長い週末。

皆さん、週末は如何過ごされましたか？アメリカはThanksGivingWeekEndで基本的には４連休。なんだか、ものすご〜く長い週末に感じます。

Hope all your Thanks Giving Week End was a great one. The 4 day week end is a bit too long for me trying to find something to do.

金曜日はブラックフライデーといい、様々な小売店が大特価セールをする日です。懐が寒くて、人ごみが嫌いな僕としては無縁な日です。（笑）なので、今週末は家でユックリでした。

The economy seemed to be better looking at all the shoppers on black Friday, but since my wallet is empty as well as I'm not a big fan of crowded places, I literally stayed home all 4 days.

しかし、アメリカのレースも全て終わってしまって、なんだかレースがない週末は暇ですね。

I hope the racing season will start soon because I am bored to death during the week end. Any other interesting news other than Tiger's crash??

Thanks Giving Day

うひゃ〜気がついたら、もう少しで１２月ですね。アメリカは明日はThanksGivingDayです。七面鳥をロースとして、ラズベリーソースとかをかけて食べるのが儀式ですが、家の妻は七面鳥がパサパサしていて好きではないので、あんまりビッグな行事ではありません。（泣）

Man...I can't believe it's almost Dec. It is going to be Thanks Giving tomorrow and since my wife is not a big fan of Turkey...or raspberry sauce, nor stuffing, we are not going to be celebrating big...

来週はLAオートショーがあります。東京モーターショーは不況のせいで、めちゃ寒かったと言う話は聞いていますが、ロスショーはどうなるんだろう・・・。今アメリカメーカーはかなり頑張っているので色々と車を見るのが楽しみです！！

I'm kinda looking forward to the LA Auto Show next week here in downtown LA. I heard that the Tokyo Motor Show was dead so hoping that there would be more manufacture involved in this show. The US manufacture is finally back to their feet and it is time to prove what they can make!

シーズンオフは嫌だな。

なんだか、１週間が経つのは本当に早い。ロスも完全に冬日和になってきて、朝お布団から出るのが大変な時期になってきました。日本はもう寒いのかな？

This week went by so fast! Can't even remember what I did this past week. It is turning in to winter here in LA and it's a bit chilly during the morning which makes it harder to get up. I'm wondering if it's already cold in Japan...since I am going to make another trip soon.

ここ最近は、来季のプランに関して色々と動いています。が、なかなか話が進まなくていらいらする日々が続きます。でも、慎重に尚かつひっつこく攻めないと話も進まないし。本当に髪の毛が薄くなる時期です。（笑）が、何事も持続が大切！引き続き頑張りますよ〜！！

I've been working real hard for next year's program but nothing seems to be moving forward at this time which is really frustrating... Having said that, I need to keep pushing on the deals and I'm sure something will come through if I try hard enough. It's that time of the year when I start losing some hair!?! Don't worry, I still have plenty so rogaine will not be needed!!lol

今週もがんばるぞい。

なんだかあっと言う間に１週間が過ぎてしまいましたね。最近は家の中で風邪が流行っていて、息子〜娘〜妻と交互の風邪を引いちゃっています。幸い季節風邪ですんでいますが・・・。が、やっぱりインフルエンザは怖いですね。

Last week went by so fast I can't even remember what I did. There are flu going around in my house between my son, daughter, and wife. Fortunately it's just a seasonal flu and not H1N1...but I have not time to be catching cold.

もう１１月半ばになってしまったと言う事で急ピッチで来季の話を進めないとやばいですね〜。時間が経つのは本当に早い。んでもって、来月は娘の誕生日、クリスマス、年越し・・・、で年が明けたら今度は息子の誕生日でイベント続きだ。また懐が究極に冷え込む時期がやってきましたね。

Since it's already mid-Nov, I really need to pick up the pace to get deals done for next season. Time just keeps flying. Speaking of time, my daughter would be 1yr old next month just before Christmas. And than there is new years and my son's 3rd B-Day in mid Jan. It's time of that year when my pocket goes empty...as usual!?! lol

そうそう、娘が早くも歩き始めました。あっちこっち言ってしまうので恐ろしいや〜。これからが大変な時期ですね。パパも頑張らんと〜！じゃ〜皆さん今週も頑張って行きましょ。

Speaking of my daughter, she started to walk already. I really need to put my attention on her now as she is fearless. Well, it's just keeps getting busier by the day!! But that's life I guess...

IZOD Indy Car Series

気がついたらあっと言う間に金曜日。日本から戻って２週間ちかく経ちますが、ようやく時差ボケがとれてきました。が、BSのF１撤退からはじまり、TOYOTAも撤退発表・・・。づいでに米失業率が１０％超えで暗いニュースが飛び立っていますね。

I can't believe it's already Fri. This week went by so fast. It's been almost two weeks since I got back from Japan and the jet-lag is finally gone. However, the news of the Bridgestone and Toyota's withdrawal as well as the US unemployment rate is not making our life any easier...

