Naoki Nishimoto, an elderly woman based in Nagasaki, Japan, decided she would give up her driver’s license on her 80th birthday. With that, she needed to find a new home for her Mazda RX-7, a car she’s driven and cared for over the past 25 years.
Nishimoto-san bought her RX-7 when she was 55 years old after seeing it on the anime Initial D. Before getting the rotary-engine-equipped sports car, she was already an avid driver, frequently visiting Mt. Unzen to enjoy the winding roads and beautiful scenery.
While going through potential buyers for her RX-7, she received an email from Mazda. The Japanese manufacturer was interested in buying her car back, saying that it would be honored to make her car an ambassador vehicle to share with others.
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“After 25 years together, I wanted to make the right choice for my car,” said Nishimoto-san. “Choosing Mazda feels like sending it home. I think my car is happy about that.”
After her announcement, Nishimoto-san and her son went on drives in her RX-7, documenting their adventures in photos she could keep as a remembrance. The car looked pristine, preserved in stock condition with 77,592km on the odometer—all belonging to Nishimoto-san.
“Cars have brought such joy to my life,” Nishimoto-san added. “I’m grateful the last car I ever drove was my dear RX-7.”
The short film documents Nishimoto-san’s last few days with her RX-7. More than a testament to her care, the film depicts the special bond a person can share with their car. Goodbye RX-7: Saying farewell to a dear friend won a Grand Prix at the recently concluded 2026 International Auto Film Festa. You can watch the entire film below:
