We’re excited to be a part of Makina Drivers Club’s Sunday Service, “A Morning for the Arts,” on Sunday, 9/27/2027, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Community focused and creatively driven, Makina will be showcasing local artists.
Sonny Boy will be demonstrating his exquisite pinstriping. There will be collectible photography prints by Kids of Today, Marquis Jaramillo, and Odious/David Vargas. Makina X Ser@LA will be releasing a special collab.
We’ll be selling our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary DVD and “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book as well as a special version of our “Rainbow over Bonneville Salt Flats” framed print. MOONEYES has a rich history of hot rodding, racing, and craftsmanship as well as art and design.
We’re honored to be in the good company of these amazing artists, thanks to Makina and The Oinkster.
“CRAFT OF SPEED” AT MAKINA DRIVERS CLUB’S SUNDAY SERVICE, “A MORNING FOR THE ARTS”
Los Angeles, California
Sunday, 9/27/2027, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
The Oinkster
2005 Colorado Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
To learn more about Makina Drivers Club:
makinadriversclub.com / @makinadriversclub
To learn more about “Craft of Speed”:
craftofspeed.com / @humanistfilms.com
“CRAFT OF SPEED” AT MAKINA DRIVERS CLUB’S SUNDAY SERVICE, “A MORNING FOR THE ARTS”
Los Angeles, California
Sunday, 9/27/2027, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
The Oinkster
2005 Colorado Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
To learn more about Makina Drivers Club:
makinadriversclub.com / @makinadriversclub
To learn more about “Craft of Speed”:
craftofspeed.com / @humanistfilms.com
“CRAFT OF SPEED” GARAGE THEATER OPENS
Recently, some MOONEYES fans sent us a video of them screening our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary in their garage filled with hot rods, turning it into the coolest makeshift theater. We were very moved by their kind words and enthusiastic support. We were inspired to make a sticker to commemorate this momentous occasion. Designed by our friends at Igawa Design, the sticker encourages others to create their own “Craft of Speed” Garage Theater.
Until 10/16/2026, while supplies last, we’ll send a “Craft of Speed” Garage Theater sticker to whomever screens our film in their garage, takes a photo or video of the screening, and shares it on social media. Just DM us with your address and include the link to your post. We want to see your garage and cars or bikes! Thank you for all your support.
To rent the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary on Kinema:
https://kinema.com/films/craft-of-speed-mooneyes-documentary-english-captions-qm8d8h
To own the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary on DVD:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/dvd
“CRAFT OF SPEED” IS NOW ON KINEMA
We’re excited to announce that our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary is now on Kinema.com. Kinema is “a new kind of film distribution platform—one that empowers filmmakers to share their stories with the world and gives audiences everywhere the chance to watch and connect.”
Distributing independent films is extremely challenging. Even if your film is selected by a major film festival and even wins an award, you may not find a distributor or secure a distribution deal. Predatory distributors often try to take advantage of the filmmakers with unfair deals in exchange for elusive distribution. Even if the distributor is legit, they may not be able to market your film properly, especially if it’s about a specialized subject.
To make things even more tough, Netflix, Amazon, and the other major video platforms aren’t buying independent films, much less documentary ones. They’re producing and distributing their own films. Independent filmmakers can possibly use an aggregator, a type of middleman, to try to get onto some of the video platforms, but their fees are very high. And there’s no guarantee that they will be successful.
We therefore decided to independently distribute our film. We worked with the car community to help reach our audience of international MOONEYES fans, car enthusiasts, and beyond. We partnered with leading automotive museums, design schools, specialty car insurance companies, car culture brands, non-profit organizations, and many passionate individuals, companies, and organizations to produce dynamic cinema events.
Now, we’re thrilled to work with Kinema to reach even more people with our film. Their mission: “Kinema ensures that independent stores thrive. We help filmmakers to control their release and get paid for it.” We’re deeply grateful to the entire car community and visionary companies like Kinema for helping us to share this important story.
To watch our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary with English captions on Kinema:
https://kinema.com/films/craft-of-speed-mooneyes-documentary-english-captions-qm8d8h
DOUMO ARIGATOU GOZAIMASHITA GARDENA!
Thank you to everyone who attended our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary screening as part of the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (JCI) Car Show Fundraiser!
