During my high school years, I devoted myself to practicing kendo day in, day out. I spent early morning hours for exercises before heading to the classroom. After sitting in classes for seven hours, I returned to the kendo hall for evening training sessions. When I arrived home, the clocked always showed a few minutes past nine.

I used a granny’s bike for commuting, which I had to pedal 10 kilometers every day. The route from school included an exhausting uphill road that continued about one kilometer. Although tired from the training, I worked up the energy to keep pedaling my bike until I hit the top of the hill. My efforts paid off when a downhill came into sight with a great night view beckoning before my eyes. After sliding down the road toward a glistering townscape, feeling a wind blowing in my face, a time of relaxation came at my favorite spots.

I had a comfortable time at two different places. First, I stopped off at a convenience store and gobbled up a whole bag of potato chips to relieve my hunger. Then I moved to a motorcycle shop adjacent to it to enjoy watching various motorcycles on display. A high school boy with a shaven head was curiously watching a display of motorcycle while devouring a bag of potato chips in the dark of night. What a strange sight! I was able to see through the window various models like SRX racer with a slim body and an extra-thick rear tire along with a Ducati model with square eyes and an attractive frame. I was aware that these products represent a world unknown to a high school student devoted to practicing kendo.

As it turned out, I continued to watch those motorcycles almost every day during my three years in high school. Thirty years have passed since then and I started riding a model I enjoyed watching through the store window in my younger days. Nothing has changed. I am a great fun of motorcycles as always.

Kentaro Hayase

CMFG Design Dept.

Senior Director