Tokyobike founder believes in taking in sights of dynamic cities slowly

Japan Times

3 days ago

Ichiro Kanai knows that if you have a thrilling city to explore like Tokyo — the eclectic architecture, far-flung galleries and picturesque backstreets — it's best done riding a bicycle.
Tokyobike sells a range of light pedal-powered bikes designed for urban exploration. With their earthy colors, it's a functional accompaniment to a lifestyle that prizes minimalist design and products with simple aesthetics — Apple's iPhones being the tech equivalent.
'It's most fun to ride through unfamiliar places. When I ride my bike, I feel really nostalgic. In the evening, I hear voices from inside the houses and smell the food. It suddenly brings back memories. That's something you can only experience on a bike,' said Kanai, founder and president of Tokyobike.
In Japan, cyclists are typically divided into two categories — the practical mamachari (literally, mom's bike) users which are dominating the market, and endurance cyclists who criss-cross the country, clad in high-tech gear.
The bikes certainly sold, despite their relatively high prices between ¥59,400 ($404) and ¥95,000. |
courtesy of Daisuke Hashihara
The image of lycra-clad riders dominates in some Western countries. But in Japan, and especially in Tokyo, cycling is primarily a form of transport.
'It's basically like putting on your shoes for Japanese people,' said Chad Feyen, of the Cycling Embassy of Japan, which promotes cycling in the capital, noting that even commuting office workers typically ride to and from train stations to condense their travel times.
Kanai is developing a niche customer base of those who want to cycle as part of a lifestyle, drawing eclectic influences from Apple, radio broadcaster J-Wave and the operator of the Muji brand — companies that create their own worlds.
'At first, it was still so much more expensive than mamachari bikes, so I was worried about whether it would sell,' he said of the early days of Tokyobike.
Tokyobike's outlet in Kichijoji, western Tokyo. The company sells a range of light pedal-powered bikes designed for urban exploration. |
courtesy of Daisuke Hashihara
The bikes certainly sold, despite their relatively high prices between ¥59,400 ($404) and ¥95,000. The company's annual revenue remains modest at around ¥700 million.
The 62-year-old affable entrepreneur, known affectionately as Kin-chan to his colleagues and neighbors, first discovered the joy of two wheels when he was a student — although his first taste was motor driven.
'As soon as I got on a motorcycle, I could go to all kinds of places. I loved that freedom,' Kanai said.
After an early career working for a motorcycle manufacturer, Kanai hatched a plan to start his own bicycle business. Initially, the plan was to sell specific bicycle parts online, targeting enthusiasts, but when the name for his online shop came to mind, the vision grew from there.
The image of lycra-clad riders dominates in Western countries. But in Japan, and in Tokyo, cycling is primarily a form of transport, says Chad Feyen, of the Cycling Embassy of Japan, which promotes cycling in the capital. |
Elizabeth Beattie
'I thought it would be nice if there was a bicycle called 'Tokyobike.' It wasn't that I had always wanted to make bicycles, but I came up with that name ... so I made it into a reality,' he said.
The original Tokyobike was produced in Taiwan, based on Kanai's design, which drew on his childhood recollection of bikes fashioned from frames made of chromoly steel, a type of low-alloy steel that is strong and durable.
'It's pretty faithful to the traditional shape of bicycles,' he said.
Founded in 2002, the company today has six retail stores in Japan, with two partner-operated stores in Tokyo and Fukuoka. The bikes are also available at some 200 dealer stores across the country. The flagship store is located in Koto Ward — an industrial, creative suburb of eastern Tokyo.
Despite the brand being named for the Japanese capital, it also has retail spaces in Los Angeles, Milan, London, Berlin, Taiwan and Bangkok, with plans to expand deeper into Europe.
The flagship store is located in Koto Ward — an industrial, creative suburb of eastern Tokyo. |
courtesy of Daisuke Hashihara
'Right now, bicycles are a difficult industry to grow in,' Kanai said, noting that one recent challenge for the company is the sweltering Tokyo summers.
June was the country's hottest since record-keeping began in 1898, according to the Meteorological Agency, with temperatures 2 degrees Celsius higher than average, the agency reported.
'The effect of global warming. I think we're starting to feel it to some extent,' he said.
This leaves fewer cyclists in the mood to rent bikes and enjoy the city slowly — although cyclists still remain prolific on streets and roads in Japan year-round.
While bikes are an important part of transportation, 'freedom' is a word Kanai often comes back to when speaking about the allure of exploring the city on two wheels.
The power of spontaneous exploration in a nation that is famed for rigidity is something Kanai feels acutely. He started his own business and has blazed his own trail, fueled by a curious spirit and love of adventure — the feeling of the breeze and no set pathway being a recurring verbal touchstone for him.
Kanai's feeling for bicycles — the freedom, autonomy and being in control of your own path — is a message he has not just for his customers, but also for people in general.
'There are a lot of people in Japan who don't feel free,' Kanai said
'You can go wherever you want (when you're bike riding), you can change it up depending on how you feel at the time. You can make the decision on your own.'