EYE KANDY – MOONEYES AREA 1, JAPAN

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With the 25th anniversary of the Mooneyes Yokohama Hot Rod & Custom Show scheduled for December this year, themed with a spotlight on hot rods and customs, expect a strong international contingent. However, any visit to the Mooneyes show would be incomplete without touring Mooneyes Area 1, the base of Moon Japan, which encompasses the Moon Café, Moon Garage, and a massive retail store.

Shige Suganuma is now the man behind the Mooneyes, both the massive Japanese operation and the USA store and workshop, which is steeped in history and not about to change while Shige is at the helm. For those who have never visited the Los Angeles shop, it operates from the same Sante Fe Springs facility established by Dean Moon in the 1950s. If the walls could talk, they’d tell you a thousand tales of hot rodding throughout the ages that cemented the Mooneyes logo as one of the most recognised in the hobby.

Shige had established a relationship with Dean in the 1980s and was the official Mooneyes dealer in Japan; however, with Dean’s passing in 1987, the Mooneyes brand gradually subsided, and the business was ultimately put up for sale. Having already invested funds and an immense amount of time in establishing Moon of Japan, Shige had little choice but to buy the American operation to secure his investment. Combining his skills as an accountant and the passion of a drag racer, he successfully returned Mooneyes USA to prominence and re-introduced the Moon name to the rest of the world.

Mooneyes Area 1 in Yokohama, Japan, is not the type of place where you make a quick stop, so don’t. Firstly, it’s not small, and there are so many facets to the three-story complex that you can easily spend an entire morning or afternoon soaking up the mood. Scattered among the merchandise and hard parts is a 60-year collection of memorabilia, awards, and genuine Mooneyes artefacts, so shopping for parts and gear can be a very nostalgic experience.

Level one is accessed via the street or the café, or if your first stop was the Mooneyes garage, then the back door. Either way, your visual senses are immediately stimulated by the absolute plethora of Moon-branded apparel, novelties, and household items. Among it all, merchandise adorned with iconic identities such as Rat Fink and Felix the Cat and American motoring marques. The range of apparel is huge, both traditional styles and more contemporary, ultra cool designs courtesy of in-house striper and artist, Wildman.

No vertical space has been overlooked; even the wide staircase is lined with potential purchases as you make your way to level 2. Mostly hard parts up here, a blend of general dress-up accessories, wheels, a small range of engine-specific parts, and genuine Mooneyes equipment. The shop caters not only to the small community of hot rodders but also to domestic cars and motorcycles. Kustom Kulture knows no boundaries or borders.

Level 3 is reserved for administration, and the adjoining warehouse stores stock and a rotating collection of classic vehicles.

Slipping out the back door will take you to the Mooneyes Garage, run by Louie. It’s a small mechanical workshop where they do general servicing, repairs, and upgrades to hot rods and classic vehicles. It’s only a small operation, so don’t expect to spot any body-off chassis rebuilds in progress, but it is a nice compliment to the premises.

I’m glad we enjoyed more than one meal at the adjoining Moon Café. The trendy eatery features all the essential furnishings from the rock and roll era, including huge, lusciously padded booths and counter seating in front of an open kitchen. As anticipated, the menu is very American, and it’s licenced, so if you haven’t warmed to Japanese cuisine by the time you visit, the Moon Café might be your saviour.

Each of our visits concluded with a few hundred dollars worth of purchases, a belly full of beef, and a vow to return. As an extra souvenir, I purchased and left behind a miniature toolbox and a fistful of yen for some custom striping by Wildman. It arrived back home a few weeks later and went straight to the pool room!

Being far from a seasoned traveller of Japan, it’s difficult to instruct you on how to get to Mooneyes Area 1, but the Moon crew have catered well for international fans and visitors, and there are excellent directions on the English version of the website, www.mooneyes.co.jp. Go with Moon.