もう４月末

いや〜週末もあっと言う間に終わってしまい、気がついたら４月末。もうインディー５００は目前ですね。今週はラストスパート＆２４時間態勢でインディーに向けてスポンサー活動やチームとの交渉。どこのチームもやはり不況のせいで、スポンサー獲得を困難のようで、その負担をドライバーで補おうとしているので、大変な状況です。
が、スポンサーを獲得しないと状況はかわらないので、全力で頑張ってます！！なんだか、毎日がどきどき。緊張感あり過ぎの今日このごろです。

Wow...the week end passed by so fast and we are approaching month of May in a hurry. This week would be a critical week for me since it can be a deal or no deal week for me with a sponsor that we are currently discussing. If things don't happen this week, I have to opt for Plan B which is trying to find a second week ride...which is obviously not ideal. Anyhow, I gotta keep trying!! Wish me luck guys!!

気がついたら週末

気がついたらあっと言う間に週末に入りましたね。昨日と今日はジムでがっつりトレーニングをしてから、家で色々とスポンサー活動の為の連絡の取り合いであったり、チームとの交渉。今の時点で凡そ３０台は確定していて、残りのレースに参戦できる枠は３台。エントリーしている枠もいれると８台ありますが、ちゃんとしたシートは残り３つくらいなので、早くスポンサーを決めてシートを獲得しないと。色々と大変でプレッシャーかかっています・・・。

I can't believe that we are already headed in to the week end. I was at the gym today and yesterday for majority of the day to get me well prepared for the 500. As I got back home, I was straight back on to my desk to get things moving forward for the 500 talking to possible sponsors and seeing what's out there for a possible ride. There are 30 driver/car combination now which leaves 3 more drivers to make the show. Realistically, there are 8 more cars that are entered in to the race of which 3 seats are with a pretty good team. Time is running out and I will have to raise enough funds real quickly in order to run in this year's 500. I'm stressed out this last couple of days, but will need to keep working hard at it as things are moving forward slowly but surely.

交渉ノンストップ

いや〜気がついたらもうちょっと５月ですね。いよいよやってきましたよ〜Month of Mayが！！自分にとっては年に一度の稼ぎ時のチャンス。色んなチームと交渉してシートを獲得して、良い体制で５００に参戦しないとって毎年必死に動いている時期です。

I can't believe it's time of the year again! Month of May!! Obviously it's the only time where I can depend on a decent income if I run the 500. Well...I should say more than decent!?! Well, it gets really busy during this time of the year in order to secure a seat for the race.

このトレーニングが終わると一日中、メールや電話でシートがありそうなチームと連絡の取り合い。その上に色んな口コミ情報で回りがどういう動きをしてるかって言うのもしっておかないといけないので、情報集めが大変です。しかし、今年は今まで以上にスポンサーを確保して、お土産をもってチームと交渉をしなくてはいけないので、大変ですが全力で頑張ります！！

This year will be even tougher because all the teams are expecting reasonable funds to go racing. In order to find a seat, it's a full time job being on the phone and exchanging e-mails with prospect sponsors, team owners, and etc.... And it is hardest part of racing. To find a ride is a lot harder than the actual race!?! Well, I really have some unfinished business at the 500 and I am going to give my best shot again for this year's race!!

ロスは暑いです！

今朝ロスに戻ってきました。飛行場についてターミナルからでたら、まず“暑っ”！！なんと、今日はレコードヒートで４０℃を超える猛暑でした。アトランタにいた時はどちらかというと肌寒かったので、体調を崩してしまいそうないきおいです・・・。

Just got back home from Atlanta. As I got out of the terminal, I couldn't believe how hot it is here in LA. The weather in Atlanta wasn't too bad and the tem difference is outrageous.

