2005 will be the 75th anniversary of the Japanese association with the TT.
In 1930 Kenzo Tada was the first Japanese to ride at the TT, he finished 15th in the Junior on a Vellocette.
Tada san was a friend of Mr Honda, and one must assume that the seeds were sown for Honda's participation those many years ago.
Then as now the TT is the centre of the road racing world.