TTAC Investigates: Why Japanese Suddenly Hate Cars

Yesterday brought you news of the tepid Japanese car market that has been down 26 percent for the year. Commenter Alex Nigro DEMANDED the answer to “Are Japanese people still not interested in driving?”

The Nikkei [sub] immediately went on the case and reports today that there is one segment in the industry that is booming: Bicycles. Writes the Nikkei:

“The March 11 earthquake triggered an increase in the number of people who commute to work by bike, and new business are cropping up to accommodate this trend, including high-end park-and-shower services in central Tokyo.”

Two years ago, the Tokyo government started to promote commuting by bicycle. There even was a new word for the two-wheeled salary-man: “Tsuukin-isuto.” That spurred a mild trend, but not necessarily a craze of Japanese proportions. Did you ever had the pants of an Armani get into the chain?

Then, disaster struck. Millions of Japanese were stranded in downtown Tokyo on March 11 afternoon after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake closed down the sprawling mass transit system. “Suddenly, bikes became a lot more attractive to many people,” says the Nikkei. In a matter of minutes, bicycle stores were empty.

In the aftermath, saving power replaced Buddhism and Shinto as a religion in Japan. Salary-men were urged to ditch their blue suit and tie for “super cool biz” (short sleeves and open collars). Thermostats of the A/C were set to barely bearable, the nation perspired for a noble cause, and the bike race was on.

In short order, bikes turned into big business. Downtown office buildings opened high-tech full-service indoor bicycle parking operations: Racks for the bikes, showers, lockers. The monthly fees are steep: They range from $200 to $300 a month per bike. That approaches Manhattan fees – for a car. But in Tokyo, I get a free shower and don’t have to tip Gonzalez. I can also buy a bike for the same price.. A really cool bike.

The real craze in Tokyo is not the Roppongi daytraders that switched his Porsche for a Miyata (the bicycle.) The REAL craze in Japan is mamachari.

That’s a Japanese portmanteau of “mama” (mama) and “charinko” (bicycle): It denotes a utility bike with chainguard, fenders, rack, skirt guard, dynamo lights, baskets, and child carriers. It used to be to conveyance of choice of a housewife with two small children and shopping bags. Helmets? Who needs them?

Now, mamachari have been co-opted by the super-cool set. There are weekly mamachari meets, mamachari race s, and of course, gobs of mamachari blogs.

If you want to pick up a girl in Tokyo, forget dangling the keys to your 911. The operative phrase is “want to ride side-saddle on my mamachari?”

After a few hundred yards, claim you are out of breath, and lock the bike to a lamp post in front of a love hotel: “Shower-ga hitsu you desu.” (We need a shower.)