In this article, we will look at the reasons that made former Brazilian Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna (アイルトンセナ) so popular in Japan. We will also try to understand the possible reasons why this motorsport legend has won so many hearts of Brazilians and Japanese.
Senna (1960-1994) is considered by many to be the best racing driver of all time and, in Japan, he was marked in the memory of the people for his great victories, for the beautiful tributes received (including from pop culture) and for his sympathy for with the Japanese.
The unforgettable pilot (even for me, who was born years after his death and was only able to learn about his achievements through YouTube videos and reports from relatives) is still ed by the Japanese as a courageous and, above all, victorious figure.
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Senna in Japanese POP Culture
Senna's success in Japan, between 1988 and 1994, was so overwhelming that several mangas about the idol were published in the most famous weekly magazines (Shonen Jump, for example) and countless drawings in his honor were made.
Additionally, one of Ayrton's great fans was the famous mangaka Akira Toriyama (鳥山明), creator of Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump. In one of his trips to Japan, the Brazilian met Toriyama and together they took photos, exchanged ideas, and shared tributes.
Some manga that reference the pilot, such as F1 No Senkou - Ayrton Senna's Challenge and GP Boy, were published by Shueisha in the early 90s (1991 and 1992), with good sales and great acceptance.
Of course, besides the world of manga, Senna also appeared in and was the theme of many video games in Japan. Pearls like Ayrton Senna Super Monaco GP II are considered, to this day, a success within the racing games niche.
The game was released around the same time as Nigel Mansell's (around 1990 and 1992) for Super Nintendo, which also pleased the audience.
A curious fact is that, according to some sources (such as the Journalist and Writer Ernesto Rodrigues), the eternal sprinter was a fan of the anime Speed Racer. In addition, he was a great irer of Japan and the Japanese people, and during the occasions when he was in the country, he was extremely well received by the Japanese authorities and the general population.
Returning to talk about manga, it's worth listing some of the mangaka who paid homage to Ayrton Senna through commemorative drawings and illustrations. In addition to Akira Toriyama, mangaka Tsukasa Hojo (北条司), creator of City Hunter, and Noboru Rokuda, creator of F (エフ), also contributed with illustrations of the driver.
Reasons why Senna is so popular in Japan
In addition to putting a small Japanese flag on his helmet (in honor of the Honda team that would say goodbye to McLaren in 1993), Senna gave many interviews to Japanese TV, was featured on magazines about celebrities, and the subject of numerous special reports.
His way of being and behaving pleased the Japanese. He was brave, discreet when he should be, had a fighting spirit, willpower, solidarity, and valued hard work (values highly appreciated within Japanese culture and society).
After his death in 1994, Japanese television news aired his last race in prime time. TV Fuji had been broadcasting Formula 1 GPs regularly since 1987. The Japanese Grand Prix set audience records on television and Senna always put on a show.
Below, we can see the reaction of the Japanese when they found the idol:
In this other video, we see the emotion of reporters after the fatal accident in 1994:
Senna at the Japanese GP
It was in Japan that Ayrton gave more shows (besides Monaco, of course). It was in the land of the Rising Sun that he won the third F1 world championship (in 1991). Below you can see the end of the race:
Note: We recommend as complementary reading the article from UOL that discusses Senna's partnership with Honda during the second half of the 1980s. Click the link to read: Senna's partnership with Honda transformed the driver into the biggest idol of F-1 in Japan (uol.com.br)
Formula 1 vocabulary
- アイルトンセナ = Ayrton Senna;
- レーサー = Racing driver;
- レーシングカー = Racing car;
- ドライバー = Pilot, Driver;
- ワールドチャンピオン = World Champion;
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