The Japanese custom scene has always marched to the beat of its own drum—and nowhere is this more evident than at the annual Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show. Colloquially known as the Mooneyes Show, and hosted in the Pacifico Yokohama convention hall on the first weekend in December, the HRCS is a one-day extravaganza of motorcycles, hot rods, and the people who love them.
It’s a show like no other, which is probably how it’s managed to maintain its momentum for 33 years. The vibe is organized chaos, and the aesthetic is a vivid cornucopia of color and creativity. If you haven’t attended it in person yet, you should.
The event consistently produces an array of show-stopping builds from some of Japan’s best custom shops, while regularly attracting top workshops from further afield.
We’ve already featured CW Zon’s twin-engine Royal Enfield, Cheetah’s spicy flat tracker, 46Works’ Fantic café racer, and Rough Crafts’ gold-hued BMW R 12 nineT. But between the headliners are scores of intriguing choppers, bobbers, scramblers, racers, and otherwise undefinable machines.
German photographer Marc Holstein is a familiar face at Mooneyes. Now living in Japan and deeply embedded in the local scene, he regularly brings us the goods when we can’t get there in person. We’ve gathered together our favorite photographs from his excursion this year, with a few words from the man himself.
Marc Holstein: As always, Mooneyes 2025 was a fantastic experience. The Japanese hold a very special place in my heart when it comes to building custom motorcycles. There’s this certain something they do differently—an approach, a feeling, a level of detail—that makes their builds truly stand out.
As usual, the focus of the show was, and always has been, on choppers and survivor bikes, with some exquisite gems in the mix. But beyond the many survivor choppers and crusty Knuckleheads, a range of fresh, state-of-the-art builds rose to the surface again this year.
One of my personal highlights from the show was Wedge Motorcycle’s Honda CBX 1000 [above]. I’ve always been a fan of that six-cylinder engine, and this one was a masterpiece.
Sureshot debuted a new Harley build that showed pure craftsmanship and attitude. Queen Lekha Choppers delivered the Voidreaper [above]—a speed chopper turned turbocharged fury, wrapped in colors of lightning.
At the Royal Enfield booth, the fantastic Kingston Custom Shotgun 650, already featured on Bike EXIF, stood proud. Of course, Custom Works Zon’s latest twin-engine creation was in attendance too, as was Rough Crafts’ Shotgun 650.
It’s always tough to pick a favorite among the invited builders who take part in the legendary ride-in. But if I had to choose, Gary Royal’s (Beware Choppers) 1938 Harley [above] would take the top spot for me—followed closely by Red Clouds Collective’s beautiful 1951 Triumph [below].
Images by, and with thanks to, Marc Holstein
