I was so happy that, after many years, I met Noriaki Kasai at Holmenkollen again. The last time we met was in Sapporo, when Noriaki personally made the first jumps after the rebuilding on the skijumping hills in Sapporo and Miyanomori. Back then I realized how important ski jumping is in Japan and what national heroes they are in their country. Ski jumping enthusiasts can find something about ski jumping in almost every newspaper and the athletes can also be seen in many advertisements.

That even now at the age of 51! being in the middle of the ski jumping circuit and starting a comeback tour is both admirable and crazy. There is only a nine-year age difference between us! And he deserves my greatest respect for the fact that he continues to throw himself over the largest ski jumping hill in the world in Vikersund!

Arigato Noriaki! It was very nice that we met again after all these years!