Magazine books, or "mook" (ムック) for short, are extremely popular among Japanese hobbyists. Whether it is cars, trains, toys, or golf, you can spot mooks on any bookshelf in Japan. The better known car related brands outside Japan are probably HyperREV and REV SPEED amongst others.
Contrary to ordinary magazines, Japanese magazine books usually offer a hardcover like, often glossy type of cover, very robust. They usually consist of more than 100 pages, mostly high quality print, with a black-and-white section dedicated to advertisements, dealer lists, or short reports.
Now, in case of our beloved Lexus brand, there are fewer choices available as compared to popular cars such as the Skyline and later GT-R series, or the famous 86. However, there is a handful of magazines dedicated to the Lexus IS, GS, and LS models. Apart from that, specialized magazines such as J-LUG or VIPCAR often feature customized Lexus cars of various generations.
At this point, I quickly like to introduce four magazine books, partly related to the Lexus IS, 3rd and 2nd generation.
Lexus IS & GS vol.1 (One&Only Series #61)
This mook has been released in 2008 and features the second generation Lexus IS & GS. It covers most if not all of the Japanese aftermarket parts available at that time and showcases the majority of tuning shops through reports and advertisements. Moreover, it features a wheel matching guide, owners' voices and cars, as well as a comprehensive dealers list.
If you drive a 2nd gen. IS or GS, this is the mook to go for. Here's the link to Amazon Japan for further reference.
Lexus IS GS LS Custom Guide (BlueGuide Graphic)
If the above mentioned mook serves as a decent compendium for the 2nd gen IS & GS, the Custom Guide is definitely THE resource for the current and past generations of Lexus cars with regard to tuning, customizing and aftermarket. Here you will find a feast for the eyes in terms of advertisements of the latest wheels and body kits, including such famous cars the pink LS by Japanese tuning company JOB DESIGN, as well as decent shop reports and product news.
So, to anyone in need for a perfect starting point to learn about Japan's Lexus scene, look no further, get that mook! Here's the link to Amazon Japan for further reference.
Magazine books, or "mook" (ムック) for short, are extremely popular among Japanese hobbyists. Whether it is cars, trains, toys, or golf, you can spot mooks on any bookshelf in Japan. The better known car related brands outside Japan are probably HyperREV and REV SPEED amongst others.
