– Lewis Hamilton used the gap between China and Japan not only for simulator work, but also for a journey into his own past. The seven-time world champion, who took his first Ferrari podium in Shanghai, spoke in Tokyo about a “Full Circle” experience in the dojo and about his deep connection to Japan.
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On Instagram, Lewis Hamilton showed photos from a traditional dojo and old childhood pictures in a karate gi. “Back in the dojo,” he wrote, explaining how he started karate as a boy to better cope with bullying at school. Self-protection turned into discipline, respect, and humility—values that shape him to this day.
The current session was led by Tetsuro Shimaguchi, a Japanese samurai artist. He is the man who choreographed the sword fights for Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill,” one of Hamilton’s favorite movies. “So unreal to have an hour with him,” Hamilton raved after the session with the legendary artist.
Tradition and respect important
Hamilton recalled seven years of karate training, one session every week. Every session began kneeling with a bow to the sensei. He now repeated the same ritual with Tetsuro Shimaguchi. As a child, he didn’t understand it, Hamilton said, but today he values the tradition and the gesture of respect very much.
“It’s amazing when things come full circle like that,” Lewis Hamilton continued, speaking of a true “Full Circle” moment. He explicitly thanked his sensei and Tokyo for the culture, beauty, and warm welcome. The mental side is just as important to him as fine-tuning the aero map of the Ferrari SF-24.
In addition to the dojo, Lewis Hamilton set a completely different highlight in Japan. In Yokohama, he appeared at a car meet in the Daikoku Parking Area. His vehicle: a Ferrari F40, estimated value around four million pounds, classic 2,9-liter twin-turbo V8, the last model personally approved by Enzo Ferrari.
To the tuning meet with the cult Ferrari
The red Ferrari F40 was parked between a Subaru Impreza and a Honda NSX with a widebody kit. Scenes like something out of a tuning game. Hamilton mingled with the local JDM scene instead of staying in the hotel. “I love driving through the city,” he told Sky Sports F1, speaking of the energy of such evenings.
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Lewis Hamilton emphasized how much Japanese gaming culture has influenced him. Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation, plus racing games like “Gran Turismo,” all of that shaped his view of cars. He names classics like the Nissan Skyline GT-R as favorite cars. The scene in Daikoku visibly reminded him of virtual nights on digital tracks.
Lewis Hamilton also linked his samurai session to this pop culture. “I love the movie ‘Kill Bill’,” he said. He called the training with the sword one of the coolest experiences of his life. He said he learned to perform some moves and now dreams of owning a real samurai sword in the style of the movie.
Hamilton’s future in Japan?
“One of my dreams is to have a samurai sword from the movie,” Hamilton explained. He is trying to find out who builds such blades of comparable quality. For him, Japan stands for craftsmanship, precision, and depth of detail—qualities he also seeks on the track in every stint and every lap in Suzuka.
Japan is more than just a stop on the calendar for Lewis Hamilton. The Brit can imagine living here for a certain period of time. He raves about the culture, the politeness, and the strong car culture that extends into parking garages and rest areas. At the same time, he knows that after all these impressions, the focus is now back on Suzuka.
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Lewis Hamilton travels to the Japanese GP with momentum after his “Full Circle” moment in the dojo and his appearance in the Ferrari F40. The Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit takes place from 27. to 29. March. After his first podium in the Ferrari in China, Hamilton wants to continue pushing his form curve upwards there.
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