A comparison of the screen and features of GPS cycling navigation devices for the American vs Japanese markets.
Doraemon (roughly pronounced “Doe Rye Moan”) is a popular Japanese cartoon series about a robotic time traveling talking cat. He began life as a manga character in the late 1960s, and his immense popularity as an animated TV series means Doraemon is widely merchandised to all kinds of consumer products, including folding bicycles.
In my efforts to expand my cultural horizons and yours, I present Austrian / Japanese model & actress Reina Torindoru (aka Reina Triendl and “Tori-chan” aka トリンドル玲奈), who we can watch riding a folding bike while “Otousan” (father) the dog rides alongside.
Among the throngs visiting the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Sacramento last weekend, there were large numbers of Japanese media, fans and reps.
Among the people in this photo:
Some of these folks want to have an bike show in Japan featuring both American and Japanese bespoke bike and accessory manufacturers in a kind of reverse-Orientalist fascination for all things Western.
I told them about Byron Kidd’s Tokyo By Bike, and English language Australian expat’s look at transportational cycling around Tokyo. If there’s a Tokyo-American handmade bike show, Byron, I expect you to cover it!
That’s my traditional Japanese New Year greeting. Or, a little more properly: 明けましておめでとうございます!