Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi has said that it is important for Formula One to be heading back to Japan, after the earthquake that struck the country earlier in 2011, as he prepares for his home race in two weeks time.
The teams will head for the Japanese GP in Suzuka for the next race of the season, with Kobayashi the only home driver on the grid.
The race comes just seven months after the coutnry was devastated by a huge earthquake and resulting tsunami, which killed over 15,000 people.
And Kobayashi believes that it is important that F1 is returning to the country this year after the disaster.
"I am proud to go home and race there, this is certain," he grinned in an interview with the Sauber team on Tuesday, " I also believe many other drivers would be sad if Suzuka disappeared from the calendar."
He added that it was good that the race was returning after the disaster, saying: "Yes, this is definitely the case.
"The Grand Prix is a very big event in Japan, it is something very positive for the people and for the country, and also because of the international awareness the race brings."
He went on: "It makes people happy, and they do enjoy Formula 1 a lot. So we are going racing there, as we have done in previous years, despite the tragedy that has hit the country."
And the Sauber driver also said that it was "impressive" to see how the country was recovering from the disaster, which saw towns and cities along the east coast of the country.
"After the news we received in March about the disaster became worse and worse, I think the way the country has recovered so far is impressive," he explained.
"This is because Japan received a lot of help from outside and also because the Japanese are very strong people and have given each other an awful lot of help and support."
He added: "Of course, there is still a long way to go, but the progress has been remarkable."
Kobayashi, who has invited a Japanese girls' choir and their families from one of the disaster-hit regions to Suzuka for the GP weekend, added that he was hopeful of a strong result in front of his home crowd.
"I hope I can have an even better result [than 7th place in 2010] this year," he smiled.
"I think with DRS and KERS there is a good chance they will get to see a great show again, and it would also be a perfect venue for the drivers' championship to be decided.
"It is a proper race track, the karaoke parties are legendary and, again, it would mean really positive coverage for Japan."
The drivers championship is almost certain to be decided at Suzuka, with Sebastian Vettel needing just a single point, or for Jenson Button to fail to win the race, in order to clinch the crown.
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