Nobushige Kumakubo

Drift legend · Japan

Nobushige Kumakubo in Team Orange colours

Champion on track, landlord of the sport's mecca.

A D1 Grand Prix champion who also owns Ebisu Circuit, the spiritual home of drifting where a huge share of the world's drift media is shot.

Kumakubo won the D1 Grand Prix championship (2006) as a driver for Team Orange, one of the most recognisable outfits of the D1 era.

His off-track legacy may be even bigger: he owns and operates Ebisu Circuit in Fukushima, the multi-course facility that has become the global pilgrimage site for drifting, the backdrop to countless videos, tandem sessions and "touge-in-a-track" media.

That dual role, champion and custodian of the sport's home ground, makes him one of the most quietly influential figures in drift.

At a glance

  • Role: D1GP champion & Ebisu owner
  • Region: Japan

Career highlights

  • 2006: D1GP champion. Wins the D1 Grand Prix title with Team Orange.
  • Ebisu: Owns the drift mecca. Operates Ebisu Circuit, the global home of drift media and tandem culture.

Source: Team Orange (via Flickr)