Fast & Furious Craze Comes to Fuji
FuelFest Japan, a car festival that began in Hollywood and ranks among the world's largest, returns to Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka Prefecture on Tuesday, August 11. The event carries on the legacy of the late Paul Walker, star of the Fast & Furious films, combining high-energy car culture with humanitarian fundraising and drawing some 30,000 fans from Japan and abroad each year. Highlights include live recreations of scenes from the film, heart-stopping drag races, and a massive gathering of 2,000 custom cars.
By AAJ Editorial TeamPaul Walker’s Legacy
Tyrese Gibson (left), who plays Roman; Cody Walker (center), Paul’s real-life younger brother; and Sung Kang (right), who plays Han—all appearing in replica cars from the movie.
The late Paul Walker was a Hollywood actor beloved by car enthusiasts worldwide for his role as Brian O'Conner in the Fast & Furious film series. In the wake of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, he founded Reach Out Worldwide (ROWW), a non-profit disaster assistance organization that deploys medical and rescue teams within 24 hours of major disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.
FuelFest was created to support ROWW's activities. Paul's younger brother, Cody Walker, carries on his legacy, organizing large-scale car festivals in five countries, and a portion of the proceeds from FuelFest Japan is donated to ROWW. Not only automotive entertainment, the event takes the passion of car lovers around the world and turns it into a tangible contribution to society.
From the Big Screen to the Circuit
FuelFest Japan kicks off with a grand parade featuring replicas of the cars from the films as well as rare supercars, with visiting Hollywood stars riding along. Past events have included appearances by Sung Kang (Han), Tyrese Gibson (Roman), and Michelle Rodriguez (Letty). Additional celebrities are scheduled for this year, along with a special discussion event where actors talk about their own car histories and experiences filming the series.
Drag Races and Drifting
Back this year as a highlight is the 0-200m Drag Race Showdown, held on the closed-off main straight, pairing more than 200 cars for side-by-side runs. In the KAMI Street Drift Area, professional drivers and drift-focused influencers show off their ultra-high-precision drifting amidst the smell of burning rubber and billowing white smoke. The visceral, full-sensory impact of the engine noise and raw speed is something that can’t be experienced watching a screen.
2,000 Custom Cars
The event also includes a massive exhibition of world-class custom cars—over 2,000 vehicles, from Japanese Domestic Market cars customized with Japanese parts, (which have a passionate worldwide following), to ultra-high-end supercars and tuner cars with custom styling. The day closes with a Parade Run, in which some one thousand vehicles circle the track together.
DATA
Event Name: FuelFest Japan 2026
Date & Time: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. on August 11th, 2026 (holiday: Mountain Day)
Venue: Fuji Speedway (694 Nakahinata, Oyama, Sunto District, Shizuoka Prefecture)
How to Get There: Accessible via local bus or taxi from Gotemba Station or Shin-Matsuda Station, or by car (parking available)
[Official Website of FuelFest Japan]
Official Ticket Purchase Site
https://fuelfest2026allabout.ticketme.world/en
