Yamaguchi Bicycle, ‟Smart Lady” The Original ‟Mama-chari”（Part 2）

次回この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

As mentioned in the previous post Yamaguchi Bicycle, "Smart Lady" The Original "Mama-chari" (Part 1), in 1956, a time when ladies cycles accounted for less than 10% of the market, and, only around 60% of women could even ride bicycles, Yamaguchi Bicycle Manufacturing Co., Ltd. introduced a revolutionary model designed specifically to meet the needs of women and promote bicycle riding as a way to enhance beauty through exercise.  

Ms. Shizue Yamaguchi (shown below), was the brainchild behind the concept for the Smart Lady.
First, she was one of the first group of female politicians elected to the House of Representatives after World War II in 1946 and was a strong proponent for women's rights and liberation. Second, and perhaps more importantly, she also worked for her father, Shigehiko Yamaguchi, the founder and president of Yamaguch Bicycle.  It was she that proposed the concept for the Smart Lady to her father. 

"I was talking to my father (the company president) about whether it would be possible to make an attractive, lightweight, and practical bicycle for women at a lower price so they too could enjoy riding."

At the time, many women rode the family bicycle which were predominantly men's utility cycles.
(Note the presence of the top tube/crossbar and legnth of the head tube and seat tube.)

At the time, bicycles cost two months' salary, and were prized possesions.
Marriages were predominantly arranged marriages (54%) and a ladies cycle were often part of the trousseau as can be seen in the photo below.
Note: The bride is in the background.  The trousseau includes furiniture, treadle sewing machine (right), washing machine (left) and bicycle in the forefront.  Interestingly, a close look at the bicycle reveals it is coincidentally manufactured by Yamaguchi Bicycle and with the exception of it missing the quick-release basket that doubles as a handbasket (shopping basket) and quick-release battery-powered lamp that doubles as a lantern, it is uncannily similar to the  Smart Lady including: step-through frame with low seat tube, raised easy-to-reach handlebars, white celluloid grips, fender ornament, full fenders and chaincase to protect skirts/kimonos, rear-wheel skirt protector,  sprung leather saddle and a quick-release portable tire pump located behind the seat tube.

(Smart Lady below for comparison)

We shall continue to see in the next installment in this series, how the Smart Lady became the original Mama-chari; a Japanese  "mom's bike," designed for practical, everyday use.  The ubiquitous Mama-chari is the Dutch Omafiets of Japan.