A Japanese music producer's long-awaited dream of owning a Ferrari tragically ended moments after it became a reality.
After saving up for 10 years, Honkon, a 33-year-old producer of the popular Japanese idol group Chocorabi, finally bought a Ferrari 458 Spider — only to see it catch fire within an hour of hitting the road for the first time.
The incident took place on Wednesday, April 16, on the Shuto Expressway in Tokyo. Honkon took the luxury sports car for a celebratory drive shortly after its delivery. But his joy quickly turned into horror.
“I Spent 43 Million Yen and All I Got Was This Photo.”
Sharing a photo of his burning car on X (formerly Twitter), Honkon wrote:
“I think I’m the only person in Japan to have experienced such trouble. I spent 43 million yen ($306,000), and all I got was this photo.”
Initially, he thought the smoke was coming from a nearby vehicle, but once that car sped off, it became clear that the white smoke was pouring from the Ferrari’s engine. He quickly pulled over, got out, and called the fire department.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police confirmed that there was no sign of a collision. Investigators suspect the fire may have started in the engine compartment, but the exact cause is still unknown. The car was almost destroyed.
Despite the emotional and financial loss, Honkon expressed gratitude for his safety.
“I thought it might explode. I’m just glad to be alive,” he told his followers.