なんだか、日本から戻ってきてやっとほっと一息する事ができました。が、それも束の間で明日は原稿を書き、今週中はずっと５００に向けての交渉でかなり忙しくなりそうです。エントリーリストもでて、参戦決定組が２８台。残りの５台のシートを獲得しないと！！頑張るぞ〜〜！！

Well, I was able to get some rest today and play with my son.It seemed like everything was non-stop for the last 15days...and was finally able to get my own time today. I will need to get back to work tomorrow, as I have to finish up some article for the Japanese Media as well as work on couple of prospect sponsors for the 500. The entry list for the 500 is out and 28 driver is confirmed. I will definitely need to get in to the last 5 available slots to make the show!! It's not going to be easy but I'm going to give my best shot!!

アトランタに到着

さっきアトランタに着きました。昨日は午前中にミーティングがあり、午後は英紀が家に到着し、髪をカットしたいと言うので、知り合いの美容室にいき、夜は家でお好み焼きディナー。息子はかなり英紀になついて、喜んでました！

Just checked in to my hotel in Atlanta. It was a real busy day yesterday having a quick meeting in the morning and meeting up with my buddy Hideki Mutoh in the afternoon. Hideki wanted to cut his hair so I took him to the hair salon that I usually go to in Beverly Hills. Than back home for dinner with my family. My son really enjoyed having Hideki around!!

そして、今朝は早起きして午前中に一緒にジムにいきトレーニング。お昼前に空港に連れてってもらい、自分はアトランタに出発。短い時間ですが、久しぶりに弟の様に可愛がってる英紀と時間を過ごせて良かったです！今週末がんばれよっ！！僕はアトランタでお仕事頑張ります・・・。

This morning, I woke up early and took Hideki to my gym and worked out together. It's always good to have some on who you can compete with when your training and it was a great work out. Before lunch, I got Hideki to give me a ride to LAX and off to Atlanta. It was really nice to spend time with Hideki since he is like my little bro and I really hope he will have a successful week end at Long Beach while...I will be working in Atlanta!?!

まだ朝の５時です。

今は朝の５時です。バッチリ目が覚めてしまいました。今日もこれからジムに行き、御前中は明日からアトランタに行ってしまうので、家族の食料品をスーパーに行って買い、午後からは英紀が家に来る予定です。なんだか、今までは弟の様に可愛がっていて、今も弟の様に可愛がっていますが・・・、同じ舞台で戦っている事が未だに信じられないです。（笑）今週末のロングビーチではぜひ頑張って欲しいのですね！！

It's still 5am in the morning here in LA. I am just getting ready to hit the gym again, and will be off to the grocery store before lunch since I need to pick up a lot of stuff because I am going away again for a week. In the afternoon, my buddy Hideki is coming in town and will be staying at my place tonight. I've know Hideki since he was a little kid, and he is like my little bro. I still have hard time realizing that we are racing in the same league. Well, I wish him best of luck this week end at Long Beach!!

ロスに戻ってきました

昨日ロスに戻ってきました。飛行機の中では４時間くらい寝れたのですが、着陸寸前になって突然体調がわるくなり、挙げ句の果てには鼻血がでてきて・・・？！？家に戻っても体調がすぐれなかったので、そのままユックリしていました。が、息子と娘の顔を見るとだいぶ元気になりますね！！

I came home safely and am delighted to see my kids. I was able to sleep for about 4-5hrs...but as we came close to time to land, I started to feel ill, and for some reason my nose started to bleed. I got home and needed some rest so I ended up not doing anything yesterday afternoon which I felt bad for my son who was ready to go out somewhere to have fun.

今はバッチリ時差ボケで３時には目が覚めて、これからジムに行く所です。まだ朝の４時半ですが。どちらにしても、明後日からアトランタで東時間になっちゃうから、今のうちからならしておかないと。

Well...I am 100% jetlagged right now and was up from 3am. It's still 4:30am here but I figured I will hit the gym and mind as well get used to the east coast time since I am traveling out there in two days.

