At 93 years old, former taxi driver Ryuji Urabe has become an unlikely YouTube sensation through his exceptional racing simulation skills, with his gaming videos attracting millions of views and a dedicated international fanbase.
His journey from navigating Tokyo’s bustling streets as a professional driver to dominating digital racetracks through virtual driving simulations serves as an inspiring example of how real-world experience combined with passion can lead to unexpected success—regardless of age.
Key Takeaways
- Urabe’s most popular video has garnered over 3 million views in just four months, with many others surpassing 500,000 views, affirming his growing influence among a global audience.
- His background as a professional taxi driver and garbage truck operator has provided deep automotive insights, equipping him to excel in complex racing simulations.
- Urabe employs a high-end gaming setup that includes a manual transmission, clutch pedal, and traction control disabled—emphasizing his pursuit of realism and skill-based racing over casual play.
- His virtual garage contains sentimental and diverse vehicles, from the Mazda Savanna RX-7 he once owned to finely tuned rally machines and luxury supercars, reflecting his lifelong automotive enthusiasm.
- His story defies conventional age-related stereotypes, showing how seniors can master technology, build global digital influence, and continue to pursue their passions through platforms like YouTube.
Inspiration Beyond the Screen
Ryuji Urabe’s story illustrates that the intersection of passion, technology, and perseverance can produce remarkable results. His digital racing legacy continues to grow while inspiring younger and older generations alike to embrace new opportunities—at any stage in life.
Ryuji Urabe’s Viral Gaming Videos Break the Internet at Age 93
At 93 years old, Ryuji Urabe has accomplished something most people half his age only dream of achieving – becoming a genuine YouTube sensation through his impressive racing simulation skills. This former taxi driver from Japan has captured hearts worldwide through gaming videos that showcase both his remarkable driving abilities and infectious enthusiasm for virtual racing.
From Taxi Driver to Gaming Celebrity
Urabe’s journey to internet stardom began in early 2021 when his grandson started posting gameplay footage on the Olivin Corp YouTube channel. The videos feature the elderly gamer expertly maneuvering through challenging racing simulations, demonstrating the precision and skill he developed during his years as a professional taxi driver. His real-world driving experience translates beautifully into the virtual racing environment, creating content that’s both entertaining and genuinely impressive.
The numbers speak volumes about his appeal:
- One heartwarming video surpassed 3 million views in just four months.
- Several other uploads have crossed the 500,000 view threshold.
These aren’t just casual viewers either; Urabe has cultivated a dedicated international fanbase that actively engages with his content and eagerly anticipates each new video release.
The Global Gaming Community Embraces a Senior Star
What makes Urabe’s story particularly remarkable is how the gaming community has embraced him across cultural and generational boundaries. Fans regularly praise his gaming skills in the comments section and frequently request to see him tackle different vehicles and racing scenarios. This kind of engagement demonstrates that skill and passion for racing games transcends age barriers in ways that many wouldn’t expect.
The gaming industry has also taken notice of this unexpected star:
- Multiple companies have reached out to support his gaming setup.
- They’ve sent ergonomic accessories such as neck cushions to enhance his comfort during long gaming sessions.
These thoughtful gestures help him maintain his competitive edge while protecting his physical well-being.
Urabe’s success challenges conventional assumptions about who can become a successful content creator. While most gaming influencers are decades younger, his authentic approach and genuine skill have proven that age becomes irrelevant when talent meets passion. His videos offer something rare in the often frenetic world of gaming content – a calming presence combined with masterful gameplay that viewers find both relaxing and inspiring.
The phenomenon extends beyond simple entertainment value. Urabe represents hope for active aging and demonstrates that learning new skills or pursuing new interests doesn’t have an expiration date. His story resonates particularly strongly in Japan, where respect for elders combines with appreciation for dedication and craftsmanship, but his appeal clearly extends far beyond cultural boundaries.
Companies and fans alike continue to support his gaming journey, recognizing that they’re witnessing something special:
- A 93-year-old former taxi driver finding a second career.
- Bringing joy to millions through determination and charm.
- Proving that the gaming community can be incredibly welcoming when authenticity meets ability.
His steady hands, sharp reflexes, and decades of driving experience have created a perfect storm for viral success in an unexpected arena.