Thank you so much to Alison Kochiyama, Lyndon Meighan, Maki Iwamura-Meighan, Andrew Bacon, Wayne Nakatsu, Dan Morimizu, Ken Kawamura, Alan Kita, and the entire JCI Team as well as all of the volunteers for the wonderful opportunity to work with you on this important event.
We deeply appreciate all of the people who participated in the car show, including Brian Omatsu with his Purple Reign, Brian Karasawa with his 1977 Toyota Celica Liftback, and many others with their incredible cars.
It was a huge honor to have Dr. Oliver Wang, the curator of Japanese American National Museum exhibit, “Cruising J-Town: Behind the Wheel of the Nikkei Community” lead our discussion.
Special thanks to Mitchell Matsumura for sharing his short film, “Japanese American Legacy on Wheels” and referring ours.
Mahalo to Okamoto Kitchen and Island Rootz Cafe by Auntie Maile’s, one of our favorite restaurants in the South Bay, for their ono food.
Many thanks to all of our family and friends from Gardena and beyond for your love and support.
As always, a heartfelt thank you to Shige Suganuma, Emi Suganuma, Chico Kodama, Jeremy Kodama, and the entire MOONEYES family for your inspiration and assistance.
We very moved by audience’s reaction to MOONEYES’ powerful story about not only hot rodding, racing, and car culture but also the Japanese/Japanese American experience.
We hope through this event, we were able to increase awareness about and raise funds for the JCI’s vital work for the community.
To support the Gardena Valley JCI:
https://www.jci-gardena.org/donate.html
A RAY OF HOPE
During the filming of our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary, we followed Chico Kodama, the President of MOONEYES USA, as he pursued a land speed record at the epic Bonneville Salt Flats. There are three major land speed races at the Bonneville Salt Flats—Speedweek, World of Speed, and World Finals.
During World of Speed, after Chico had finished racing and many of the racers had gone home, a brilliant rainbow appeared, from underneath a dramatic cloud formation. Instead of a typical arc, this rainbow looked like a bolt of multicolored lightning, pointing to the Pit Area.
We couldn’t help but stop and film as well as photograph this incredible scene. Because almost everyone had left the area, the rainbow felt like it was meant for only us. Without giving away any spoilers to the film, the rainbow seemed like a sign from the heavens or a ray of hope.
We’re excited to be able to offer framed prints of this powerful image—one of our favorite ones from this multimedia project. It captures the awesome beauty of the Bonneville Salt Flats. It also documents Chico pursuing his dream of setting another land speed record without even showing him. Hopefully, it will inspire you in your own goals.
We’ll be selling one of these framed prints at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute’s screening of our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary as part of their Car Show Fundraiser on Saturday, 8/22/2026. This special version was printed and framed by the exceptional Perfect Exposure Gallery. It’s signed by the photographer, Ming Lai. (image size: 9.334”X14”, frame size: 16”X20”, archival print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag with pigment-based ink, signature V-groove on the mat, lightweight and protective plexiglass)
We’ll also be selling our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary DVD and “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book, which includes this striking image.
GARDENA VALLEY JAPANESE CULTURAL INSTITUTE CAR SHOW FUNDRAISER / “CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY SCREENING
Gardena, California
Saturday, 8/22/2026
7:00 a.m. Vehicle Check-In Time
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Event
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Film Screening
Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute
1964 W. 162nd Street
Gardena, CA 90247
To learn more about the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute:
jci-gardena.org / @gardenavalleyjci
To learn more about “Craft of Speed”:
craftofspeed.com / @humanistfilms
To buy a framed print of “Rainbow over Bonneville Salt Flats,” the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book, or the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES DVD:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store
FLOWERS FOR GARDENA
We love Gardena. This quaint city along with adjoining Torrance in the South Bay region of Los Angeles has one of the largest concentrations of Japanese and Japanese Americans in the U.S. With its diverse population, rich culture, and temperate weather, it’s an ideal place to live and visit. A good friend of ours from Maui compared it to old Hawaii, which is a fitting tribute.
Japanese Americans had settled in Gardena even before WWII. They established a small Japan Town, Gardena Buddhist Church, Gardena Valley Baptist Church, and Moneta Gakuen, a Japanese language school that would eventually become the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (JCI). After internment, many Japanese Americans returned to the city and re-built their community through these important institutions.
The Gardena Valley JCI has been serving the South Bay and beyond since 1919. As a thriving community center, it offers extensive classes, services, and programs for seniors, adults, and children. To raise money for the institute, it created its successful Car Show Fundraiser. We're honored to screen our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary as part of this year’s event.
