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What in the world?
Letter from SWRT
1 September 2006
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| Copyright © STI |
If you've been watching closely, you might have seen one of these red papier mache heads in the management area of the Subaru World Rally Team service area.
They are called darumas and have a special significance in Japan where they are kept as a symbol for persistence and optimism. Darumas are typically purchased in or near Japanese Buddhist temples and can range from less than 10 Euros to more than 1,000 Euros in price.
Traditionally the spherical dolls have a red body, white face and eyes without pupils. Using black ink, the owner fills in left eye while thinking of a wish.When the wish comes true, the owner may fill in the second eye but, until that point, the incomplete doll is a constant reminder that the wish is yet to be realised. The daruma in subaru-grobal.com's exclusive photo shows the team achieved its aim of winning the Monte Carlo Rally.
Subaru manufacturer marketing principal Toshi Azuma explains, "It's quite common in Japan for people to have daruma heads in their houses. The dolls are usually kept in a shelf or isolated position so people will know they have a wish to fulfil. They are reminders that you have to keep working to achieve your goals."
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Obihiro - rally town!
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| Copyright © STI |
Just two years after its debut as a round of the World Rally Championship, Rally Japan has established itself as a hugely popular event with teams and fans. The rally is based on Hokkaido, the northernmost and least developed of Japan's four main islands, a far cry from the bustling industrial 'mainland' island of Honshu, where the capital Tokyo is located.
Host city Obihiro has a population of just 170,000 (miniscule when compared to Tokyo's 12 million inhabitants) and lies between two mountain ranges that shelter it from the worst of the typhoons that sweep the country over the summer. Obihiro's location makes it ideal for crop production, but a fairly unlikely motorsport Mecca. Nonetheless, last year more than 200,000 spectators came to watch the rally and 52,000 lined the streets around the ceremonial start.
For many British-based members of the WRC community, the event holds a unique appeal. "It may be new but it's one of the best events of the year," said Lucy Nell, the Subaru World Rally Team's press officer. "The enthusiasm of the fans really stands out and the atmosphere, particularly at the start, is electric. Obihiro is a fascinating place to visit as it's like nowhere else we go. Absolutely everything is different to what we're used to. I expected the food and drinks would take some getting used to, but things like electric toilet seats, mini hotel rooms and the massive gaming arcades are just as surprising!"
Five minute guide to Obihiro
What to see
Obihiro is a modern city with bright neon lights and straight American-city style streets. Head out of town to experience a more traditional Japanese landscape - the lush Midori-ga-oka Park and Suiko-en Garden are located one kilometre from the city centre, while the Tokachi-onsen (a hot spring - very good for the complexion and health) bubbles out of the centre of the Tokachi Plain approximately an hour's drive from Obihiro.
Where to eat
Japanese cuisine is a mix of delicately flavoured meat, fish and rice. One of the best places to sample authentic Japanese food is the narrow Yatai Mura street in central Obihiro. Known by most people in the WRC as 'noodle alley', tiny restaurants serve anything from the local speciality Buta-don spiced pork to noodle soup. It's best to go in a small group - most restaurants seat just three or four people.
What to drink
Green tea is a popular beverage in Japan, but for something stronger, try out sake, a strong spirit made from rice. In Japan sake is served in shallow cups called choko. In some of the more traditional Japanese restaurants or bars, the server may put the cup inside a saucer or box and pour until a large amount of sake overflows and fills the secondary container. It can be served cold, warm or hot depending on the preference of the drinker.
Further out of town
Obihiro is located approximately three and a half hours drive east of Sapporo City, where the famous Japanese Sapporo beer is produced. If you stop off in Sapporo you could visit the only beer museum in the country.
And don't forget…
To sing a song - Japan is the home of karaoke after all. You can sing your heart out in the numerous bars around Obihiro, many of which have dressing-up props such as wigs to make your experience all the more enjoyable. And being embarrassed in front of a crowd is no excuse - lots of the bars have private booths. Could be an advantage if you don't want the whole of the WRC community to know you're word-perfect to Bette Midler's 'Wind beneath my wings.' The Hotel Paco on West One Street has small booths and a breathtaking view of Obihiro.
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2006
2005