Through the Eyes of the Consul General of Japan in Detroit

 
When I returned to Detroit from the Mackinac Policy Conference, the city was roaring with the thunder of racing cars. The IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix was in full swing.

To be honest, I had to confess I was never particularly interested in cars. But Tim Clark, President of Astemo Americas, encouraged me to at least attend a race once in my life. What truly drew me in, though, was the pre-race party held in the newly built GM tower. There, alongside Astemo CEO, Mr. Kohei Takeuchi, I had the chance to meet GM Chairwoman and CEO Mary Barra, President Mark Reuss, and Jeff Morrison, Global Chief Procurement and Supply Chain Officer among others. Mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan—who had been with us on Mackinac Island just days earlier—was also back in town.

One of the missions of the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit is to support the Japanese auto industry in Michigan. But how does one “support” an industry? I am the 14th Consul General here, and when the consulate was first opened in 1993, it was in the middle of the U.S.-Japan trade war. The first Consul General, Mr. Enoki, was in constant demand by the Big Three and members of Congress. Today, however, unless we take the initiative, we are easily overlooked. Japanese OEMs—including automakers and parts suppliers—are eager to expand their business with GM and Ford. And to help facilitate that, the first step is establishing direct relationships with leaders like Chairwoman Barra. From that perspective, the reception was an important and meaningful first step.

I also had the chance to meet the Penske family, as well as longtime acquaintances such as the chairman of the Detroit Auto Show. Truly, as the Japanese saying goes, “Even a dog, if it walks enough, will bump into a stick”—sometimes just showing up can open doors.

Then came race day on June 1. I was invited to watch the race from Astemo’s viewing area. When I heard the race would be 100 laps through downtown Detroit, I almost fainted. Watching cars speed by at high velocity 100 times? How could that be enjoyable? But I felt it would be rude to attend only the reception and skip the race itself, so I decided to go—with the mindset of sitting through a Buddhist chant.

Before the race began, Astemo Vice President Mr. Sasaki kindly gave me a tour of the pit area, where I had the chance to speak with Astemo’s racer, Josef Newgarden. Despite feeling unwell and finishing only 21st out of 27 in the qualifiers, he was cheerful, polite, and instantly likeable. I became a fan on the spot. Thanks to him, I found myself deeply engaged in the race—100 laps at roughly 1 minute 3 to 8 seconds each flew by. Although there were several crashes that caused interruptions, Newgarden steadily climbed the ranks and finished 9th. I couldn't help but celebrate with Clark and Sasaki with a fist pump at the finish.

“Until two years ago, Takuma Sato used to compete in the Detroit Grand Prix. My son and I were obsessed with cheering him on,” said Mr. Kawase, Executive Director of JBSD (Japan Business Society of Detroit). I now understand exactly how he felt.

I was also amazed by the speed and precision of the pit stops for refueling and tire changes. I felt the frustration of teams that had to retire from the race. Thanks to Astemo, I was able to experience the thrill and excellence of car racing.

Since arriving in Detroit, I think I may be slowly but surely becoming a car enthusiast myself.