Yamaha Motor paid tribute to Finnish rider Jarno Saarinen during the Feel Finland event celebrating 100 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and Japan which was held last Sunday, April 14, at the Finnish Embassy in Tokyo.
The exhibition illustrated Saarinen and his racing exploits with photos and video from the time. Additionally, a replica of his stock TD-3 race bike that he rode to win the 250cc World Grand Prix championship in 1972, becoming the first Finn to win a world title, was featured. Special commemorative items were also available for purchase with illustrations created especially for the event by the Finnish illustrator Pirita Tolvanen.
Finally, the President of Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd, Yoshihihiro Hidaka, personally presented an album containing souvenir photos, dating back 47 years, of Saarinen and his wife Soili, to the latter who attended the event.
The idea for this tribute germinated in the album itself, found in cardboard boxes filled with old Yamaha media assets, which was filled with beautiful images of Jarno and Soili together during their visit to Japan in November 1972. Yamaha Motor's desire to bring this album to its natural home coincided with 2019, the year that marks the centenary of diplomatic relations between Finland and Japan, which was the perfect opportunity to honor Saarinen while officially handing over the photo album.
The memories are Soiled looking at black and white photos from almost 50 years ago: “ Racing is usually done with a big team, but Jarno could do a lot of the mechanical work himself, so I helped him with everything else and we went racing as a team. I am happy to bring these photos and their memories back to Finland.”
President Hidaka himself is a strong supporter of the competition. While flipping through an old magazine highlighting Saarinen's racing exploits, he declares, " I remember seeing it in motorcycle magazines when I was a student” he said to Soili. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have the opportunity to officially present an album from 40 years ago to the wife of a pilot I admired so much. It’s a heart-warming experience.”
The exhibition Jarno Saarinen will be held at Communication Plaza, Yamaha Motor's corporate museum, from April 16 to May 31.
