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Published: March 16th 2006
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Fujisawa, Yvette & Ayako
Picture: Takuma Sato (Driver 1) & Yuji Ide (Driver 2) Part 2 - Entourage for a Day
4th March 2006. Super Aguri Press Conference & Media Activity 10:30 - 1:30 - Preparation & Media Time I turned up to the Hollywood Plaza in Roppongi at 10:30am to a corridor of 7 elevators serviced by 7 men in black suits, ear pieces and security tags. Feeling a bit "play school - which window to choose" I advanced confidently to the nearest elevator and requested to be escorted to Level 12. Upon arrival, I was shocked by what I saw - my colleagues had also transformed into head-set, walkie-talkie bearing uber-important backstage support crew. The floor was a buzz; media in one room, team officials in the second and support staff (us) in the third.
The day's agenda had been broken down by the minute, per key personell, so we all knew exactly what had to happen and when. Media interviews, photography shoots, lunch, team wear fittings - all to clockwork. Even the actual 1 hour press conference had a 20 page document supporting the movements on and off the stage, slide transition timings, standing locations on stage and word by minute MC commentary. Impressive.
Team officials and the drivers were all in good spirits and worked with us smoothly throughout the day. Besides the moment when poor Yuji Ide (Driver #2) got a wack in the face by an opening door seconds before walking into a TV interview, everything went swimmingly well. Lucky for us, he is a good bloke and took it very well, despite clearly being in pain!
1:30 - 2:30 - The Press Conference Over 500 people attended the Press Conference, including around 350 journalists from 180 media companies. The whole event was fantastic with rock music introductions and a wonderful, positive vibe from all speakers. However it ws two attendees who provided what would be the first of two occassions in the day when I was struck by one of those "it's all been worth it" moments - those times when a stupid little thing happens, but for some reason it provides a new perspective.. And you realise you can walk away from an experience with a huge smile and warm memories.
Anyway, the first attendee who impresed me was a Puppet. I later learned he hosts a sports TV show, however when I saw him on the
other side of the room, it hit me that I had somehow ended up in Japan on the staff of a Formula 1 team....Only in Japan could a puppet pose a question to the stage, and I couldn't help but find it bloody hilarious.
A few moments later I also saw a young boy about a meter away, no more than 4 years old, in his racing suit and bearing an 'official' guest pass. I'm sure "Zoom!" "zoom!" would be the english translation of what he was saying as he ran around all the grown-ups, with an imaginary car in his hand, driving it through the air and onto the tables. Off in his own little F1 world, at a press conference we had put together, for a team that a month ago hadn't yet been accepted into the competition.
Despite the hours and difficulties - we had created something that would excite people. 2:30 - 4:30 - Promotional Plug The afternoon's next destination was the Samantha Thavasa head office in Aoyama. Samantha Thavasa, is a fashion bag brand promoted by the likes of the Hilton sisters, Byonce and Penelope Cruz. (That may give you an inkling
as to its design). Lucky for the boys of Super Aguri, they are now also promotional partners and get to say all sorts of lovely things about the company's new range of men's bags... Hmm.. Well there were lots of chuckles backstage needless to say the least.
4:30 - 6:30 - Marui Department Store The last official engagement for the day was in Shibuya at the Marui department store for a store-front fan event. Several hundred fans collected at the entrance to the department store, and walking through the crowd, it was cool to hear people chat about what was going on.. 'from the outside'. After the 20min appearance, I was in a scene from my favourite 1989 video 'Backstage with Bon Jovi' with pushing crowds and security guards attempting to block doorways in order to allow the drivers to get to their waiting cars. Making our way to the back entrance, the drivers finally made it through the crowd and off in their cars. Several perplexed fans watched as my colleagues and I piled into Car #6.
Who were we? Entourage Baby!
6:30 - late - Team Drinks & Dinner After the conclusion of the official events,
our premium black taxis took us back to the Super Aguri, Aoyama Head Office. En route, myself, Ayako and Fujisawa san took a quick coffee pit-stop (I think I actually had a beer) before heading up to the office where the rest of the project team had assembled around the board room table with beer snacks and cans of Kirin. We were probably 20mins late to the party, so at our entrance, there was reason to officially drink cheers to everybody's efforts and hard work.
This is when I had my second "it's all been worth it" moment. Seated around the table was Yuji Ide (Driver #2), Suzuki Aguri (Team Owner), Akita san (MD), a handful of agency staff, event management staff, the official team photogapher, the PR agency as well as staff from the Super Aguri office. Needless to say, everyone was in very good spirits to have wrapped up a big milestone in the project. The team had officially been launched and we were only one week away from the first race.
Aknowledging us girls as we entered the room, Aguri and Akita san piped up with jovial repotoire about my imminent departure from the team
With Takuma's Manager
Come on Matthew, we're bored! Have a hissy fit over not enough black jellybeans or something! in order to set off of world travels and joked affectionately about how I had become like part of the family. All of us around the table then stood, raised our cans of Kirin, drank to the hard work and drank to my safe and happy travels.
At the end of the day, the hard work had paid off. I had made a connection with a wonderful group of people.
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Ed
non-member comment
Where's the photos with Takuma and Yuji?
Can you stop sending these stories as I am incredibly jealous. Did you get to go to Bahrain??? Nice Bon Jovi reference