I love Japanese bicycles.
When my Dad and I began riding together in the mid 1980's, forging a friendship I am forever grateful for, we rode Japanese bikes. If there were a fire tomorrow, my father's Lotus Eclair (French for "lightning") would be the first bike I'd grab.
And the Japanese love bicycles! Following World War II, having lost everything during the war years, for the average citizen to own a bicycle was a thing of great pride. For a brief period in the late 1940's and 1950's, a unique bicycle came into vogue in Japan: a rod-brake roadster absolutely smothered in "bling." Artists lavished incredible amounts of detail to nearly every surface. Decorative elements include gorgeous cloisonne head badges, intricate brass name plates, fender mascots, colorful transfers; and talk about accessories! The Japanese bicycles of this day were loaded!
The bicycle you see here, a Kyokurei "Super," still retains its original Japanese licensure. There are features here that I have personally never seen before on a bike from this time period, such as the plunger bell lever, and individual brushes designed to clean dirt from the rims! This bike is as found, with the exception of new tires. Every vintage bicycle has a story, and the Kyokurei 's must be a doozy. I imagine it was brought back from Japan by a returning G.I., but who knows?
When my Dad and I began riding together in the mid 1980's, forging a friendship I am forever grateful for, we rode Japanese bikes. If there were a fire tomorrow, my father's Lotus Eclair (French for "lightning") would be the first bike I'd grab.
And the Japanese love bicycles! Following World War II, having lost everything during the war years, for the average citizen to own a bicycle was a thing of great pride. For a brief period in the late 1940's and 1950's, a unique bicycle came into vogue in Japan: a rod-brake roadster absolutely smothered in "bling." Artists lavished incredible amounts of detail to nearly every surface. Decorative elements include gorgeous cloisonne head badges, intricate brass name plates, fender mascots, colorful transfers; and talk about accessories! The Japanese bicycles of this day were loaded!
The bicycle you see here, a Kyokurei "Super," still retains its original Japanese licensure. There are features here that I have personally never seen before on a bike from this time period, such as the plunger bell lever, and individual brushes designed to clean dirt from the rims! This bike is as found, with the exception of new tires. Every vintage bicycle has a story, and the Kyokurei 's must be a doozy. I imagine it was brought back from Japan by a returning G.I., but who knows?
Kyokurei Post-War Roadster ©Daniel Dahlquist