Hiro Takahashi
Contributing Specialist
12 years at Mazda R&D Hiroshima (2003-2015). Lead engineer on 13B-MSP RENESIS development team. Certified Mazda rotary powertrain specialist. Currently operates an independent rotary rebuild service and consults for RE Amemiya and Goopy Performance.
Hiro Takahashi is a former Mazda R&D engineer who spent 12 years working on rotary engine development at Mazda's Hiroshima research center. He contributed to the RENESIS engine development (13B-MSP in RX-8) and the final production variants of the 13B-REW for the RX-7 FD3S Spirit R. Since leaving Mazda in 2015, Hiro has worked as an independent rotary specialist and writes about Wankel engine technology for global enthusiast publications.
Articles by Hiro Takahashi(12)
BlueDriver Pro OBD2 Review: The Bluetooth Scanner JDM Tuners Keep In The Glovebox
A Bluetooth OBD2 dongle is only as good as its app. BlueDriver builds its own — here's how the Pro version handles JDM-specific diagnostics and live data logging.
FOXWELL NT201 Review: The Budget OBD2 Scanner That Actually Reads JDM Codes
Sub-$40 OBD2 scanners are a minefield. The FOXWELL NT201 is the one we keep in the glovebox — here's what it actually does, and where you still need something fancier.
JUN Auto Mechanic: The Big Power 2JZ Specialist
JUN Auto Mechanic in Tsuchiura has built 2JZ engines since 1990. Their Stroker 3.4 kit, valvetrain components, and hand-balanced rotating assemblies set the global 2JZ tuning standard.
RE Amemiya: The Rotary Whisperer
Isami Amemiya has tuned nothing but rotary engines since 1974. His RX-7 FD3S demo cars remain the global benchmarks for peripherally-ported, street-driven rotary tuning.
Top Secret: Smokey Nagata's Golden Supra Empire
Smokey Nagata founded Top Secret in 1991 after leaving Veilside. His Gold Supra hit 197 mph on a British motorway, and his V12 Supra remains the wildest engine swap in JDM history.
HKS: Japan's First and Largest Tuner, Founded 1973
Hiroyuki Hasegawa founded HKS in 1973 making aftermarket turbo kits out of his Shizuoka garage. Today it's Japan's biggest tuning house, with 800+ employees and benchmark drag and time-attack cars.
Orido Manabu's Soarer: The Wangan GTO Hunter
Orido Manabu drove a twin-turbo Soarer on Tokyo's Wangan expressway at 300+ km/h in the 1990s. His quest to catch GTO-based Wangan racers defined an era.
Mazda RX-7 FD3S Complete Buyer's Guide — Rotary Engine Reality Check
The Mazda RX-7 FD3S with the 13B-REW engine (1992-2002) is one of the most sought-after JDM chassis in the world. Whether you're a first-time buyer or a returning enthusiast, this guide walks through everything you need to know before committing to a purchase: realistic market va
Mazda 20B-REW: The Three-Rotor Wankel That Powered the Cosmo Unicorn
The 20B-REW is one of the rarest production engines ever built. It's Mazda's **three-rotor Wankel** engine — essentially a 13B rotary with one extra rotor bolted on — and it appeared in exactly one production car: the 1990-1995 Eunos Cosmo, a luxury coupe sold only in Japan.
Mazda 13B-REW: The Twin-Rotor Turbo That Defied Convention
The 13B-REW is not a piston engine. It's a **Wankel rotary** — two triangular rotors spinning inside epitrochoid-shaped housings, with no reciprocating mass, no valves, no camshafts. Invented by Felix Wankel in the 1950s, perfected by Mazda across three decades of obsession, the
Toyonori Tanahashi: The RX-7 and Rotary Program Architect
Toyonori Tanahashi shaped Mazda's rotary program from the Cosmo Sport through the SA22C RX-7. His engineering work established the template for every RX-7 generation.
Mazdaspeed MX-5 Coupe: The Factory Miata Coupe
The Mazdaspeed MX-5 Coupe is the only factory-built Miata coupe. Only 350 were made. Mazdaspeed welded a hardtop to the NB chassis for collector exclusivity.