Life is full of joys and sorrows, and we live our lives sharing these moments with the many people we meet along the way. There will be times when we feel devastated and want to run away, but we want to turn even those moments into fuel; as long as we have life, we want to keep turning the pedals, and it is our sincere wish that many others feel the same way.
Our dear friend, Rei Miyoshi, passed away at the young age of 22 this past weekend; he went to sleep during a camping trip and did not open his eyes again. Several days have passed, and we are still in a state where we cannot process how to accept this reality. However, it is certain that what we must do is not be crushed by grief, but keep looking forward and live our lives—the present and the future—to the fullest.
If we were to look down, I feel like he would just laugh at us—he was so full of vitality, fearlessly taking on anything that interested him, and constantly diving into every new world. Rei-kun worked for Circles as a part-timer when he was in high school, and more recently, he was active as a member of SimWorks Racing; even after he finished his part-time job, we spent time together in many places, and I was always amazed by his drive, and even found myself admiring him.
A memorial gathering for him will be held this weekend, Saturday, August 1st. This gathering is held at the strong request of his parents, with the intent for the many people who shared a connection with Rei-kun to enjoy conversations about their memories of him and send him off with a smile.
They have requested that everyone dress casually—for us, that means the same clothes we would normally wear when riding a bike. They also conveyed the wish that those who got to know him through cycling should come to the venue on their bikes.
With that in mind, we would like to share the journey to the venue and enjoy the time spent getting there together. We will be holding a BIKE TO REI ride, starting from Circles and cycling to the venue, Garden and Cafe Archipelago. We would be grateful if all the cyclists who had a connection with Rei-kun could join us.
BIKE TO REI
Date and Time: Saturday, August 1st
Departure Times: Group 1 departs at 13:00 / Group 2 departs at 15:00
Meeting Point: Circles West Parking Lot※Please gather 15 minutes before departure.
Considering COVID-19 infection control and safety, we will be riding in groups of about 5 people, keeping social distance in mind. The venue is about 20km from Circles, a ride of about an hour and a half.
The venue for the memorial gathering at Garden and Cafe Archipelago opens at 14:00, but the official Catholic ceremony with a priest will be held for about an hour starting at 17:00. Until then, the time will be spent sharing memories while enjoying a slideshow at the venue.
Please join us at a time that is convenient for you.
We would also like to get a sense of how many people will be attending, so if you would like to participate in the ride, please register using the entry form below.
※Those coming directly to the venue do not need to register.
Please sign the guest book at the venue reception.
Of course, it is also possible for individuals to cycle to the venue directly on their own. For those using public transportation, buses are available from Fujigaoka Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line.
The details of the memorial gathering are as follows:
Memorial for Rei
Date and Time: Saturday, August 1st
■Venue: Garden and Cafe Archipelago
Address: 2780 Shingyoda, Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture■Start Time: 14:00
■Streaming: 16:45~17:45
(Live streaming for those unable to attend in person)
■Catholic Ceremony: 17:00~17:30
■Closing Time: 19:30
Important Notes
※Mandatory: Pre-arrival temperature check (please ensure your temperature is 37.5°C or lower on the day) and please bring your own mask. We will conduct temperature checks and infection prevention measures again at the reception.
※Please refrain from bringing incense money (koden).
※Please refrain from wearing black suits or mourning clothes.
※Parking is limited, so if you are coming by car, please carpool with friends and acquaintances.
Please also note that due to our participation in the memorial, our physical store and web shop will be temporarily closed on Saturday, August 1st.
There are many futures awaiting us that we have yet to see.
Let’s live as hard as we can, including his share, moving toward that future!
Ride in Peace REI!!