Craig’s notes
The Panasonic shell didn’t tell me what was recorded, but playback did: a big computer-graphics opening for Formula One at Suzuka. The coverage identified the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix, and Prost was talking about his position. Then the commercials started. Canon had a camera ad with a rabbit-suit character I called creepy on stream. The spot showed up again later in the same break.
Pioneer kept bringing back its Sogna concept car too, with GPS in the spot. Mobil had an ad with a frozen flower and a banana. None of that was written on the shell. I stopped before the tape ended, so I don’t know what follows it.
Content inventory
Shows and segments (playback order)
- Fuji Television coverage of the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka: CGI opening; Round 15 identification; Prost discusses his position. The race date is October 21, 1990; whether every portion of this tape was recorded that day is unverified.
Commercial inventory
Observed race-coverage break, in logged order (including repeats):
- Formula Shell.
- Canon camera: Rabbit-suit spot; ¥69,000 shown in viewing log.
- Bridgestone / Sports Kingdom.
- Pioneer carrozzeria Sogna concept car: GPS feature noted in viewing log.
- Mobil 1: Frozen flower and banana.
- Mobil ACE Card.
- Honda Accord Inspire: “FF Midship Straight 5.”
- Epson Formula One.
- Canon PixelDiO: Flowers spot.
- Shell Formula One: Separate logged spot.
- J-Grid / Bridgestone.
- Toshiba Dynabook.
- Honda Accord: Eric Clapton appears according to the viewing log.
- Epson: Man riding a bicycle.
- Pioneer carrozzeria Sogna concept car: Repeat observation.
- HOT radio-control Formula One cars / Hellodesk credit card: Product relationship unclear in viewing log.
- Bridgestone Regno: “For Prestige.”
- Toshiba Dynabook: Businessman spot.
- Canon camera: Rabbit-suit spot observed again.
- Mobil ACE Card: Oil in a frying pan.
- HOT Formula One / Hellodesk card: Another logged spot.
- Pioneer carrozzeria Sogna concept car: Third logged observation.
Tape details
- Format: VHS; Japanese television recording. Condition: Good.
- Viewed: August 6, 2026, partially. The rest of the tape has not been documented in playback.
- Program: 1990 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, October 21, 1990. The race date must not be treated as a verified date for all material on this tape.
- On the shell: Panasonic ZETAS SUPER GT factory branding; no handwritten content label visible.
