SMILE RIDER PROJECT concept film
SANRIO CHARACTERS × Honda Kumamoto Racing to Participate in the Suzuka 8 Hours!
What is the SANRIO CHARACTERS × Honda Kumamoto Racing Team?
A special collaboration project between Honda’s employee racing team, Honda Ryokuyokai Kumamoto Racing, and Sanrio has come to life. The collaboration team will compete in the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race on Sunday, July 5.
In addition to a special racing bike featuring Kuromi-inspired livery, team equipment and apparel will also feature Hello Kitty and Pompompurin, bringing Sanrio’s beloved characters to the racetrack.
Stay tuned for the performance of this one-of-a-kind team.
Team Details
- Bike Number (#):
- 43
- Racing Bike:
- CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE
- Riders:
- Kazuhiro Kojima, Yosuke Ide, TBD
Special Sanrio × Honda Campaign
Cheer on SANRIO CHARACTERS × Honda Kumamoto Racing with us!
[SMILE RIDER PROJECT Supporter Seats | 150 seats]
Special supporter items,
including a commemorative baseball jersey celebrating the team’s Suzuka 8 Hours participation,
are included in this package.
Located in the V2 grandstand overlooking the home straight,
these reserved seats offer an up-close view of the race start,
finish, pit operations, and all the excitement of endurance racing.
Tickets will be available through MobilityStation, Suzuka Circuit’s official online ticket shop.
[16–23 ZERO Yen Pass]
16–23 ZERO Yen Pass (for ages 16 to 23) will also offer
a limited-edition SMILE RIDER PROJECT support flag (while supplies last).
This special program offers even more people the opportunity to cheer on
SANRIO CHARACTERS × Honda Kumamoto Racing at Suzuka Circuit.
Applications can be made through MobilityStation, Suzuka Circuit’s official online ticket shop.
Visit the Honda
RACING Gallery!
In addition to exhibits showcasing previous Sanrio × Honda collaboration vehicles, character greeting events featuring popular Sanrio characters are also planned.
Racing fans, Sanrio characters fans, everyone is welcome.
Come and join us!
Sanrio Characters Greeting
- Dates & Times:
- Jul 3 (Fri): 12:00PM-5:20 PM
Jul 4 (Sat): 12:00PM-5:20 PM
Jul 5 (Sun): 11:00 AM–2:50 PM
- Capacity:
- 20 groups per session (up to 6 people per group)
- Eligibility:
- Holders of either:
A 2026 Suzuka 8 Hours race ticket (including the 16–23 Free Pass), or A Race Day Special Passport valid for Jul 3–5
How to Participate
Character greetings are available through a lottery system.
Lottery tickets will be distributed on the day of the event at HRG B1F.
Please visit the reception desk and receive a lottery ticket for the character you would like to meet.
Lottery results can be checked using the QR code below.
The results will also be posted at the venue.
※Please refer to the information provided at the venue for details.
Greeting Schedule
Jul 3 (Fri)
| 12:00 PM～ 12:20 PM |
Kuromi |
| 13:00 PM～ 13:20 PM |
Hello Kitty |
| 14:00 PM～ 14:20 PM |
Pompompurin |
| 15:00 PM～ 15:20 PM |
Kuromi |
| 16:00 PM～ 16:20 PM |
Hello Kitty |
| 17:00 PM～ 17:20 PM |
Pompompurin |
Greeting Schedule
Jul 4 (Sat)
| 12:00 PM～ 12:20 PM |
Kuromi |
| 13:00 PM～ 13:20 PM |
Hello Kitty |
| 14:00 PM～ 14:20 PM |
Pompompurin |
| 15:00 PM～ 15:20 PM |
Kuromi |
| 16:00 PM～ 16:20 PM |
Hello Kitty |
| 17:00 PM～ 17:20 PM |
Pompompurin |
Greeting Schedule
Jul 5 (Sun)
| 11:00 AM～ 11:20 PM |
Kuromi |
| 11:30 AM～ 11:50 PM |
Hello Kitty |
| 12:00 PM～ 12:20 PM |
Pompompurin |
| 13:30 PM～ 13:50 PM |
Kuromi |
| 14:00 PM～ 14:20 PM |
Hello Kitty |
| 14:30 PM～ 14:50 PM |
Pompompurin |
Event Details
- Event Name:
- 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race 47th Edition
- Date:
- July 3 (Fri.) – July 5 (Sun.), 2026
- Venue:
- Suzuka Circuit (Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan)
REPORT
Traffic Safety Event in Suzuka City
At Kobe Elementary School in Suzuka City, Honda held a traffic safety T-shirt presentation ceremony and traffic safety workshop. Together with Sanrio characters, traffic safety messages were delivered to 78 first-grade students. In collaboration with the City of Suzuka, approximately 1,400 first-grade students across 28 elementary schools in the city will also receive the T-shirts.
The event gave children a fun and engaging opportunity to build traffic safety awareness through lessons on how to properly cross a pedestrian crossing and Honda’s Digital Traffic Safety Karuta, an educational program developed for elementary school students.
As part of the Smile Rider Project, the event provided a memorable day filled with learning and smiles for the children.