Urabe’s videos continue to rack up impressive view counts, suggesting that his popularity isn’t just a temporary internet phenomenon but rather a sustained success story that bridges generational gaps through the universal language of skillful gaming and genuine enthusiasm.
https://www.youtube.com/@olivincorp/videos
From Tokyo’s Streets to Virtual Racing Circuits
Ryuji Urabe’s journey from the bustling streets of central Tokyo to the digital racing tracks reflects a remarkable transformation that speaks to the power of adaptation and passion. During the 1960s, Urabe navigated Tokyo’s maze-like roads as a taxi driver, developing an intimate knowledge of the city’s traffic patterns and vehicle dynamics that would serve him well decades later.
After his taxi driving career, Urabe transitioned to operating garbage trucks for nearly two decades, continuing his connection to commercial driving while maintaining his deep appreciation for automotive engineering. This extended period behind the wheel of different vehicle types expanded his understanding of handling characteristics and driving techniques across various automotive platforms.
The Transition from Physical to Virtual Driving
At age 86, Urabe made the difficult but responsible decision to surrender his driver’s license, following a pattern common among elderly Japanese citizens who prioritize public safety. This cultural practice demonstrates the collective responsibility many Japanese seniors feel toward their communities, even when it means giving up personal freedoms.
Rather than allowing this transition to diminish his automotive passion, Urabe discovered gaming as a bridge between his past and present. His lifelong enthusiasm for classic Japanese domestic vehicles and exotic cars found new expression through racing simulators and video games. The virtual environment allows him to experience the thrill of driving without the physical limitations or safety concerns that come with aging.
Gaming has become more than entertainment for Urabe – it represents an emotional lifeline to his automotive heritage. The detailed physics engines in modern racing games capture many of the nuances he remembers from his professional driving days, from the subtle feedback through the steering wheel to the distinct characteristics of different vehicle models. This technological advancement has enabled him to maintain his connection to driving culture in ways that weren’t possible for previous generations.
His transition mirrors broader changes in Japanese society, where technology increasingly bridges generational gaps. Just as Japanese culture values collective responsibility, Urabe’s story shows how individuals can adapt to changing circumstances while preserving core interests and passions.
The virtual racing environment provides Urabe with access to vehicles and tracks that would have been impossible to experience during his professional driving career. He can now test legendary supercars, race on international circuits, and push performance boundaries without real-world consequences. This freedom has reignited his enthusiasm for automotive culture in ways that surprise even younger gaming enthusiasts.
Modern racing games offer sophisticated car customization options that appeal to Urabe’s mechanical knowledge and appreciation for automotive engineering. His decades of experience with different vehicle types give him insights into handling characteristics that many younger players lack, creating an interesting dynamic where age becomes an advantage rather than a limitation.
The precision required in competitive racing games aligns with the careful attention to detail that characterized Urabe’s professional driving career. Traffic navigation skills from his taxi days translate well to reading racing lines and anticipating other drivers’ movements in multiplayer environments. His garbage truck experience contributes to his understanding of vehicle weight distribution and momentum management during virtual races.
Urabe’s story demonstrates how passion can transcend physical limitations through technological innovation. Gaming has provided him with a meaningful way to stay connected to automotive culture while sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with younger generations online. His YouTube presence has created an unexpected platform where his decades of driving experience meet modern gaming culture, inspiring viewers who might otherwise view aging as a barrier to pursuing interests.
This digital transformation reflects broader trends in how technology can enhance quality of life for seniors, offering new avenues for engagement and community connection that weren’t available to previous generations of retirees.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jMZlN5U6W8
High-Tech Gaming Setup Brings Realistic Driving Experience
Ryuji’s gaming journey started with humble beginnings, using a basic school laptop to explore virtual racing tracks. His grandson recognized the potential for a more immersive experience and stepped in to provide a significant upgrade. The new setup features a powerful computer paired with a large flat-screen monitor that transforms the simple gaming experience into something approaching real-world driving simulation.
Professional-Grade Equipment Creates Authentic Racing Environment
The hardware configuration focuses entirely on realism rather than convenience. Ryuji employs several key components that distinguish his setup from casual gaming arrangements:
- Manual transmission mode that requires proper clutch engagement and gear shifting
- Physical clutch pedal that demands precise timing and coordination
- Gated shifter mechanism providing tactile feedback similar to actual sports cars
- Disabled traction control systems forcing reliance on driving skill rather than electronic assistance
- Force feedback steering wheel delivering road surface sensations
This equipment selection reflects a serious commitment to authentic driving simulation. The manual controls require the same muscle memory and coordination that professional drivers develop over years of experience. Ryuji’s background as a taxi driver gives him natural advantages in managing these complex control schemes.
