97-year-old motorcycle enthusiast gets new bike from children and grandchildren

97-year-old motorcycle enthusiast gets new bike from children and grandchildren

Sinfuku Tamaki rides his new 125cc motorcycle in Takasato, Ogimi on July 11.


July 14, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Ninety-seven-year-old Shinfuku Tamaki lives in Ogimi, which is known for the longevity of its residents.

Tamaki enjoys riding a 125cc motorcycle that his children and grandchildren gave him for his birthday this May.

He uses it to go from his house to the fields, the shops and the local branch of the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives. He enjoys riding the bike, saying, “This new one is really comfortable.”

Tamaki doesn’t have a driver’s license for a car, so has been riding motorcycles for more than 50 years.

When he was young, Tamaki liked motorbikes so much that he even commuted to Naha on one. He has ridden four bikes in total.

His children and grandchildren gave him a new motorcycle for his birthday on May 28 because they were concerned that his previous bike, which he had used for 15 years, was no longer usable.

In 6,612 square meters of fields in seven different places, Tamaki works by himself to grow citrus depressa and tankan mandarin. On his motorbike, he goes up the steep hill to the citrus depressa field two or three minutes away from his house.
Tamaki looked busy, saying, “I don’t time to go far as the harvest starts soon.”
On his new bike, Tamaki looks young, much younger than 97.

(English translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey)

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