N-STYLE x BURST - Nakamura Naoki

25 Years Sideways: The Story of Team BURST’s Naoki Nakamura

In the world of drifting, few names command the same respect and raw authenticity as Naoki Nakamura—a driver known just as much for his aggressive street style as his precision on the track. His journey, marked by passion, rebellion, setbacks, and triumphs, is a rare blueprint of dedication to the craft of driving sideways.

The Beginning of BURST

Naoki founded Team BURST at just 18 years old in the year 2000—right after getting his driver’s license. What began as a tight-knit group of local drivers in the mountains of Nara Prefecture quickly evolved into one of Japan’s most influential underground drift teams. While the original crew has since moved on, Naoki remains the last standing original member, still carrying the torch with every high-revving, tire-shredding lap.

Street Roots to Sponsored Pro

By the age of 20, just two years into his street drifting journey, Naoki landed a sponsorship with D-MAX, where he stayed for a decade. His signature style—reckless to some, fearless to others—earned him a reputation in the Kansai drift scene as both a crowd favorite and a threat to SR engines everywhere.

Eventually, he made the switch to Origin Labo, marking a new chapter in his career as he began to lean more heavily into professional competition.

A Hard Pause

At 28, the risks of street drifting caught up to him. Naoki was arrested for reckless driving and lost his license, banned from holding one for a total of eight years. But the setback didn’t slow him down. Instead of disappearing, he channeled his energy into building and tuning cars, developing a deeper mechanical understanding of the machines he pushed to their limits. He refined his skills at track events, away from the streets that made him.

Rise Through the Ranks

At 38, Naoki entered D1 Lights, Japan’s feeder series into the top tier of professional drifting. He secured two wins in a single year, immediately earning his spot in the D1 Grand Prix series, the pinnacle of pro drifting in Japan.

Naoki would go on to claim the D1GP Championship titles in 2021 and 2024, solidifying his place in the sport’s elite ranks. Today, he competes not only in D1 Japan, but also in Drift Masters Europe under Valino Tires, bringing his unmistakable style to an international stage.

The “SR Killer” and Meihan Legend

Nicknamed the "SR Killer" and Meihan Meister, it's said that Naoki has blown through more than 100 SR engines over the years. His relentless pursuit of style and speed has earned him both admiration and infamy, especially at Meihan Sportsland—his home turf and the site of many iconic BURST clips.

Beyond the Track

Outside of competition, Naoki runs his own paint and tuning shop, offering everything from alignments for customer builds to custom paintwork for full-on circuit machines. It’s a space where street culture, craftsmanship, and motorsport come together—an extension of the philosophy he’s lived by for decades.