Back then, it was still rare for a woman to drive in Japan. Naoko recalls how she even went against her parent’s to get behind the wheel—the first time she had ever felt so determined not to back down.
2025.04.15
RX-7: 25 Years of Memories, Three Days of Farewell, and the Parting Gift of a Dear Friend
Naoko Nishimoto, a resident of Nagasaki, has shared her life with an RX-7 for 25 years since purchasing it at the age of 55. This sports car has been her cherished companion through a quarter of a century.
Now, Naoko has decided to surrender her driver’s license and part with her dear friend (RX-7) on her 80th birthday. The recipient: Mazda.
What emotions filled Naoko’s heart as the day of farewell approached? And what parting gift did the RX-7 leave behind? We documented Naoko’s final three days with her beloved car to capture her story.
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In this article, we dig deeper into the bond between Naoko and her RX-7, revealing emotional dimensions and memories beyond what we captured on screen.
Naoko Nishimoto, The Woman Who Fell in Love with Driving
Naoko handles her beloved RX-7 with precision. Her expert technique makes light work of narrow roads and tricky parking, shifting gears with the smooth confidence of a seasoned driver.
Naoko Nishimoto (79 years old at the time of interview) discovered her passion for driving early, obtaining her license at 21 and buying her first car that same year.
Typically calm and reserved, Naoko transforms when talking about driving. Her eyes light up with childlike excitement, revealing a side that surprised our entire team.
Naoko’s Unforgettable First Encounter with RX-7
For 25 years, Naoko has carefully preserved the catalogue where she first saw the RX-7. Opening it reveals the blue RX-7 circled with a red pen, a telling sign of how much she wanted the car back then.
As her last car neared the end of its life, Naoko began searching for a new vehicle but struggled to settle on any one car. This all changed when she watched the anime series "Initial D" with her son and fell in love with RX-7 (FD). She immediately visited a Mazda dealership, initially asking for the blue model featured on the brochure cover. Following the salesperson's recommendation, however, she ultimately went with a silver model.
Naoko now happily acknowledges that silver was the perfect choice. Spending time with her silver RX-7, she loves how every day brings a new expression as it reflects the colors of the changing seasons and sky. For the entire 25 years of ownership, Naoko has never skipped a wax coating, preserving the car’s stunning finish.
The Decision to Part and the RX-7's Final Destination
The parking space sits directly in front of the living room. "I love seeing my RX-7 from here," says Naoko. “But not for much longer," she adds with a slightly sad smile.
Rather than waiting until the choice was beyond her control, Naoko made the decision at 78 to surrender her license upon turning 80. She also resolved to pass on her RX-7 to someone who would truly appreciate it. After considering many options, she finally settled on returning the car to its place of creation: Mazda.
Once the RX-7 has been welcomed by Mazda, it will undergo comprehensive maintenance, retaining traces of its time with Naoko while fully restoring its performance. The car will then begin a new chapter as a publicity vehicle, sharing the joy of driving and creating new connections with more people.
When Naoko learned of her companion’s future, she smiled and said, "I'm a little jealous. My RX-7 gets to become young and beautiful again—how wonderful is that!”
The Car that Bonded Mother and Son
A photo session by the sea. Throughout the interview, we were constantly struck by Nagasaki's beauty. The sea, mountains, and a town steeped in rich history. Makoto Nishimoto's photographs captured these landscapes beautifully.
After Naoko has announced that she was giving up her RX-7, Naoko’s son, Makoto, began taking her out on regular photo excursions. The subjects: the RX-7 and Naoko herself. Makoto never told his mother why he started these sessions. However, during our interview on the day of shooting, he revealed the reason for the first time on camera.
“I want to create more memories for my mother.”
“Really? I never realized." said Naoko, nudging him affectionately, to which Makoto replied with a smile, "Well, you never asked." Until now, the mother and son had few opportunities to spend time together. As they happily chatted about their late-night photo session and the ramen they enjoyed on the way home, it seemed that the RX-7’s true parting gift was these precious new memories they were creating together.
Photographed by Makoto Nishimoto. "I never thought he’d want me in the photo with my RX-7!" says Naoko. Her expression as she stands against the beautiful scenery is as radiant as the clear blue sky.
The final photo session took place at Mount Inasa, on an observation deck overlooking Nagasaki. Looking at her RX-7, illuminated by the lights of the city they had driven together for 25 years, Naoko shared something with us for the first time.
A photo session with the RX-7 against the backdrop of the Nagasaki nightscape. Tourists also took out their cameras to photograph the exquisite car, whose beauty rivaled one of Japan's three most famous night views.
"This car is my friend. A friend who was always there for me."
"I'm saying farewell to a dear friend," Naoko said with a hint of sadness, but quickly continued with a smile: "But that’s okay. Because thanks to this old friend, I've made many more new friends."
Whether meeting those who came to interview her or those who came to hear her story, Naoko always greeted new connections with a warm smile, captured in each photo. Perhaps these friendships are one more final parting gift from her beloved RX-7.
The Car Continues Its Journey, Forever Carrying Beautiful Memories
The ceremony to transfer the RX-7 to Mazda was held at Kyushu Mazda Akasako Store. For 25 years, whenever the RX-7 needed attention, this store always took diligent care of it. “It was thanks to the people at this store that I was able to drive my car for so long.” says Naoko, expressing her gratitude until the very end.
On the day of the ceremony, Naoko’s RX-7 arrived at the Mazda dealership serving as the venue. Throughout the space, Mazda employees and dealership staff whispered in awe, "It's like going back 30 years." The silver gleam that Naoko had so carefully maintained over the decades seemed to transport everyone to their own cherished memories.
In this warm and welcoming atmosphere, the ceremony proceeded and the RX-7 was officially handed over to Mazda.
But, the story doesn't end there.
Naoko’s RX-7 will start its second life as a publicity vehicle. As for Naoko, "I'm going to start a YouTube channel for my hobby of reading aloud," she announces happily. As they greet a new tomorrow, now in different places, the two friends are ready to embark on their new beginnings.
From the Editorial Team
For Naoko Nishimoto, these final three days spent with her beloved car of 25 years were precious. Our priority was ensuring that this time with her RX-7 remained rich and meaningful. Our team was unanimous in not wanting to intrude on her final moments with the RX-7 for the sake of our story. While we suggested potential filming locations, we let Naoko and her son Makoto take the lead on deciding how and where to spend their time. We simply joined them for what was essentially their usual photo excursion.
At the end of filming, when they told us, "We've visited many places as mother and son, but today was our most enjoyable photo session," it was an incredibly rewarding moment for our team.
The bond between people and cars is a curious thing. A car can be someone's friend, an irreplaceable family member, or a presence that goes beyond being merely a tool for getting from A to B. We hope Naoko’s story inspires people to consider the special relationships they have formed with the cars that have accompanied them through life’s journey.
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