JDM Drift School SHO (翔-SHO)

JDM Drift School SHO is a two student drift school at Ebisu Circuit in Nihonmatsu, Fukushima, the circuit Japanese drifting treats as home ground. You drive the school's car with the instructor beside you, and the lead instructor is Shota Konno, who learned under Nobushige Kumakubo at Ebisu, has run the D1 Divisional Series since 2013 and finished third on his D1 Lights debut.

There are two products. The one day lesson is the fundamentals: a steady state circle, figure 8s and side brake drifts. The three day lesson starts the same way and finishes with course drifting, one corner at a time on the school course until you can put a whole lap together.

No driver's licence is needed because the whole day is on a closed course, and the school says people with an automatic only licence and people with no manual experience have learned to drift here. The circuit is a public one, so other drivers are on the ground the same day, and the school runs daily outside the winter closure.

• You drive the school car with the instructor in the passenger seat, and there are never more than two students on the lesson.
• The lead instructor is Shota Konno: trained under Nobushige Kumakubo at Ebisu, D1 Divisional Series since 2013, D1 Lights debut in 2019 with a third place.
• Day one everywhere is a steady state circle, then figure 8s, then the side brake drift.
• On the three day lesson the last day moves onto the school course, one corner at a time until you drift a full lap.
• The day runs from a 9:30am driver's meeting to a 4pm course close with an hour for lunch, and the gate opens at 9am first come first served.
• Ebisu is a public course, so other cars use the circuit the same day and a private track is not promised.
• Best way to experience it: the one day lesson is the base product and the three day lesson builds on it, so one day is the anchor for a first timer and three days is the step for anyone who wants to leave with a full lap.

• One day lesson ¥270,000 per person. Three day lesson ¥650,000 per person. Both tax included.
• Included: the school car, four new tyres, a full tank of fuel, helmet and glove hire. Fuel beyond the tank is paid on the day.
• Add ons: none are sold. Extra fuel is the only on the day cost the school publishes.
• No driver's licence needed. You need to reach the pedals, and anyone under licence age comes with a parent or guardian.
• Wear long sleeves, long pants and sneakers. Bring gloves (fingerless or cotton work gloves are not accepted) or hire them, and a full face or motorcycle helmet (no half helmets) or hire one.
• Runs daily except 1 December to 28 February. Meet at the Ebisu Circuit entrance at the Tohoku Safari Park at 8:50am.
• Book through the school's calendar link or by email. Payment is confirmed within a week of the acceptance email or the booking lapses.
• Cancel more than a week out for a refund less ¥1,000. Inside a week the fee is 100 percent. If snow or a disaster closes the circuit, the school refunds less ¥1,000.
• Staff can refuse anyone they judge unfit to drive, including anyone who has been drinking.
• Lunch is a one hour break with a cafe at the Safari Park.
• A free shuttle runs from Fukushima Station to the circuit by reservation. A taxi back to Nihonmatsu Station is arranged at the circuit entrance.
• Phone 024-572-3342 or drift.sho@gmail.com.

• Last verified: 19 October 2026
• Official link: https://drift-sho.com/