MotoforJapan, two wheels helping the Japanese people

The catastrophe that hit Japan did not leave the two-wheel world indifferent. Motorcycling has four major world manufacturers in the country of the Rising Sun: Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki. All four of the Big Four, as they are called, were involved, albeit in different ways, by the massive destruction of the earthquake and the tsunami that hit the Japanese coast. Already a few days ago Honda and Suzuki temporarily suspended production.

The hardest hit among the four is Honda, which stopped its production lines until March 20 and suffered considerable damage to its research and development department in Tochigi, where the earthquake caused 30 injuries and one death. Despite this, Honda provided concrete help to the Japanese population through money, generators and gas cylinders.

While Suzuki will resume production today, without having suffered considerable damage, Yamaha and Kawasaki have not suspended activity at their factories. Kawasaki will also donate 100 million yen and 3 aircraft to aid relief efforts. Meanwhile, two Japanese riders, Greg Hatton and Jon Bekefy, have created a new charity, MotoForJapan, to raise funds for the Japanese population devastated by the earthquake.

MotoforJapan will donate the money raised directly to the Japanese Red Cross, an organization already operating in the relief field. MotoForJapan's appeal: "If you are a motorcyclist, a pilot, an employee of the sector, or a fan of one of the four Japanese cars, this is your chance to help a nation in difficulty."