Uchikura & Co., LLC

Why Japan Still Loves Ayrton Senna

Brazil gave the world Ayrton Senna.
McLaren gave him the car.
Honda gave him the engine.
But Japan adopted him as one of its own heroes.

 

More than 30 years after his death, Ayrton Senna still holds a special place in the hearts of many Japanese people.

 

Part of the reason was timing. Formula 1 exploded in popularity in Japan during the late 1980s, just as Honda was becoming a dominant force in the sport. Senna became the face of that success. All three of his Formula 1 World Championships were won in Honda-powered McLarens.

 

But winning alone does not explain the affection.

 

Senna developed a close relationship with Honda engineers and with Honda founder Soichiro Honda. He respected their technology, demanded constant improvement, and treated racing as something more than a job.

 

Perhaps Japanese fans saw something familiar in him: discipline, dedication, attention to detail, and an almost obsessive desire to perfect his craft.

 

There was something very Japanese about the way Senna pursued excellence.

 

When he died at Imola in 1994, Japan mourned him deeply. The connection did not disappear with his death.

 

Senna was Brazilian.

 

But to many Japanese fans, he was also our Senna.