Legendary MOONEYES will be attending and displaying their record-setting land speed race car. Dr. Oliver Wang, professor, writer, and the curator of “Cruising J-Town: Behind the Wheel of the Nikkei Community,” will be in conversation with Ming Lai, the director of “Craft of Speed.” This exciting event will not only celebrate car culture but also the JCI as a driving force for the community.
GARDENA VALLEY JAPANESE CULTURAL INSTITUTE CAR SHOW FUNDRAISER / “CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY SCREENING
Gardena, California
Saturday, 8/22/2026
7:00 a.m. Vehicle Check-In Time
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Event
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Film Screening
Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute
1964 W. 162nd Street
Gardena, CA 90247
To learn more about the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute:
jci-gardena.org / @gardenavalleyjci
To learn more about “Craft of Speed”:
craftofspeed.com / @humanistfilms
To learn more about “Cruising J-Town”:
https://www.janm.org/exhibits/cruising-j-town / @cruisingjtown
DR. OLIVER WANG/CRUISING J-TOWN AND MING LAI/CRAFT OF SPEED TO BE IN CONVERSATION AT THE GARDENA VALLEY JAPANESE CULTURAL INSTITUTE CAR SHOW FUNDRAISER
We’re excited to be in conversation with our good friend, Dr. Oliver Wang, at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute’s screening of our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary as part of their Car Show Fundraiser on Saturday, 8/22/2026.
Dr. Wang is a professor, writer, and the curator/author of “Cruising J-Town: Behind the Wheel of the Nikkei Community,” a landmark exhibit by the Japanese American National Museum at the Art Center College of Design / Peter & Merle Mullen Gallery as well as a companion book.
This incredible exhibit has ended, but it was a powerful and moving experience, covering the expansive history of Japanese American car culture, from design and manufacturing to hot rodding and racing to cruising and car shows to even work vehicles and internment transportation. The book similarly offers a deep dive into this rich history. Both the exhibit and book are especially inspiring because this important and interconnected history has never been documented before.
We’re honored to have one of our photos of Shige Suganuma, the owner of MOONEYES, and Chico Kodama, the President of MOONEYES USA, and their record-setting land speed race cars at the historic MOONEYES Santa Fe Springs headquarters in the book.
Dr. Wang will have copies of his popular book on sale at the event.
We’ll also be selling our own “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book and “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary DVD.
GARDENA VALLEY JAPANESE CULTURAL INSTITUTE CAR SHOW FUNDRAISER / “CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY SCREENING
Gardena, California
Saturday, 8/22/2026
7:00 a.m. Vehicle Check-In Time
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Event
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Film Screening
Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute
1964 W. 162nd Street
Gardena, CA 90247
To learn more about the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute:
jci-gardena.org / @gardenavalleyjci
To learn more about “Craft of Speed”:
craftofspeed.com / @humanistfilms
To learn more about “Cruising J-Town”:
https://www.janm.org/exhibits/cruising-j-town / @cruisingjtown
KANPAI TO EVERYONE WHO VISITED OUR “CRAFT OF SPEED” BOOTH AT THE MOONEYES OPEN HOUSE!
Thank you again to everyone who visited our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary booth at the MOONEYES Open House! We deeply appreciate your support of our project. At this popular event, MOONEYES X Frogtown Brewery launched their first MQQN Beer, supported by Makina Drivers Club, Oficina M’Arte, and Humanist Films. The tasty light lager in a collectible can was a hit and sold out in an hour. We loved catching up with old friends and meeting new ones, all connected by their love of MOONEYES. Check out some photos from this festive event. As always, thank you to Shige Suganuma, Emi Suganuma, Chico Kodama, and the entire MOONEYES family for this wonderful opportunity.
Our next event is our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary screening as part of the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute Car Show Fundraiser on Saturday, 8/22/2026. Watch the film, enjoy the car show, and support the institute’s important work for the community.
GARDENA VALLEY JAPANESE CULTURAL INSTITUTE CAR SHOW FUNDRAISER / “CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY SCREENING
Gardena, California
Saturday, 8/22/2026
7:00 a.m. Vehicle Check-In Time
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Event
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Film Screening
Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute
1964 W. 162nd Street
Gardena, CA 90247
To learn more about the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute Car Show Fundraiser:
https://www.jci-gardena.org/car-show-2026.html