The Forza racing simulation series serves as his primary gaming platform, chosen specifically for its reputation in delivering realistic physics and vehicle behavior. Unlike arcade-style racing games that prioritize speed over accuracy, Forza demands proper braking techniques, throttle control, and racing lines. The game’s sophisticated tire physics respond to temperature changes, wear patterns, and road surface conditions just like real vehicles.
His grandson’s technical expertise proved crucial in optimizing the system for maximum performance. The powerful computer ensures smooth frame rates even during complex racing scenarios with multiple vehicles and weather effects. High-resolution graphics display subtle details like tire smoke, brake glow, and track surface textures that contribute to the overall immersion.
The large monitor setup creates a wider field of view that more closely approximates actual driving visibility. This expanded visual range helps with spatial awareness during racing situations, particularly when judging distances for overtaking maneuvers or navigating tight corners. Professional racing simulators often use triple-monitor configurations for similar reasons.
Ryuji’s insistence on disabling driving assists demonstrates his commitment to genuine skill development. Modern racing games typically include features like automatic braking, steering assistance, and stability control to help novice players. By turning off these aids, he forces himself to develop proper racing techniques through practice and experience rather than relying on computer assistance.
The realistic control setup also includes proper pedal positioning and resistance that mimics actual vehicle responses. The clutch engagement point requires precise timing to avoid stalling, while the brake pedal provides graduated pressure feedback similar to hydraulic brake systems. These details might seem minor to casual observers, but they significantly impact the overall driving experience.
His technical approach has caught attention from various gaming communities who appreciate the dedication to authenticity. Many younger gamers focus on graphics quality or competitive rankings, but Ryuji’s emphasis on realistic simulation represents a different philosophy entirely. The setup demonstrates that age doesn’t limit one’s ability to master complex gaming systems or appreciate technological advancement.
The equipment investment reflects growing recognition that gaming technology can provide genuine skill development opportunities. Professional racing teams increasingly use simulation systems for driver training, recognizing their value in developing racecraft without the costs and risks associated with track time.
Ryuji’s configuration proves that consumer-grade equipment can deliver professional-level simulation experiences when properly selected and configured. The combination of powerful hardware, realistic controls, and quality software creates an environment where decades of real-world driving experience translates directly into virtual racing success.
Virtual Garage Features Nostalgic and Exotic Rides
Ryuji’s digital automotive collection represents far more than a random assortment of virtual vehicles. His carefully curated garage showcases cars that carry deep personal meaning, historical significance, and iconic status within automotive culture.
The Crown Jewel: Mazda Savanna RX-7
The centerpiece of Ryuji’s virtual collection remains the Mazda Savanna RX-7, particularly the silver first-generation model that he actually owned during the 1990s. This rotary-powered sports car holds special significance as his all-time favorite, representing a tangible connection between his real-world driving experiences and his current digital adventures. The RX-7’s distinctive Wankel engine sound and lightweight handling characteristics clearly resonate with someone who spent decades behind the wheel professionally.
A Diverse Fleet of Dream Machines
Beyond his beloved RX-7, Ryuji’s garage spans multiple automotive categories and eras. His collection demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of car culture that extends far beyond typical racing game selections. The lineup includes several standout vehicles that showcase his diverse automotive interests:
- A Subaru WRC car that captures the raw intensity of rally racing heritage
- The Honda S2000, representing one of Japan’s finest naturally aspirated roadsters
- A Nissan Fairlady Z (S30), directly inspired by the legendary Devil Z from the Wangan Midnight series
- Premium European supercars including various Ferrari and Lamborghini models
- The modern Nissan GTR, bridging classic Japanese performance with contemporary technology
Each vehicle selection reveals Ryuji’s deep appreciation for automotive history and performance. His choices aren’t driven by flashy marketing or current trends but rather by genuine connections to cars that shaped automotive culture. The inclusion of the Wangan Midnight-inspired Fairlady Z particularly demonstrates how Japanese cultural phenomena influence his gaming preferences.
