Mits reports: Meeting Taku. (Sato Update)

[Shiba-Kun]

Mits reports: Meeting Taku.

05/12/2005

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The 2005 F1 season was maybe not a satisfactory one for Taku. However, support, from his fans from Japan to any countries where grand prix is held, gave him a lot of power and courage to race, and Taku always tried to respond to that support.

He and his management tried to arrange a chance to meet fans as much as possible. This time, I would like to introduce you such opportunities that Taku meets Japanese fans during the season and off the season.

Sunday 9 October 2005 was a long waiting day for Japanese fan and should have been a wonderful day, but the result of the race was unfortunate. Despite such a race, Taku appeared on the Honda booth for a few minutes after the race to see fans and said a few words about the race.

Monday after the race was a national holiday in Japan. Taku held a talk show at the Suzuka circuit. Thousand of fans did not go home and stayed on the circuit and waited for the meeting with Taku. He extended his appreciation for supporting him during this season and promised to make his best effort for Chinese Grand Prix, as well as showing his determination to be on the grid at the start of the 2006 season.

We have 'Takuma Club', a supporter's club of Takuma Sato. Taku and his management planed a fan club meeting called Takuma Club Meeting 2005. It is the third time for the event, following 2004 and 2003. This time it was scheduled in November at Tokyo and Osaka (1200 people each).

The announcement was held for Takuma Club member in early September and sold out before October. Taku was so busy after the announcement of Super Aguri Formula One in November, then arrived in Tokyo in the evening just before the event day, but he didn't show his tiredness. The program of the event consisted of a talk show, question and answer, present from Taku (a drawing) then meet and shake hands. He prepared 1200 signed card for giveaway for all participants and shook hands, taking more than two hours. That opportunity must be a precious time for fans and the card will be a treasure!

He also disclosed some 'off the record' episodes from during the season and one question from a fan was 'how did you propose to your wife?'. He answered or not will
be ..... I don't know...

November 23 is a national holiday in Japan as a 'Labour Thanks Giving day'. The Twin Ring Motegi, Honda's circuit located 200km north of Tokyo, hold a 'Honda Thanks Day', inviting all Honda motorcycle race riders and racing drivers from all categories of Moto GP, Super GT, F3, Formula Nippon (F3000), IRL and F1. Taku came to Japan again and joined this event.

At the press conference, he answered lots of question for more than twenty minutes. Most questions were regarding Super Aguri F1 and Taku, but he could not answer specific things that is not clarified at the time. However, he showed his confidence to be on the starting grid of the Bahrain in 2006.

In the Thanks Day event. there was a sign session, then some lucky people got a sign from Taku. He seems to answer to plenty of request from fans, but time was so limited. Also, Taku tried kart racing! He says that he had not driven a kart since Elf Masters Bercy in 2000 (Does anyone remember? Yes, I do remember.) with two otehr Japanese drivers, including Ryo Fukuda, ex-French F3 champion. He made a team with Kosuke Matsuura, IRL driver and Hideki Mutoh, a Japanese F3 driver who raced in British junior formula in 2001-2.They got second out of five teams!

In the afternoon, after a photo session, Taku drove an old Honda F1 machine called RA300, then drove the BAR 007 for his last drive! Mechanics from BAR flew to Japan only for this event and supported Taku's drive. After driving several laps in the oval course (as it is IRL course), he stopped the machine, get out of the machine, then patted the bodywork two times, looks like saying "thanks and good bye BAR 007".

Taku and fan events never end. A big party was held in the evening with 300 paying fans. All riders and drivers got together again for talking, taking photo, signing.... making for close communications with fans. Of course, Taku met and talked all fans, then took photo and gave a signed card again, without having any drinking in the party for more than two hours!!

Taku enjoys and think it is important to see and make a close communication with his fans. He believes and always says that support from fans gives him an infinite power, stronger than anything. Also, he think it is unfortunate that he can't see and touch all fans all over the world, so try to find as much opportunities as possible. I hope my report may convey some essence of those activities to all Taku fan in the world.

Lastly, I also believe and convince that Taku is on the grid of Bahrain in March 2006.

Mits Yoshi, Taku's No1 fan in Tokyo since 1999