Shinichiro Miki, Daisuke Namikawa, Kaito Ishikawa, and Yu Hatanaka participated in the race! Report on the press conference for the formation of "VART," the first racing team in the voice actor industry!

The first racing team in the voice acting industry is launched! On November 2, 2019, a press conference was held to discuss the launch of VART (Voice Actors Racing Team), formed by popular voice actors including Shinichiro Miki and Daisuke Namikawa.

Present at the press conference were the team's director and driver, sound director Masafumi Mima, team leader Shinichiro Miki, and team members Kaito Ishikawa and Yu Hatanaka. Daisuke Namikawa, the team vice captain, appeared via video message due to work commitments.

The team name is VART (Voice Actors Racing Team), and they are aiming to participate in the 7-hour endurance race (known as JOY Endurance) to be held at Twin Ring Motegi in June 2020. In the second and third years of the team's existence, the team is also considering competing in the Fuji Speedway 24-hour Endurance Race, Japan's premier endurance race, in the Super Taikyu series.

At the press conference, the background of the team's establishment was revealed.

Mima, a car enthusiast who originally participated in a kart racing team that included many voice actors from 2006 to 2016, decided to form the team after his teammate Shinichiro Miki suggested the project after he had taken a break from racing.

As for why "VART" set the goal of competing in endurance races as mentioned above, "It is to pass on the machine I have been driving to the next driver in good condition. It is the same as working in a studio," and "I thought it would be good if we could send something out as a connection between the heart and the mind," as well as the thoughts of a person in the animation industry. As an automobile fan, I hope that we can convey the fact that cars are so much fun to people by showing them what we have experienced.

Shinichiro Miki, one of the founders of the project, has participated in races with Mr. Mima for many years. In launching the event, he said, "I thought about how I could participate in the race in a way that would not be disrespectful to the people who make their living there (the race). I am glad that we were able to make this happen with the help of various organizations," he commented.

Mr. Ishikawa and Mr. Hatanaka are young voice actors who were invited to participate by Mr. Mima and Mr. Miki. Hatanaka, who, according to him, does not yet have a driver's license, said, "I am very happy to be in a position to stand closest to the viewers.

He said, "I am starting from a position closest to the audience. I want to show you the process of getting a license, taking lessons from professionals, and going to the races," Hatanaka said enthusiastically.

The process of getting a license and racing will be followed in the video content.

Ishikawa has also participated in kart racing as a teammate of Mima and his teammates in 2016.

He commented, "I fell in love with cars after joining a kart racing team, and I fell in love with cars even more after I learned that they have a great impact on the play.

Although Mr. Ishikawa has a driver's license, like Mr. Hatanaka, he has not yet obtained a racing license. Therefore, the process of how Mr. Ishikawa and Ms. Hatanaka obtained their licenses will be shown on Animax as part of the program.

In addition, they also announced at the press conference that they are looking for individual supporters who can participate with as little as a small donation. Supporters will receive team goods and member goods as perks, and their registered handles will be posted on the official website and on the race cars. Of course, there will also be priority event entry ticket slots.

The team car was also unveiled. The car used was the "TOYOTA 86. The name "HACHIROKU" reminds one of the machine that appears in the anime "Initial D," in which Mr. Miki plays the main character Takumi Fujiwara, and he seems to have a stronger attachment to it than others. He could not hide his excitement as he talked about the machine's appeal.

In closing, Mr. Mima said, "I have a hidden gem," suggesting that he had a surprise that had not yet been revealed at this press conference. If we connect them, something new will be born," he said.

He commented, "I hope we can broaden the base of the pipe connecting cars and society, even if only a little.

He also said, "When I participated in a racing karting class, I was reminded that, during a race, a bad driver should not leave the road but drive straight ahead, and an expert driver should stay on the road. He also mentioned that he had learned from his racing karting training that "bad drivers should stay on the road during the race, and advanced drivers should stay off the road. This technique is not taught in driving schools. If this awareness is thoroughly instilled, the recent problem of distracted driving will disappear. As a person who loves automobiles, I would like to convey something, even if it is a small thing like that," he concluded the press conference.

The team will start official practice sessions as early as November, and after practice at Fuji Speedway in January 2020, they will participate in the Fuji 7-hour Endurance Race, and in March, April, and May, they will hold official practice sessions at Twin Ring Motegi, aiming for the "JOY Endurance" race scheduled for June 27 and 28. In parallel, the team plans to broadcast programs and hold events.

The team's official character is created by Kia Asamiya, a cartoonist who also knows a thing or two about cars. The character is based on the motif of a slow loris animal and is decorated with the image colors of each driver, whose name has yet to be decided.

The racing operation will be handled by the "Planning Group Oto-Speed Movies," led by racing driver and automotive critic Hiroshi Takei.

In addition, various media and merchandise development is also being considered, so please check the official website for more details.