NASUKARASUYAMA, Tochigi Prefecture--The mere mention of the Meguro to a diehard motorbike fan in Japan is likely to induce raptures.

And now, the legendary motorcycle is making its return after 75 years to its manufacturing place here, where a rare model--identical to the one featured in “Godzilla Minus One”--is being meticulously restored to like-new condition.

Fans across Japan are gearing up for the moment they hear its engine roar once more in its rightful setting: Karasuyama in Tochigi Prefecture.

The motorcycle brand, named after a specific area of the capital, was established in 1924 by Meguro Manufacturing Co. in Tokyo.

In 1944, with World War II turning against Japan, Meguro Manufacturing relocated its factory to what is now NasuKarasuyama city to avoid air raids.

After the war, the Karasuyama factory took on motorcycle production fulltime.

Renowned for their exceptional performance and quality, Meguro motorcycles were used by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police and as lead vehicles for the torch relay in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, making them dream bikes for riders at the time.

A project is now under way to restore a 1949 Meguro Z model, which were built at the now-closed Karasuyama factory and which featured in “Godzilla Minus One,” to like-new condition within three years.

Fifteen companies under the umbrella of the Nasukarasuyama chamber of commerce and industry combined their expertise for the restoration, led by 41-year-old Yoshiki Sawamura, who runs a motorcycle customization shop.

Now in its second year, the project is nearing completion with only the engine remaining to be finished.

The restoration has been a painstaking process due to the lack of detailed blueprints and other data.

Missing screws, for example, are handcrafted based on surviving originals. A muffler from a different model was replaced with a correct replica. The authentic muffler, borrowed as a reference, was scanned with a 3D scanner and recreated by machining it from a solid block of metal.

The paint was carefully analyzed for color and composition at the Industrial Technology Center of Tochigi Prefecture to replicate it as closely as possible to the original.

“I want to hear the engine roar next year,” Sawamura said.

NEW MODEL, MEMORIES

The Meguro had largely been forgotten, even in its hometown.

Labor disputes and fierce competition with rivals such as Honda Motor Co., Suzuki Motor Corp. and Yamaha Motor Co. proved to be the death knell for Meguro Manufacturing’s operations, leading to its acquisition by Kawasaki Aircraft Co., now Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., in 1964.

Around the same time, the Karasuyama factory was sold to another company.

Meguro regained the spotlight in February 2021 when Kawasaki Motors Corp., a member of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group, introduced the Meguro K3 model.

“Meguro is a source of pride for our city, but there’s no trace of it left here,” lamented Yoshiyuki Yamada, 54, a motorcycle enthusiast and restaurant owner.

He wondered if there was something he could do.

Yamada contacted fellow motorcycle enthusiasts and organized a fan meeting in Nasukarasuyama in November 2021, nine months after the launch of the K3.

Through social media and word of mouth, approximately 300 people from across the country gathered on their motorcycles, of which around 60 were Meguros.

“We started (the fan meeting) as an amateur idea, but it exceeded all expectations in excitement,” Yamada said. “I’m still amazed by how many fans Meguro has.”

The city government and local tourism association also joined the effort to support community revitalization, making the fan meeting an annual event with the goal of establishing the city as a “Meguro pilgrimage site.”

KAWASAKI SHOWS SUPPORT

Kawasaki Motors also offered its support. In May 2022, it donated a massive promotional billboard for the K3 measuring 2.8 meters tall and 4.5 meters wide that was installed in front of a tourist facility in the city center.

“We appreciated the citizens’ efforts to preserve the Meguro’s legacy,” a Kawasaki Motors representative said.

The facility now features exhibits showcasing the history of Meguro Manufacturing, including panels, photographs and motorcycles. Around 100 fans visit each month, always arriving on their motorcycles.

On Nov. 3 this year, the fourth annual fan meeting drew more than 380 people on motorcycles nationwide.

“It’s rare to see so many Meguro motorcycles in one place,” said a 70-year-old enthusiast who rode his 1960s Meguro Z7 from Tokyo’s Adachi Ward. “It took me three hours to get here, but it’s so much fun!”

Participants enthusiastically shared stories about the Meguro and paraded through the city on their motorcycles.

This year, they celebrated the 100th anniversary of Meguro Manufacturing’s founding with a toast of specially made cider.

The event also featured food trucks and play areas for children.

It attracted around 1,200 people and is gradually growing into a gathering that appeals to more than just Meguro fans.

“This is a unique attempt to combine a hobby gathering with community revitalization,” said Yamada, who chairs the fan meeting organizing committee. “I want locals to learn about the city’s history and the skills of those who came before us.”

Nasukarasuyama, which used to prosper due to Meguro productions, is now designated a depopulated area, with a population of around 24,000.

An 85-year-old resident who used to work at the Karasuyama factory said, “The event brought back a wave of nostalgia. I really hope it continues.”