The diversity within his virtual garage mirrors the evolution of automotive excellence across different decades and manufacturers. From the raw, analog experience of classic Japanese sports cars to the sophisticated engineering of modern supercars, Ryuji’s collection tells the story of automotive progress through personal lens. His selections also reflect a lifetime spent appreciating different driving characteristics, from the rotary smoothness of his cherished RX-7 to the turbocharged power delivery of contemporary performance machines.
This thoughtful approach to vehicle selection sets Ryuji apart from typical gaming enthusiasts who might gravitate toward the newest or most expensive options available. Instead, his choices demonstrate how genuine automotive passion transcends the virtual barrier, creating meaningful connections between past experiences and present entertainment. The fact that he gravitates toward cars with personal significance rather than pure performance statistics speaks to his authentic relationship with automotive culture.
Challenging Stereotypes About Age and Technology
Ryuji Urabe’s incredible journey from taxi driver to YouTube gaming sensation directly contradicts common assumptions about older adults and their relationship with technology. At 93 years old, he’s proven that age doesn’t determine one’s ability to master complex gaming systems or build a thriving online presence. His story demonstrates how powerful lifelong passions can remain, showing that enthusiasm for learning new skills doesn’t diminish with time.
Breaking Down Digital Barriers
Society often assumes that older generations struggle with technology or avoid it entirely. Urabe’s success tells a different story entirely. He navigates modern gaming platforms with remarkable skill, streams content regularly, and engages with a global audience through digital platforms. His dedication challenges the narrative that technology belongs exclusively to younger generations.
Japanese culture traditionally respects elderly wisdom, yet even within this context, Urabe’s achievements stand out as extraordinary. He’s become an inspiration for viewers worldwide who see his journey as proof that passionate interests can flourish at any stage of life. Many fans comment on how his enthusiasm motivates them to pursue their own interests more boldly, regardless of their age.
Building Bridges Across Generations
Urabe’s gaming content creates unique intergenerational connections that wouldn’t exist otherwise. Young viewers discover they share common ground with someone nearly a century old, while older adults see representation in digital spaces they might have considered unwelcoming. This cultural bridge-building extends beyond gaming itself.
His story resonates particularly strongly in discussions about lifelong learning and staying mentally active. Video games require quick reflexes, strategic thinking, and continuous adaptation – skills that many people believe decline with age. Urabe’s performance contradicts these assumptions while showcasing the cognitive benefits of engaging with challenging entertainment.
The themes emerging from his journey extend far beyond gaming. He represents a new model for Japanese elderly culture that embraces technology rather than avoiding it. Senior YouTubers like Urabe are creating new pathways for older adults to find purpose, community, and creative expression through digital platforms.
His success has sparked broader conversations about how society views aging itself. Rather than seeing advanced age as a period of decline, Urabe’s story frames it as an opportunity for growth and exploration of new hobbies. He’s shown that passion doesn’t have an expiration date and that technical skills can be developed at any point in life.
Viewers frequently praise Urabe as a role model for graceful aging – someone who stays curious, engaged, and willing to step outside traditional expectations. His approach to gaming mirrors the dedication many associate with professional drivers, whether they’re mastering driving tests or perfecting racing techniques.
The ripple effects of his influence extend beyond entertainment:
- Educational institutions and senior centers have begun incorporating gaming programs inspired by stories like his.
- Technology companies are rethinking their approach to older demographics, recognizing them as an engaged audience.
- Families are discovering new forms of intergenerational bonding through gaming.
Urabe’s journey illustrates that the digital divide isn’t necessarily about age – it’s about opportunity, interest, and support. His willingness to embrace gaming culture at 93 suggests that many barriers preventing older adults from engaging with technology are societal rather than inherent. He’s created space for others to follow similar paths without feeling constrained by conventional expectations about appropriate activities for their age group.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jen46M5u3fg
https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkxd4GJxuWiE7W4PjVR6eczX39HrIXYzAKX
Sources:
Tech Times, “93-Year-Old YouTuber From Tokyo Is Addicted to Racing Games” by Joseph Henry
Japanese Nostalgic Car, “A 93-year-old grandpa driving his Mazda RX-7 in a video game takes internet by storm”
South China Morning Post, “93-year-old Japanese ex-taxi driver becomes YouTube legend at racing games”
Uproxx, “This 93-Year-Old YouTuber Proves Video Games Are For Everyone”
