A shuttered elementary school in Akitakata, Hiroshima Prefecture, is set to begin a new life this summer as a museum celebrating some of Japan＊s most iconic and rare sports cars.
On Aug. 23, the Sportscar Jinba-Ittai Museum will hold a preopening event at the school in the city＊s Takamiya district. The?term jinba-ittai?〞 literally meaning ※a horse and a rider as one§ 〞 was a key concept behind the development of Mazda＊s Roadster two-seater convertible, known overseas as the MX-5 or MX-5 Miata. It embodies the company＊s philosophy of seamless harmony between a car and its driver.
Helping lead the museum project is Takao Kijima, 77, a former chief engineer of the Roadster and a legendary figure among automotive enthusiasts. Kijima relocated to Takamiya in April to help transform the community into what organizers hope will become a new pilgrimage site for motorsports fans.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.