one day I would build a business helping people in the UK enjoy Japanese cars.
Life took me in a different direction.
A Detour Through Motorsport
After moving between Japan and the UK for work, I met someone running a Japanese car import business in Britain.
He casually said something I'll never forget:
"Why don't you try importing cars yourself one day?"
At the time, I smiled and carried on with life.
Instead, motorsport became my world.
For more than ten years, I supported my sons in kart racing, running our small team, Tom's Racing Kart. That's where the "TR" in TR imports comes from.
Those years taught me much more than how to make a kart faster.
I learned how to measure accurately, solve problems methodically, source parts, properly prepare vehicles, and never compromise on quality.
Looking back, I realise those years built the foundation of everything I do today.
Rediscovering Japanese Cars
Twenty years ago, Japanese performance cars in the UK were very different from what they are today.
I watched importers bringing in FD RX-7s, S13 Silvias and R33 Skylines when they were still surprisingly affordable.
Later, the BTCC created huge demand for Honda Integra DC5 Type-Rs after Matt Neal's championship-winning Civic EP3.
Even while busy with motorsport, I always kept one eye on the Japanese car scene.
Then, around 2020, everything changed.
Our karting journey came to an end, my son moved to Japan, and suddenly, I found myself wondering what to do next.
A chance opportunity to export a Suzuki Swift Sport back to Japan became the first step.
Without realising it, ‘TR exports UK’ had quietly begun.
Why TR imports UK exists
Soon afterwards, I bought two cars for myself.
A Honda S2000.
A Daihatsu Copen.
They weren't bought simply to own.
They became my teachers.
As I restored them, researched Japanese parts, contacted manufacturers, worked with specialist tuners and imported components directly from Japan, I noticed something.
Owning a Japanese car in Britain was far more difficult than it needed to be.
Many owners simply didn't know what parts existed.
Others knew—but couldn't find them.
Some found them—but couldn't buy them.
Others wanted genuine Japanese products but had no practical way of importing them.
British enthusiasts are incredibly resourceful.
They adapt parts from other cars.
They fabricate components.
They search America.
They use forwarding companies.
They find ways to keep their cars alive.
I admired that determination.
But I also realised there were enthusiasts who simply wanted access to the same parts, knowledge and support available in Japan.
That became the reason TR imports UK exists.
Where We Are Today
Today, our work has grown beyond importing parts.
We now source vehicles directly from Japan, restore them, prepare them to our own standards, and help owners maintain them in the UK.
Our current focus is the second-generation Daihatsu Copen (LA400K).
Finding the right cars is never easy.
Although many Copens appear at auction, finding the right specification for the UK market can take months.
Our goal was to build a showroom containing all four LA400K models—Robe, XPLAY, Cero and GR Sport—and after more than six months, we achieved it.
Alongside that, our Honda S2000 project continues to evolve.
The restoration, track development and testing have become part of our own learning journey, allowing us to understand these cars at a much deeper level than simply buying and selling them.
Looking Ahead
TR imports UK is still a small, one-man business.
I intend to keep it that way for now because I believe quality comes from knowing every customer, every vehicle and every detail.
Going forward, I want this website to become more than a showroom.
I want it to become a place where people in the UK can learn about Japanese cars, discover genuine parts, understand how these cars are maintained in Japan and enjoy the culture that surrounds them.
Whether you're looking for a Copen, an S2000, genuine Japanese parts or simply reliable advice, I hope TR imports UK can become a trusted part of your own journey.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
I hope we'll meet at a cafe meet, a track day or a Japanese car event somewhere in the UK.