Tatsuru Ichishima founded Spoon Inc. in 1988 after a career as a race car tester and driver at Honda. Both Honda and Mugen backed the startup — Honda in exchange for racing data gathered through competition. The company traces its origins to Ichishima's personal Honda Civic E-AT, which he modified and used as the conceptual foundation for Spoon's racing philosophy and product development approach.
The company emerged partly in response to Honda's growing shift toward eco-friendly production technology, which left performance-focused Honda owners without factory support for track-level performance. Spoon positioned itself to fill that gap by developing naturally aspirated tuning solutions similar in character to those offered by rival shop Toda Racing — an approach that requires significant valvetrain upgrades and aggressive engine calibration.
Spoon produces a broad range of aftermarket parts covering powertrain, suspension, aerodynamics, wheels, drivetrain, braking systems, and cooling systems. The company is particularly associated with naturally aspirated performance and a focus on chassis balance over peak power output.
Among its most recognized products is the Spoon SW388, a lightweight aluminum forged five-spoke wheel often compared in popularity to the Volk Racing TE37. Spoon also produces close-ratio synchronized gear kits noted for their extremely tight ratios, and co-developed a Momo steering wheel with the Italian accessories manufacturer Momo. The company's aerodynamic body kits feature a distinctive aggressive front-end design sometimes compared to the shape of a crane — a motif carried into the company's trademarked Crane-styled Wing, visible on vehicles such as the FK8 Civic Type R.
Spoon race cars are traditionally finished in a blue and yellow livery, while road-going customer builds typically appear in white. The livery scheme diversified after 2012, when Spoon campaigned an S2000 in different colors.
Spoon's motorsport program has centered on Honda vehicles in endurance racing and time-attack competition. The very first race car attributed to Spoon was Ichishima's modified Civic E-AT, which became the first Honda Civic to compete in the Japan Touring Car Championship.
In Japan, Spoon built a strong reputation in time-attack events using the Honda Integra Type R, NSX, S2000, and Civic. The company became particularly recognizable in endurance racing through campaigns at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, the Tsukuba 9 Hours, the Tokachi 24 Hours, and the 25 Hours of Thunderhill.
In 2008, Spoon introduced the Spoon Honda NSX-R GT — a racing build derived from the first-generation 2002 Honda NSX-R, modified to meet Japanese Super GT regulations. The company claimed the Super Taikyu ST-4 class championship, along with class victories at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, the Tokachi 24 Hours, and the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, and class podium finishes at the Macau Grand Prix.
In 2017, Spoon fielded an Unlimited Class FD2 Honda Civic Type R at the Global Time Attack event at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in California. The car was configured as a front-wheel-drive machine with a Formula 1-style center-seating position and set a record lap during the event.
In 2001, Spoon opened Type One as a separate customer-facing tuning and service shop, distinguishing it from the company's main facility which handles parts stocking, distribution, and R&D. Type One serves as a showroom displaying all Spoon products alongside the race cars the company has campaigned through the years. Engines are built at the facility to specifications beyond factory output.
Type One also functions as a vehicle retail outlet, where Spoon buys and resells Honda vehicles — including bespoke conversions such as left-hand-drive NSX Type Rs for international buyers.
Spoon Sports is regarded as one of the most influential Honda tuning companies in the world, credited with establishing Honda vehicles as credible contenders in international endurance racing. The company's more than two-decade racing record across Japan, Germany, and the United States reflects a consistent philosophy of proving parts performance under real competitive conditions. Its aftermarket products, particularly the SW388 wheel and gear kits, remain reference items in global Honda performance communities.