The Outerzone Podcast - Kazuya Taguchi (EP.50)

Kazuya Taguchi was born in Hokkaido, Japan, where they are most famous for their beautiful snowy mountains and icy roads. This is where he first learned how to drift at age 15 from a friend in a TOYOTA Soarer(Lexus SC300).
Since 2014, he competed in both D1 GRAND PRIX and Formula Drift Japan before transitioning to Formula Drift USA. Kazuya started driving for Formula Drift USA in 2018, behind the wheel of a VR41 powered 2014 Nissan GTR built by Jerry Yang Racing (JYR). In 2019, the team built him a Nissan Silvia S15 which he drove for the 2019 & 2020 FD season. In 2021, he raced a Toyota FRS with a GTR engine and finished 9th in the series.
In 2022, Kazuya won the event in St Louis, qualified 1st and walked away with a perfect event weekend. He now resides in Los Angeles, CA where he opened UPGARAGE's first USA store.
When he is not competing in Formula Drift or working at UPGARAGE, he can be seen at local grassroot events where he is best known for his J-Style. Kazuya is now building his own personal dream drift car: a Nissan Silvia S15.
/ kazuya_taguchi123
Produced by
Jacob Gettins
Formula DRIFT
Frank Maguire
Edited by Kyle Mayhew
Audio Engineering by Jason O'neill
Instagram: bit.ly/Instagr...
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Discord: bit.ly/Discord-FD
Shop FD: bit.ly/Shop-FD
For more info and tickets visit: www.formulad.com/

[@josephmatuszak3855]

Kazuya has been an inspiration to a lot of friends of mine, that night he came out and said "I go hard, no more lose" it was kinda like a mission from the soul. Absolutely a class act all the way around!

[@jacobgettins]

It was one of those super guttural moments. Everyone could feel it.

[@johnaguilar5004]

I'm loving this way of getting to know drivers. Couldn't ask for a better host

[@bakedboarder34]

Awesome interview. Kazuya has been a fav. Of mine for the last couple years, super cool driver, lots of style. This was good times, keeping me sane in I-5 traffic.

[@lorabridges6016]

It is so great to see Kazuya on the podcast. I am so impressed by his story. I cannot imagine coming to the US in 2018, knowing 3 English words. And now he can do an entire interview in English.

[@02bluehawk]

NO MORE LOSE! I have never been emotional watching drifting except when he won STL in 22. Been following and rooting for him ever sense

[@jacobgettins]

Had me a little misty eyed as well.

[@anthonyantoine9232]

First wins are always cool, but you're right that there was something uniquely emotional about that night. I feel like that night really unlocked his potential, and it made me a big fan of him.

[@deetsdailydriver7151]

This show has made me so much more educated of a fan. Just hearing more about the people has really made me look at it differently.

[@williammendez5757]

Kazuya is really getting better with the FrsVR38 setup and he’s just going to get better with time his driving style is awesome 🤙

[@aaronjones9984]

This is probably my favorite interview yet. It was so honest and transparent Kazuya had me dying when he said the aliment was fucked up but he said dont touch it 😂 i cant wait to see what he does this year

[@jacobgettins]

Thanks man. Yeah it was a great one and so cool to get all of his perspectives.

[@transient442]

i disagree with the idea that nobacks win is going to shift the landscape in terms of suspension setups. I think nobacks strategy is one that only really works for a round or two before people adapt. Nobacks strategy worked because the drivers he faced didn't know about it. I don't think that's going to work going forward

[@Watusao1]

Thank heaven for 7-eleven!

[@unathandavis]

I get it KAzuya.
In Jamaica we say charACter Americans say chARacter. Its where you put the accent.
While we talking bout accents, Jamaicans and Canadians say "About" bretty much the same....and its not ABOOT 😂 its more like "A Boat"

[@jacobgettins]

Ahahahah I didn't realize tye Jamacan Canadian connection. I will say that Toronto slang pulls a ton of influence from Jamaca. Unforturnalty we sort of butcher it lol.

[@barnfabricating7481]

ill let Kazuya drive my rhd LS3 FC at shannonville

[@jacobgettins]

Ahahaha no way

[@patricklaporte180sx]

Comme drift at Icar at Mirabel Kazuya