102 Year Old Bicycle Mechanic

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In the previous post, we learned about a bicycle mechanic, Mr. Yatabe, who at 95, continues to run his bicycle shop in Komae City, Tokyo, Long Life Bicycle Shop (長寿自転車商会),  and will celebrate the shop's 70th anniversary next year.

In this post we will take a look at Mr. Ishii, owner of Ishii Cycle Shop, in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, who at 102 years old, continues to do what he loves, keeping bicycles rolling.  I had both the honor and pleasure of meeting Mr. Ishii earlier this year in April.

 
The following is an English translation of a recent newspaper article by Ms Erika Noguchi on Mr. Ishii which appeared in the September 17th evening edition of the Yomiuri Newspaper. (Any mistakes or misrepresentation in the English translation are the sole responsibility of this blog.)　

102-year-old Bicycle Mechanic
90 Years in the Business and "Happy to be Working"

In an era when people say "we will live to be 100 years old", the number of elderly people who live with a sense of purpose is increasing. Seiichi Ishii (102 years old), who runs a bicycle repair shop in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, started his career when he was 13 years old. He continues to take pride in his "job which people's lives depend on."

One-man operation
A five-minute walk from the nearest train station, Kanegafuchi Station, you will see the sign for "Ishii Cycle" in a residential area. Bicycle parts such as tires, wheels, and saddles adorn the walls inside the shop. "A bicycle shop owner must pay attention to the condition of the entire bicycle, not just the portion brought in for repair by the customer" said Ishii, in a loud voice sitting on a chair wearing overalls, holding a bicycle wheel in his hand. He receives several requests a week, but he doesn't cut corners. Recently, when he found the lock on a bicycle brought in for a flat tire repair to be jammed, the customer was surprised to learn that the additional repair was complimentary. "I'm in a good mood when I have work to do. I'm happiest when I'm tinkering with bicycles." The shop, which is located on the first floor of his two-story wooden house, is open from 7am to 6am, except on Sundays and the first three days of the New Year. He has never had any serious illnesses and continues to run the shop all by himself.

He was born in Kanda, Tokyo, as the eldest of three brothers. From an early age, he loved watching how bicycles were repaired. The repair process of various parts such as tires, brakes, and pedals fascinated him.  He didn't enjoy studying very much. "I want to learn a trade," he thought. He dropped out of high school and dove into the world of bicycle repair. He started working as a live-in employee in 1935, when he was 13 years old.  But, after two years as an apprentice, the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out. He was drafted and sent to China at the age of 20 in 1943. He was given the task of hiding on the mountainside and cutting off the enemy's supply lines.  In the dark of night, with the sudden flash of enemy guns, battles would break out. "I thought I was going to die many times ," he recalls. Surrounded by the enemy, his friend blew himself up with a hand grenade. "It was a horrible experience."

Shortly after the end of the war, he was taken prisoner, and returned to Japan in June 1946. He started working at a bicycle shop again. He happened to come across a shop and bought it in 1956, opening the shop at its current location.
It was the era of high economic growth. Shops and houses were increasing in the area, and he had no time to rest from morning to night. It wasn't just flat tires. He fixed frames, replaced saddles, removed rust. He responded to any request.
Customers came to him because other shops wouldn't or couldn't fix their problems, and he was happy to take the challenge. After fixing their bicycles, they said "thank you," and we would have a good chat. Those were good times.

He married his wife Chieko at the age of 26, and they had two children together. They have a total of eight grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was given a celebration for his 100th birthday, but he laughs, "There were so many attending that I couldn't tell who was who."  His wife passed away 33 years ago, and he now lives alone. After work, he has a daily routine of drinking a glass of shochu mixed with beer-flavored carbonated water.  His hobby is karaoke, and on Sundays, after watching "NHK Nodo Jiman" on TV, he goes to a bar by bicycle. He doesn't drink alcohol, but sings with his regular customers, mainly singing songs by Kitajima Saburo and Minami Haruo.

Last month, he had the misfortune of falling off his bicycle while returning home from karaoke and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Fortunately, he only suffered minor injuries to his right arm, and returned to work the next day. His eldest son, Toshio (75), who lives nearby, says, "I'm glad that he's enjoying life by doing what he loves, but I do worry about him."
Even though he's over 100 years old, he has never once thought about closing the shop. "I'm happy to be able to work. It's my life." Before handing over bicycles to customers, he carefully checks the bicycle and double-checks the portions he repaired.
Repairs bear a heavy responsibility "if the brakes don't work, it could lead to an accident; people's lives are at stake" in this business. If the day ever comes when I forget to tighten a screw, that will be the time I shall quit working." 

Both Mr. Yatabe of Long Life Bicycle Shop and Mr. Ishii of Ishii Cycle Shop may hold the secret to a healthy long enjoyable life.  Retirement?  That is for people who do not enjoy what they do for a living.  It isn't work when you do what you love, so there is no such thing as retirement.

Long Life Bicycle Shop Interview (Part 3)

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In Long Life Bicycle Shop (Part 2) interview, we heard how the owner, Mr. Yatabe, after seven years working for a bicycle parts wholesaler, started his own bicycle wholesale parts business in 1955 at the age of 26.  By 1965 at the age of 36, he was a certified level 1 bicycle mechanic and licensed automobile and motorcycle mechanic selling and repairing bicycles, scooters, motorcycles and some small engine cars.

