As a result of Uehara-san attending Euromeet, together with his translator Yamamoto-san, Yamamoto decided to buy an S2000 immediately as he returned home to Germany. He's enjoying it a lot
Stocky thought it would be a good idea if the opportunity arose to visit Japan.
Yamamoto decided to ask Uehara-san (Chief Designer) and Funubashi-san (Production Co-ordinator) if he could organise an exchange visit, for the attendees of Euromeet.
It was very short notice, as production ends next week, but Yamamoto has pulled it off, and there will be about a dozen of us from all over Europe flying to Japan on Saturday. (It is Japanese tradition to invite people back when they have been invited somewhere, and those exchanges continue). I'm going from LHR, and the others from Frankfurt. (Those Virgin miles came in very handy!!)
The itinerary looks absolutely fantastic.....
Here are a few things we will be doing...
Saturday/Sunday Travelling to Narita (Tokyo) then Nagoya
Monday - Suzuka Circuit for lunch, then on to Suzuka factory, to see the last S2000 come off the line (hopefully!). We will meet Funabashi-san and some Japanese S2000 Owners. There will be a factory tour. We will then Visit J's Racing in Osaka.
Tuesday - Visit Rays at Osaka, transfer to Kyoto and tour the temples in Kyoto
Wednesday - more temples, Traditional Japanese day at a traditional Hotel, Japanese bath/spa and traditional Japanese dinner followed by Karaoke!
Thursday - Back to Tokyo for some sightseeing, Shibuya, Shinjuku, City Hall etc. Visit Mugen showroom at Asaka and maybe a R&D factory tour
Friday - Visit Spoon showroom in Tokyo, visit Honda HQ and Welcom plaza, then on to the Honda Collection Hall and Honda Theme Hall at Motegi. Dinner that night at the Motegi Twin Ring Hotel.
Saturday - We'll meet with the Japanese S2000 Club, have passenger rides in S2000 and NSX driving to Nikko. We'll have a party that night too, with special guests Mr Uehara, Mr Tsukamoto (Chasis project leader), Mr Nakano (Powertrain project leader) and Mr Funabashi.
Sunday - Travel home (I will be getting a lift to the station from Mr Funubashi!)
I'm so excited. I'll have my camera and notepad with me and hope to do a good write up when I return
Myself and leftfootbraking are attending from this side of the Channel. There are a few from Italy, Germany, Portugal too
