TunerLab.jp to close doors September30

**Daryl @ RightDrive** · 08-31-2010, 12:47 AM

Well, big news....after 5 great years of business, TunerLab.jp will be closing it's doors for good in Japan.
The final day of business will be September 30, but the final day to place orders will be September 15.

The reason for closing? After 9 years of living in Japan, I'm moving back to Canada.
The decision came a couple months ago after I visited Canada for a few weeks...it just felt like the right time to move back. I don't know if anyone here has lived overseas before, but it's incredibly rewarding...learning a new language, experiencing a new culture, and being exposed to many ideologies on how to live life. It has truly been the most rewarding experience of my life,and has forever changed who I am.

As amazing as it has been, it made the decision to move back more difficult, and something that I've been struggling with for a few years. It has come down to personal reasons, and being Canadian, Canada is the best place for me to live at this point in my life.

The hardest part is to leave TunerLab.jp. TunerLab.jp is 5 years old now, and has grown from an "out of the living room" business, into quite a busy business, more than I ever expected. Sales have grown exponentially every year, and continue to do so with 2010 being our busiest year ever. We have provided parts to thousands of customers in over 25 countries around the world. We have sponsored show cars, race cars, drift cars and have made many wonderful connections with people around the world, many of which will remain as lifelong friendships.
We have made and forged strong relationships with over 60 aftermarket parts makers and shops in Japan, and it has be an awesome experience dealing with some of the most amazing people in Japan, such as Sawa-san from Auto Select, Kobayashi-san and Tateno-san from MCR, Nakamura-san from Fujimura Auto, Tanaka-san from RSW, and all the other hard-core Japanese tuners who hold high-quality Japanese performance dear to their hearts, not only as an obsessive hobby and business, but as personal pride, as they keep and expand the Japanese name in top-end performance around the world.

To head off any fabricated rumours, my decision to move back has nothing to do with finances. TunerLab.jp is a very successful business, and this fact makes the decision to close much harder.

Although TunerLab.jp will close it's doors on September 30, another venture will most likely rise out of that next spring. I'm not exactly sure what form it will take yet, but I will be continuing many of the business relationships I have formed in Japan over these past 5 years.

I'd like to thank the GTRC community, from the deepest part of my heart, for the undying support, and loyalty over the past 5 years. Many of the members I have met here are truly incredible people, and I'm proud to have TunerLab.jp parts and stickers on their cars. I truly hope that we have served you well, and provided you with satisfactory customer service, as that, from the beginning, was the first priority in our business.

Thank you all again, and hope to meet/see all the Toronto GTRC members at a meet next year!

And yes, my GT-R will be coming with me

JZ · 08-31-2010, 12:56 AM

It was shocking news when I first heard it but now that it's settled in I am quite happy to hear you are coming back to the motherland. Canada just got a little more jdm-ish with you here

Good also to see that you are leaving Japan on a career high, nothing more satisfying than coming home knowing you came, you saw, you conquered your market share. I know whatever direction you chose to take, you'll be very successful.

Hope to see that beast of yours at my home track next summer sucka!

**Daryl @ RightDrive** · 08-31-2010, 01:09 AM

Thanks JZ, I'm looking forward to getting back to Canada and moving forward with new things.
The GT-R is going in for a bunch of last-minute upgrades before it's final Suzuka appearance in Sept, then being shipped to Canada in Nov. Probably spend the winter detailing it, getting it back to tip-top shape, then ready for the spring in Canada. I would be honoured to meet up for a race at your home track! Just don't embarrass me too much

**Harvey** · 08-31-2010, 02:16 AM

You gonna be living in GTA?? That would be nice. I will definatly see you next year at the meets!!

**Daryl @ RightDrive** · 08-31-2010, 05:09 AM

Yes Harvey, I'll be living in the GTA, probably downtown. I grew up in Markham and my parents still live there, I also lived at Spadina and Bloor before moving to Japan.
Looking forward to seeing all the GTRC crew in person!

**M0nkeyMark** · 08-31-2010, 05:24 AM

Dang i was looking forward to possibly doing business with you, but its all good. Congrats on all your success! Welcome back to Canada(in advance).

**326_godzilla** · 08-31-2010, 08:33 AM

Definitely looking forward seeing you at the meets, am i'm sure some of the accords guys will be excited for you to come back!

Also having something local and from your business stand point is a plus! Good luck and welcome back

**Oakville** · 08-31-2010, 08:47 AM

Thanks Daryl for all of your help over the last few years, its greatly appreciated. I greatly look forward to seeing you at the gtrc/tac meets next year!!