Japan and when people asked Gihei to repair their machines, he sensed a business opportunity. As well as working as a blacksmith he put his natural skills and willingness to learn to good effect, repairing second-hand bicycles and re-selling them at competitive prices. From this moment his business began to be seen as the best bicycle store in the neighborhood.

When he was about to leave higher elementary school, Soichiro Honda saw an advertisement for Tokyo Art Shokai, an automobile servicing company, in a magazine called Bicycle World (Ringyo no sekai). The ad itself was not for bicycles but for “Manufacture and Repair of Automobiles, Motorcycles and Gasoline Engines”. Even as a toddler Honda had been thrilled by the first car that was ever seen in his village andThank you to all who participated in our benefit auction at the holiday party 
last weekend.  Donations, auction funds and the Enron match will result in 
$12,000 for two local charities!

This year we are directing our fund-raising efforts to two worthwhile 
community resources:  Portland's Court Appointed Special Advocates program 
(CASA) and the Raphael House shelter for battered women and their children.  
CASA is a non-profit organization that places community volunteers with 
foster children and at-risk youth to ensure their fair treatment in the 
courts.  Raphael House provides a refuge for women and children oppressed by 
domestic violence.

Please make your check payable to CASA or Raphael House, you may evenly 
distribute your donation with a check to each or the total to your preferred 
charity.