Why & How I Started the Hikari Project

MAKING A START... 

 I felt tired creatively, and emotionally. Not in a dramatic way, but in that heavy sense of knowing I was underachieving. I kept telling myself, “I need to start something.” I said it over and over, for months, maybe years. And eventually, I got tired of saying it.

So I did.

The Hikari Project was born out of that moment when talking wasn’t enough anymore. I was sad, yes, but more than that, I was restless. I knew I had more to give than what I was offering while building someone else’s dream and at some point, the fear of staying where I was became bigger than the fear of leaving.

LEAVING EMPLOYMENT.

Leaving my job wasn’t easy. It was one of the hardest decisions I've made down to the fact that financially it was the most I'd ever earnt from a single salary. Stability is comfortable. A pay check feels safe. Walking away from that to pursue something uncertain takes a level of belief that I didn’t even know I had yet.

KEEPING MOTIVATED

The truth is, building Hikari is incredibly difficult. Some days are inspiring and energizing. Other days are exhausting and full of doubt. There are moments when things don’t work, when progress feels REALLY slow, and when the weight of responsibility is heavy. I have people relying on me. I have expectations to meet. I want to make people proud and create a future where I can give back to the family who raised me, and one day, help them rest from the grind they carry.

If there’s one thing this journey has taught me so far, it’s that starting is powerful. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You don’t need perfect timing. You just need the courage to begin. Dreams don’t move unless you do.

REALISATION OF THE IDEA

I absolutely love this space. I've lived and breathed JDM cars as long as I can remember and the sourcing parts idea came by accident. After acquiring a skyline I bought a pair of second hand lights for £50 off Facebook market place only for them not to fit the model i had. I did some googling to realise these indicators I had acquired was a rare part worth over £170 each and had them sold within 48hours. From here I researched many other ways of making money through the JDM community.

SUMMARY 

6 months later working alongside two large Japanese suppliers we have our clothing brand, part sourcing, detailing products, custom fresheners and LOTS AND LOTS of skyline parts and most recently we are venturing into our service kits specialised to each engine.

Hikari means light (in Japanese) and that’s what this project is to me. A light I decided to follow when everything felt uncertain. A reminder that growth is uncomfortable, but staying stuck is worse. And proof that when you finally choose yourself, incredible things can happen.

This is the very beginning.