Nobuteru Taniguchi
A Japanese motorsport icon nicknamed 'NOB,' famed for his drifting mastery and long-term dominance in Super GT racing.
Born 1971 (age 55)·Japanese racing driver and drifter·Birthday: May 18·Generation X
Biography
Nobuteru Taniguchi, universally known as 'NOB,' is a cornerstone of Japanese motorsport culture. He rose to fame in the early 2000s as a leading figure in the drifting world, his bright yellow Nissan Silvia S15 becoming an instantly recognizable symbol of style and control. His skill wasn't confined to sideways action; Taniguchi successfully translated his talents to circuit racing, becoming a permanent and successful fixture in Japan's premier Super GT series. Competing for years with the legendary Goodsmile Racing team, often in collaboration with anime-themed liveries, he bridged the gap between hardcore racing fans and pop culture enthusiasts, proving that a driver could be both a serious competitor and a charismatic icon.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Nobuteru was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nobuteru Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Nobuteru's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Super GT GT300 class championship in 2011 driving for Goodsmile Racing.
- Is a multiple-time podium finisher and race winner in the Super GT series over a career spanning more than a decade.
- A founding and iconic competitor in the D1 Grand Prix professional drifting series.
- Competed in the prestigious 24 Hours of Nürburgring endurance race multiple times.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'The Pimp' originated from the distinctive styling and purple interior of his early drift car.
He frequently drove the 'Hatsune Miku' Goodsmile Racing car, adorned with artwork of the virtual pop star.
He is known for a very smooth, controlled driving style in both drifting and circuit racing.
“Drifting is not just sliding; it's controlling chaos with perfect line and angle.”
