The Hayabusa Station Festival returned to its in-person summer format on 20 August, drawing 2,300 motorcycles and a total of 2,600 fans to Yazu Town in Japan’s Tottori Prefecture. The 13th annual event was the first summer gathering held in person for four years. Its motorcycle parking area filled quickly, with Hayabusas joined by other models ridden by visitors who came to admire Suzuki’s flagship. Attendees travelled from as far north as Hokkaido and as far south as Taiwan.

The event combined the owners’ gathering with food stalls, motorcycle-product booths and displays. Suzuki showed the Hayabusa 25th Anniversary model, while visitors could also see the specially customised Tetsu-busa, previously ridden by Yukio Kagayama. After the opening ceremony, the riders and other participants posed for an aerial photograph forming 隼, the Japanese character associated with Hayabusa.

The most technical part of the programme was a talk by Suzuki engineers. They explained the background to the birth of Hayabusa Generation III and the creation of the 25th Anniversary model, giving the audience insight into the development process from the perspective of the engineering team. Members of the local women’s association later took to the stage for a performance of the Hayabusa Ondo dance.

The festival’s connection with the local community continued at Hayabusa Station on the Wakasa Railway. A live falcon named Yazu-chan served symbolically as station master for the day, while riders photographed the Hayabusa-decorated train as it arrived and departed. The opening ceremony included greetings from executive committee chairman Yu Ishitani, Yazu Town Mayor Hideto Yoshida and Suzuki Motor Corporation President Toshihiro Suzuki.

Suzuki also conveyed condolences and wishes for a swift recovery to people affected by the recent typhoon. At the close of the event, organisers handed over JPY468,000 as a donation for relief efforts following Typhoon No. 7. The Suzuki president and staff joined the mayor in waving goodbye to visitors, as the gathering ended with expectations of another event the following year.