これからロスに戻ります。

１０日間の日本滞在もあっと言うまで今は空港にいます。チェックインしてからやたらたこ焼きが食べたくなったので、銀ダコに行って腹ごしらえをしてから、飛行機に搭乗。ロスに戻って久しぶりに子供に会うのが楽しみです。が、水曜からはアトランタに移動して、フェラーリチャレンジのレース・・・。ユックリしてる暇もなさそうです。

I am at the airport already getting ready to board my flight back to LAX. 10 days has passed by so fast... But I am looking forward to getting home and being able to see my kids. At the airport, I was starving...so I ate some Takoyaki which is Octopus Balls...which is very delicious. When I get back in LA, I will be there for 3 days and off to Atlanta again for the Ferrari Challenge Race. I guess I will not have much time to relax...

１０日の滞在もあっと言う間に終了

気がついたら１０日の滞在もあっと言う間に終了。今回の滞在はかなりドタバタしていて、ブログをアップする事ができませんでした・・・。ごめんなさい。が、先に繋がりそうな話が何個かできたので良かったです。５００はもう来月なので、後は一か八かと言う所ですが、最後まで全力で頑張らないと！！

I can't believe my 10 days stay is almost over. It was a real busy trip meeting people and I wasn't able to update my blog for a week. Sorry guys... However, the meeting went really well and I have good confident that it will lead to something. However, the time is ticking for the 500 and I will need to keep my fingers crossed in order to make something happen out there.

さてさて、滞在中は色んな美味しいご飯が食べれました！もちろん、出て来た物を速攻で食べてしまう僕は写真撮ってません・・・。ごめんなさい〜・・・。まず、一番最初に行ったのは、久しぶりに花籠味。和食の美味しさと、色んなレース話ができて本当に楽しかったです！！

Well...it was very busy during the day and I also had dinner meeting every night here in Tokyo. Thanks to all my sponsors, they always take me to great restaurants and it was a gourmet week for me. On Monday, I went to Kakomi which is a small Traditional Japanese Restaurant in Ginza. I haven't been there for a while and the owner Kakomi is a big fan of racing and we always talk about racing while having dinner. Even the Ross Brawn, who owns Brawn GP, the team who won the first 2 races of F1 this season goes there.

滞在中にちょっと花粉症がヤバく、疲れがたまって来たのでエアープレス上野に行って、酸素カプセルに入りリラックス！かなりリフレッシュして、またスポンサー活動を再開。

During my stay, I was pretty tired with jetlag as well as struggled with sinus allergy, so I decided to make a visit to Air Press Ueno.I was able to totally refresh my self, and I swear that adding more oxygen in your blood stream cures the sinus allergy...at least temporarily for me!!

水曜の夜には久しぶりに紅月に行ってきました。ここでは、マヨ嫌いの僕が伊勢エビマヨに挑戦。マヨ嫌いの僕でも食べれるくらいに、まろやかで美味しかったです。メインには贅沢にアワビのシャブシャブ。美味しい物を食べると元気がでますね！！

And than off to Kougetsu. I always stop by here and usual have Pork ShabuX2, but this time I tried Ise-Shrimp with Mayo(basically Lobster Mayo). I am not a big fan of Mayonnaise...in fact I hate it...but the Ise-Ebi Mayo was so mild and delicious. Got a give this try if you have chance in Japan!! The main course was Abalone Shabu Shabu.

そして、木曜の晩はずっとお世話になっているUp Startの社長夫妻と代官山でお食事。ここで食べたイタリアン・・・とくにウニのパスタがメチャ美味しかったです！！

On Thursday night, I visited Up Start a clothing company in Daikanyama district. They've been a part of my program for last couple of years and we talked about my future plans. Than off to dinner at this great Italian Restaurant. The Urchin Pasta was phenomenal here!!

