First experience in motorsports after obtaining a regular motorcycle license
Actress and artist Yumi Wakatsuki, who is highly acclaimed for her work, obtained her standard motorcycle license in February 2025 and acquired a Kawasaki ELIMINATOR PLAZA EDITION. A video of her watching the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race Championship for the first time in her life has now been released on Kawasaki’s official YouTube channel. Her experience of the speed and intensity of the race from the perspective of a racing novice has an appeal that will resonate with even those who have never experienced motorsports before.
The roar of the engine, the enthusiasm of the spectators, the tension in the pit – the emotions Wakatsuki experienced are recorded as emotions that go beyond mere spectating. It was precisely because she had just gotten her hands on a bike that her sensitivity was pure and vivid. Wakatsuki’s raw sensitivity as she absorbed the drama of endurance racing has the power to transform the hearts of those who think motorsports are difficult into interest.
A new perspective: supporting the Kawasaki Plaza Racing Team
The video shows Wakatsuki visiting Suzuka to support the Kawasaki Plaza Racing Team. The Kawasaki Plaza Racing Team was launched in 2022 to link Kawasaki Plaza activities with motorsports. With the support of Kawasaki Plaza stores and fans nationwide, the team competes in the Suzuka 8 Hours SST class and All Japan Road Race ST1000 class on a Ninja ZX-10R. Regular riders include Ryosuke Iwato and Yaegun, and Yosuke Nakayama competes as the third rider in the Suzuka 8 Hours.
Wakatsuki’s presence brings the Kawasaki Plaza Racing Team closer to people, and their racing is shared with a wider audience. In that moment, the footage sparks a desire to support the team. This is an important initiative that lowers the barrier to entry for motorsports and opens up the joy of cheering to spectators.
The appeal of endurance racing from a beginner’s perspective
Wakatsuki’s emotions at the Suzuka 8 Hours are clearly expressed in the footage as the genuine reaction of someone who has never experienced motorsport before. The speed, intensity, and long-lasting drama of the race are commonplace for race fans, but they come as an overwhelming shock to those experiencing it for the first time. Wakatsuki’s expressions and gestures convey that excitement to the viewer in every moment.
The fact that Wakatsuki, who is starting out as a female rider, is “watching” an endurance race like this plays a role in gently breaking down the barriers to motorsports. By holding a bike and watching it, one is able to connect with the joy of riding. In that respect, Wakatsuki is a symbolic “bridge builder.”
The video is a gateway to motorsports
The video released on YouTube is well-made and has the potential to spread across social media and evoke empathy from viewers. “Actor Yumi Wakatsuki,” “First Racing Experience,” “Realistic Emotions” – the titles themselves have the power to motivate viewers to click. It effectively reaches a demographic that is still weak at getting interested in motorsports.
This initiative, which is being carried out in collaboration with the Kawasaki Plaza Racing Team and utilizes video streaming as a gateway to watching motorsports, will also contribute to expanding the brand’s fan base. Wakatsuki is also highly regarded in the art field and has connections with a wide range of people, so through video streaming he will play a role in connecting these connections to motorsports. The impact of the video goes beyond simple announcements, eliciting diverse emotions such as “I want to go,” “I want to support,” and “I want to ride a bike.”
Yumi Wakatsuki’s video of watching the Suzuka 8 Hours combines multiple layers of value: a sincerity that moves the hearts of motorsport novices, the joy of cheering on the spectators, and creating new points of contact between the brand and fans. Appealing through video could also provide hints for the future spread of motorsports. The video, which captures a truly moving “day,” is the perfect fuse to light a “flame” that will inspire people to take action after watching.