が、そんななか昨日インディカーが冠スポンサーにIZODと契約したニュースが発表されました。こんな不況の中でインディカーをマーケティングの基盤に使ってくれるなんて、本当に嬉しい話です！これでもっとインディカーもアメリカで盛り上がってくれると良いのですが・・・。

Meanwhile, Indy Car Series has just announced their partnership with IZOD to become the title sponsor of the series. It's great to have a partner that wants to use the series as the marketing platform and I'm sure there is more good things to come from the league over the winter.

来季のドライバーのシートも徐々にうまってきているみたいなので、自分もユックリしていられませんね。さて、今日も頑張るぞ〜！！

Some rumors has started to boil about driver and team negotiations and I better accelerate my pace on getting the deals together if I want to be in the car again next season!!

Toyota F1撤退。

お早うございま〜す。清々しい朝です。が、目覚めて一番最初のニュースはTOYOTA F1撤退。ずっと来季のドライバーを契約しない所をみると、怪しいなとは思っていましたが、発表を聞いて本当にがっかりです。

Good morning! Wonderful day here in LA. But woke up and the first news I saw was the Toyota's withdrawal from F1. I was suspecting something bad to happen when they haven't signed any driver yet...but am really bummed to see the news.

っていうか、撤退発表の時だけ大胆にニュースとして取り上げる、日本のメディアもどうなのかと思ってしまう今日この頃。だったら、普通にレース結果もニュースにしてくれぃ！！

Having said that, I not impressed with the major Japanese media outlet when they only cover bad news about F1. Why don't they at least show some race results! I'm sure that will give more attention to the people and might have changed the decision for Toyota's pullout.

いや〜しかし、レースを撤退するのは、経費節約もありますが、やはりエコマインド的の方が大きいのかな？TOYOTAはLexus LF−AやFT−８６コンセプトを発表したりして、スポーツカーには活気的に取り組んでいただけに今回のニュースは本当に残念。

As for Toyota, I'm sure that they needed to cut the costs/expense and had no choice. At the same time, I think all this eco-driven marketing strategy is not helping the racing world. Having said that, I was real impressed when Lexus has announced the LF-A and also the Toyota FT-86 concept at Tokyo Motor Show since they still looked enthusiastic about sports cars therefore I was really disappointed about the news.

それ以上に、今は日系のクルマメーカーがハイブリッド車に力を入れている事がメチャメチャ心配です。確かにエコ的な部分では大事なことですが、なんとなくハイブリは短期的な解決案にしかすぎないような気がしてしまいます。逆にハイブリッド車に専念している事によって、クルマが本来ある姿から離れていき、若者もクルマ＝足というイメージになっている所が本当に寂しい。

And as for Hybrid cars...I am not a big fan. I think it's just a short term solution for eco driven world. By making Hybrid cars, it is changing the dynamics of the car and I have yet to come across a hybrid car that was fun to drive. Most importantly people are started to think car as a tool to get around places, and are not looking at it as part of culture, fashion, identity. Especially the young people in Japan has no interest about cars anymore...and all they car is if it moves!?!

だからこそ、日系メーカーには頑張って欲しいなと思います！ドライブを楽しませてくれるクルマをもっと出して欲しいなと思う今日この頃です。

Therefore, I really hope that Nikkei Manufacture would step up the program and make a car that is fun and cool to drive!!

もう１１月だよ・・・。

時差ボケがようやく治りつつある今日この頃です。でも、今朝も６時前には目が覚め（子供に起こされ）、かなり健康的な生活を過ごしています。

Finally getting rid of the jet-lag. Having said that, I've been up since 6am since my kids were awake and been living a healthy life last couple of days.lol

気がついたらもう１１月ですね。一昨日まではアメリカのスーパーはハロウィーンモードだったのが、昨日の早朝に行ったら既にThanksGivingモードに入っていて、もうちょいしたらクリスマスになっちゃいますね。

I can't believe it's already Nov. The store was decorated with full of Halloween goods until two days ago, and it is all transferred to Thanksgiving stuff as of yesterday. Than to Christmas real soon....Time keeps flying!

そう考えると来季の話も急ピッチで話を進めないと、また今年の二の舞になってしまう・・・。だから頑張らないとっ！時差ボケなんかには負けてられないぞっ！！

Well that all means that I will need to pick up my pace on work process for next year's sponsors hunt. This week would be a important week for me just because I really need to get the balls rolling. So much for jet-lag and back to real work!!