金曜は地元の下町に戻り、昨晩はO2 Styleの社長と蔵前にある天婦羅いせやでお食事。やっぱり下町もアットホームでいい感じですね。ちなみに、いせやで天かすをお土産でもらい、ロスに戻ったら早速お好み＆焼きそばを作る予定です！！（笑）

Finally last night...I was back in downtown near my house. I was with the owner of O2 Style and went eat Tempura at Iseya in Kuramae. They've been serving Tempura for 100 years in downtown district of Tokyo. I picked up some Tempura Crumbs to go and will bring this back to LA so my wife can make some Yakisoba with it. Tempura Crumb is a secret ingredients on being able to make good Yakisoba.

そんなこんなで、日中は忙しく夜はグルメな滞在を過ごさせて頂きました。（笑）美味しい物を色々とご馳走してくれて皆さん本当に有り難うございます！！しか〜し、家に帰って妻に自慢するのは少し後ろめたい今日この頃です。なんとか、５００に出てしっかり稼いで家族にも美味しい物を食わせてあげるぞ〜！！

Well...it was a gourmet trip as much as a business but I really appreciate all the guys who took to me to these great restaurants. I kind of feel guilty telling my wife about all these great meals.... But I guess I am gonna have to race in the 500 and make some serious cash to take my family out to a great dinner after the race!!

結婚式

日本に戻ってきました！そして、昨晩はミラノ時代からの友人の結婚式に出席してきました！！久しぶりに友達と会って、友人の結婚を祝えて良かったです。やっぱり結婚式はいいですね〜〜、感動的で！！いや〜、Y君＆Yちゃんおめでとう！！末永くお幸せに！！桜満開のなかで結婚式を挙げれるのは本当に良かったです。

Got back to Japan on Friday and attended to my friends wedding last night. I haven't seen him for a while and it was great to reunite with all my friends from Milan. But more importantly we were all happy to celebrate my buddy's wedding. It's always great to attend to a wedding and it certainly was a long nigh in Tokyo because we only see each other every 2-3years.

そして、僕は明日からメチャメチャ忙しい日々が続きそうです。インディ−５００に参戦する為の予算集めとしてはラストチャンス。気合いを入れていかないと！！

Well...my stay is going to get real busy now since I have several meetings during this week on trying to finalize a deal raise some funds to run Indy!! Wish me luck guys!!

これから日本です。

今はロスの空港にいます。この間ロスに戻って来たばかりなのに、また今から日本に戻ります。今回は５００の前に最後に帰れるチャンスなので営業活動を気合い入れて頑張らないと！！

I am in LAX right now getting ready to board the flight back to Japan. Seems like I was there couple of days ago!?! This would be the last trip before Month of May so I really need to work hard to raise the funds in order to race in the 500 this year.

日本はもう暖かいのかな・・・？これから長いフライトが苦痛だな〜。まだ見えない映画が上映されているといいけど・・・。

I hope it's warm in Japan....I am not looking forward to the long flight and I hope the movie they are going to air today is not the one I have already watched.

明後日から日本です

今日は朝一でジムに行きトレーニング。午後は明後日から日本に行くので、色々と頼まれ物等をゲット。基本的には行きはスーツケースガラガラなのですが、帰りはお土産でパンパン。しかも、最近はスーツケースが２３kgまでに規制されているので、よく考えてパッキングしないと追加料金を取られてしまいます・・・。海外旅行をされる方は大きなスーツケースを一個よりも、中くらいのサイズを２つ持っている方が効率性良いですよ！！

Woke up early to go to the gym. Worked out all morning and got some work done in the afternoon as well as went to couple of stores to pick things up for my coming trip to Japan. I am leaving on Thursday and will be there for almost a week. I usually go there with an empty suits case and come back full of souvenir for my kids and wife. It is getting real strict with 23kg weight limit on the check in bags and it is almost better to have two medium size suits case rather than one large suit case to stay with in the limit. I will have to use my head when I'm packing to avoid those extra charges!!