26th Cafe Cub Meeting in Aoyama
Over the October 14 - 15 weekend, the 26th Cafe Cub Meeting in Aoyama, a gathering of Super Cub fans, was held in a lively atmosphere at Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama.
This annual event for Super Cub fans to talk about motorcycle culture and socialize with friends over coffee, has been held since 1997.
Participants were chosen by lottery, and a total of 379 Super Cubs arrived at the event over two days. On Sunday, 162 Super Cubs gathered despite heavy rain."
Participants' Super Cubs neatly lined up outside of Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama, as passersby looked on with great interest. Over the years, the event has become a Autumn tradition in Aoyama.
This year’s theme was "Nicest People on a Super Cub," in the hope of bringing smiles to the faces of Super Cub owners and onlookers alike.
The window displayed a poster of the 1963 U.S. ”Nicest People” campaign. Inside the plaza, the CA100 photographed in the poster was on display.
Participants were given the red carpet treatment. After reception, they were guided by associates to the exhibits.
Cub owners mingled around the exhibits, each Cub unique.
Super Cubs from many eras, from the 1960s to now, assembled. Unique numbers were attached to each, later to be used for voting.
Some Super Cub-licensed merchandise was also on display, popular with kids and the elderly alike.
In “Bike Forum,” a popular talk session at the Cafe Cub meeting, speakers discussed the past, present and future of the Super Cub, celebrating Honda’s 75th, and the Super Cub’s 65th anniversaries.
Nonfiction author Hiroshi Nakabe (left) and Miki Press president Kenichi Kobayashi (right) were guest speakers. Both have been involved in publishing many books about the Super Cub. They spoke about how the Super Cub, a high-performance scooter for ordinary people developed with the passion of its founders, Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa, took off around the world.
Another highlight of the Cafe Cub meeting, the Special Award ceremony, in which the Super Cub and its owner selected by Bike Forum guests and Honda Smile associates received commemorative gifts.
And, the winners of voting casted by all participants was also awarded.
Saturday’s 2nd and 3rd places awarded.
Saturday’s winner was a Super Cub 110 owner.
The underground parking at Honda’s Aoyama building was open to the public for the event. 500 vehicles arrived during the two days.
The second-floor lobby was opened as a rest space with book and video areas. On Sunday, the area was used to dry helmets and raincoats due to the heavy rain.
As a finale to the Cafe Cub meeting, participants tested their paper-scissor-stone skills to win gorgeous prizes.
Once Honda Smile associates asked participants to ride home safely, the event came to a close.Participants left with fond memories and promises to reunite with their friends, exchanging information on customization, and listening to historical occurrences at Bike Forum.