It was just before the test ended on the 7th. An executive from F.C.C. sent me an email! That’s something that doesn’t usually happen. It read, “(Mr. Noguchi has passed away)…”

One day back in 1987, I knocked on the doors of F.C.C. Mr. Noguchi was the one who welcomed me back then. I had absolutely no connections; I just showed up out of nowhere because I desperately wanted to upgrade the clutch on a 125cc racer. Since then, F.C.C. became a part of my life—there is no need to repeat that now!

Today at the wake, I saw his wife and daughters for the first time in a while, and when I greeted them, they wept.

Mr. Noguchi, I will continue to carry on the way of life that you taught me. Masakazu Fujii

Look at the photo. Now that is the face of a true man!