In a message dated 1/19/09 12:02:28 AM, tonythreerings@aol.com writes:
> Hello all,
> I'm planing a trip to Japan this spring and am looking for suggestions on
> what might be essential viewing.
> I'll be spending most of my time in Tokyo and Kyoto, with some more travel
> to be determined.
>
> I've been looking for a Japanese frame for a while but since I ride a 62cm,
> the pickings have been slim. I'd appreciate
> thoughts on getting a bike built to order while I'm there, as compared to
> trying to find a large used frame.
>
> Thanks,
> Aaron
>
Hi Aaron,
I am originally from Osaka, Japan. Mainland (Honshu) Japan is divided in two major parts. Older Kansai (Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe-Nara), and newer Kanto (Tokyo-Kawasaki-Yokohama), the middle part is Nagoya area where automobiles as Toyota, Subaru, and Honda are from.
Kansai is home for Shimano, and SUNTOUR (Sakai-city, be sure too visit Bike Museum there), and majority of parts are made, while Kanto area (include TOEI, Saitama) frames are made.
There are also two kinds of people, very much open arms to foreigners (even troubled by language difference,) but also quite closed mind-insular people (do not want to use English).
Get yourself some good translator-friends (who are Japanese), and hope you have GREAT TIME, too bad the currency exchange is pretty BAD right now, you will find our how expensive YEN based pricing are!
Wondered, how the old C-R members as Dennis Young and Takao Noda are getting along?
Have a great day!
KEN TODA, High Point, NC, transplanted here from Japan for over 35 years!
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