Ted Ernst said:
There was also the Japanese rim with a plastic block.
That was Ukai, as on the Fuji Finest and Newest, filled with plastic foam. I had a guy cross wheels with me in a race and I had no choice but to steer into him to stay up. The Ukai's did a good job as I rode over his bike! I think any other rim would have folded. But they weighed 400 grams and were always sort of lumpy and hard to true. Replacements were quite expensive also.
Joe Bender-Zanoni Whitneyville, CT
Ukai were made by YANAGIHARA KOGYO, K.K. Can't find anything about them in a casual search to see if they still exist. I have a pair of those NOS I have been saving for something like a Nagasawa if I ever come across one. Mine weigh just under 350 gm so they must have made them in different weights. Have not built any up, but when I have built Japanese rims over the years, I found them a little soft and tricky to get true compared to Mavic, Super Champ, etc. They are nice and shiny though.
Bob Freeman
Elliott Bay Bicycles
2116 Western Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
206-441-8144
http://www.elliottbaybicycles.com
http://www.davidsonbicycles.com