"There is probably no one in Japan who feels as close to the Mini brand as Kazuo Maruyama. The 74-year-old has had a deep passion for the little car since the 1960s. Many historic models are on display in his workshop – including one of the oldest Mini ever, and a special racing car by John Cooper.
When it comes to collecting cars in Japan, few can compete with Kazuo Maruyama. The 74-year-old who runs Mini Maruyama, a museum-like garage in central Tokyo, owns a spectacular body of vehicles, many of which cannot be found anywhere else. This includes one of the world’s oldest Mini, a present he received from the car’s inventor, Sir Alec Issigonis. The second Mini to be made, it was a prototype that wasn’t put on the market. The first was used purely for crash testing so it’s no longer around. The late Issigonis, a good friend of Maruyama’s, passed on the historic car to the Japanese man in a show of appreciation for all he had done to help the company. Known as the man who revived the classic Mini when the car was struggling to sell in the 1980s, Maruyama has been collecting, restoring, selling, repairing and, of course, driving the iconic British vehicle for decades.
His garage, a hidden gem located in a nondescript area of Tokyo, is a must-visit for car lovers visiting Japan’s capital. It boasts historic photographs and a great selection of accessories in addition to all the cars. Walking around the place, you can see his devotion to the Mini."
https://www.mini.com/en_MS/home/heritag ... minis.html
Couldn't have gone to a better owner 