Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Masato Kawabata ( , Kawabata Masato?, 15 October 1977, Osaka) is a Japanese professional drifting driver, currently competing in the D1 Grand Prix series for Team Toyo.Kawabata first received his license at 18 he bought the Nissan 180SX. He practiced alone until he met late D1 driver Atsushi Kuroi who started to teach and advise Kawabata. At age 19, Kawabata entered a drift magazine sponsored contest and took first place. At 21, GP Sports started to sponsor Kawabata with a full line of aero parts. Kawabata and first appeared in the D1 Grand Prix in round 4 of 2002.