Over 200 Japanese journalists, photographers and TV crews descended on Honda's Head Office in down town Tokyo at 1100 hours local time for the official announcement that Takuma Sato will race for Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda in 2002.
Showing confidence beyond his 24 years, Takuma - affectionately named Taku - stood alone on stage infront of the assembled media to describe his joy at joining Jordan. He then invited his "new boss" Eddie Jordan to join him at the top table, so that both could speak to the press before posing for photographs with the Jordan Honda EJ11.
Click for pictures from Japan.
Speaking about his new signing, Eddie Jordan said, "I am delighted to be here with you all in Tokyo to make this announcement. I want to make my message very clear. For me, Taku is unique, for two reasons. First because he deprived himself of a normal life in Japan by coming to Europe to race. Taking such a decision needs passion and commitment and this should not be underestimated. Second, he is unique because he has got to F1 on his own absolte ability. Of course he has had help both from Honda and from Jordan, but it is his own talent which has won him the drive with us. This is a historic day."
The Japanese media, delighted at the news that their fellow countryman will race in F1, was hungry for more information. Responding to various questions, Eddie Jordan said, "Taku has impressed me over the last few months, most notably with his F3 victory in Zandvoort, and then at his F1 test in Mugello just recently. So it was not difficult for me to make this happy decision."
Discussing some of the details of the contract with Takuma Sato, Jordan said, "We have signed a two year contract with Taku, with an option on the team's side for a further two years. This is a very long term deal which shows the level of commitment involved."
Today's announcement opened up the issue of Jean Alesi's future. Journalist Ken Kawakita from Japanese magazine Racing On raised the question of what would happen to Alesi. "Good question!" replied Eddie Jordan. "I am pleased you asked me this as I want to say that Jean has been fantastic for Jordan. Jordan helped bring Jean into F1 and he has said to us that he would like to finish his racing career with our team, so we are now working together to see if we can find a role for him to be able to stay with us. He has the experience of 200 F1 Grand Prix races, and a wealth of knowledge so I think he would make a good teacher for Taku and perhaps find some kind of role as an Ambassador although it is really too early to say."
With formalities over, Eddie Jordan and Takuma Sato enjoyed lunch with senior Honda management, before Eddie had to depart for the next official engagement - a press conference with the team's tyre supplier, Bridgestone. Both Eddie and Takuma also enjoyed a trip yesterday to visit Honda's R & D facility outside Tokyo in Tochigi where they were greeted by some 200 Honda engineers working on the F1 programme.