Yamaguchi Bicycle, ‟Smart Lady” The Original ‟Mama-chari”（Part 5）

次回この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

As we have seen in this series, the Smart Lady is the original Mama-chari; a ubiquitous unisex Japanese utility bicycle, or "mom's bike," designed for practical everyday use. 
Now, have you ever seen the movie the Wizard of OZ? 
If so, do you remember the bicycle that the villain Miss Gulch (aka Wicked Witch of the West) rode?

It has nearly all the same Smart Lady features:  step-through frame, upright riding position, single-speed, rod-brakes, sprung leather saddle, half-chaincase, rear fender, handlebar basket and rear luggage rack. 

The bicycle is actually a 1900 Orient manufactured by the Waltham Manufacturing Company of Waltham, Massachusetts, coincidentally very close to where I was raised. 

Having grown up in the US in the 1960s, I had never seen a rod-brake bicycle until I first visited Japan in 1982.  I was amazed.  Rod-brake bicycles were everywhere.   At the time, the brakes were notorious for an eardrum piercing high-pitched screech.  My friends and I affectionately referred to them as the Wicked Witch of the West bicycles because they not only had the same look and feel, but in addition, the loud shrill from the brakes resembled the witch's spine-tingling scream as in the scene where Miss Gulch is riding her bicycle and transforms into the witch riding her broom.

It is interesting that in Japan, the same basic features found on the Smart Lady are still present 70 years later; though the spectrum of models has certainly evolved with cable brakes being standard, internal hub dynamo powered lighting, auto ON-OFF headlamps, electrical assist, internal 3-speed or more hubs, front and rear child seats, etc.  But a new low-end model can still be purchased, complete with accessories (bell, basket, headlamp, skirt guard, rear luggage rack, rear reflector, kickstand, lock) for around $100.

Reliable, affordable and versatile these bikes put the "p" in practical.
As previously mentioned in Part 1, the ubiquitous Mama-chari (mom's bike) is the Dutch Omafiets (grandma's bike) of Japan. 
Bicycles like the Mama-chari and Dutch Omafiets are in many ways better, because they are basic, simple, sturdy, affordable, low maintenance and comfortable.  Don't take my word for it, watch the excellent video below.