Goodbye RX-7: Saying Farewell to a Dear Friend | Naoko Nishimoto

Video Description from YouTube:

For 25 years, Naoko Nishimoto and her silver Mazda RX-7 shared the roads of Nagasaki together.
At 79 years old, Naoko still drives with the same passion that first led her to get her license at 21, at a time when it was still uncommon for women to drive in Japan. Her love for the RX-7 began with a brochure she carefully kept for decades, the blue RX-7 on its cover circled in red, a reminder of a dream she never forgot.
Over the years, her RX-7 became more than a car. It became a trusted companion. Naoko never missed a wax coating, preserving its beautiful silver finish as it reflected the changing seasons, skies, and memories of her life.
When she made the difficult decision to surrender her driver’s license, she also faced saying goodbye to a dear friend. Rather than letting her beloved RX-7 disappear into the unknown, she chose to return it to Mazda, where it would begin a second life inspiring new generations as a publicity vehicle.
But this farewell brought unexpected gifts. As the time to part approached, Naoko’s son, Makoto, began taking her on photo journeys across Nagasaki to capture moments with the car she loved. When he finally revealed why, his answer was simple: “I want to create more memories for my mother.”
The result is a remarkable story about passion, friendship, family, and the joy of driving.
This moving documentary has now been recognized on the world stage, earning a Bronze Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026, celebrating the power of authentic human storytelling.
As Naoko and her RX-7 begin new chapters in different places, one thing remains unchanged:
Some friendships never really end. They simply continue their journey in a different direction.

#Mazda #RX7 #MazdaStories

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