So next year your shop will mark its 70th year?
Yes, that's right.  

Reflecting on your long career, what has changed?
Many, many things have changed. Everything changes over the course of time and the bicycle business is no exception.

1. Purpose
First, as mentioned earlier, I got my start in the bicycle business working for a wholesaler in 1948.  That is 3 years after the end of WWII.  At that time Japan was still under US occupation and many things were still being rationed.  At the time, bicycles mainly consisted of utility and cargo cycles since they were for work and transportation.
 




For commerce, often bicycles had a trailer hitch attached to the seat post so that trailers could be connected to transport items too large to be strapped to the rear carrier (luggage rack).  

From 1950 to 1958 bicycles had license plates much like today's motor vehicles.  With Japan's rapid economic growth came prosperity, and with prosperity came the trend towards leisure and recreation.  The decline of bicycles for utility started around 1960, and by 1963 other model bicycles surpassed utility cycles.  
(Click on graph to enlarge)

Japan was transforming into an automobile society as more households had a family car and the purpose of bicycles expanded.  Households had more than one bicycle, housewives rode women's models for grocery shopping and other errands, students rode bicycles to school and even children had their own bicycles.

2. Roads
Road conditions and drainage used to be poor.
 

Paved roads today are the norm; however, when I got my start in the bicycle business in 1948 many roads were unpaved.  So, bicycles took a beating during everyday use due to potholes, bumps, puddles, mud, gravel and sand.  There were no PET bottles back then and glass shards from broken bottles, nails, and other metal shards could not readily be seen in the dirt, so tire punctures were common.  

3. Durability
As I was saying, bicycles took a beating due to the poor road conditions as well as being workhorses.  They were often ridden in the rain and had to be left outside exposed to the elements. So they were built to be very durable, and would last a lifetime with proper maintenance.   However, they were all steel and machining was not as precise as today's standards so over time rain often seeped into bearings (steering column, bottom bracket, wheel hubs).  In fact, it was common for people to bring their bicycles in for a complete overhaul typically during the winter.  This was another important source of income for bicycle shop owners.  
 
4. Affordability
When I first started in the bicycle industry back in 1948, the family bicycle was the main mode of private transportation.  Bicycles used to cost 2 months' salary, so needless to say they were prized possessions.  A child's bicycle was rare and only for the affluent.  Children used to learn how to ride an adult bicycle using the family bicycle riding it "triangle-style" since their legs were too short to reach the pedals.
(Note in the photo below how the child's left leg is passed through the frame.)

Nowadays, a person could work a parttime job for minimum wage for two days and be able to purchase a brand new low-end mamachari imported from China.

5. Parts and Labor
Parts used to be expensive and labor was cheap.  Repairs and parts replacement were an important portion of a bicycle shop's income.  Now it is the opposite, parts are cheap but labor is expensive.  Due to the high-cost of repairs, often it is cheaper to just purchase a new mamachari than it is to perform major parts replacements.  For this reason, in one sense, mamachari are gradually becoming disposable goods.

 I am fortunate to have gotten into the bicycle industry first working for a wholesaler, then leaving to start my own bicycle parts wholesale shop as this experience afforded me invaluable insight into bicycles and the bicycle business.  I am grateful that I didn't remain in the bicycle parts wholesale business and chose to run my own bicycle shop.  As I look back, I'm glad I became a bicycle mechanic when I did.  Times have changed, like most things, businesses which were locally family-owned operations have been swallowed up by large scale chain stores.  Many people turn 60 and retire to suddenly find themselves with nothing to do.  I turned 60 over 35 years ago, I still work every day.  Work is a good thing, good for the hands, head and heart because I use them everyday in providing society with a necessary service.  The sense of achievement and satisfaction that comes with repairs and the people's appreciation for keeping their beloved bicycle rolling is immeasurable. 

Long Life Bicycle Shop (Pre-interview)

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In the previous post I mentioned the vintage bicycle shop in Komae, Tokyo, 長寿自転車商会　(CHOJU JITENSHA SHOKAI) which translates to Long Life Bicycle Shop.  And, that the shop name is befitting as the proprietor is 95 and a half years young and continues to repair bicycles.  

I sat down with the proprietor and I'm in the process of compiling an interview.
In the meantime, a peek at the shop through the years.

This is the shop from around 1955 - 1961.  


1961 - 1996
Click on photo to enlarge and note the motorized three wheeled mini-trucks. 

Like many shops, the proprietor was multi-skilled and serviced not only bicycles, but scooters, motorcycles, mini-trucks, and small engine cars.

2014
Mr. Yatabe in front of his shop with his stunning original NOS (new old stock) vintage 1950s Midori utility bicycle.

2022 
Nearly 70 years, still in business, and keeping bicycles rolling.

In the next English post, I will begin the interview with Mr Yatabe.

Long Life Bicycle Shop and Saigon Curry

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I have mentioned in several previous posts the vintage bicycle shop in Komae, Tokyo, 長寿自転車商会　(CHOJU JITENSHA SHOKAI) which translates to Long Life Bicycle Shop.  And long life it is as the proprietor is 95 years young and continues to repair bicycles.  His wide range of knowledge and experience makes him a living encyclopedia when it comes to Japanese bicycles.


In today's world of chain stores, it is refreshing to visit a one-man establishment where the owner is the same person who repairs your bicycle.

The shop has been in business for so many decades that it is sort of a mini-museum.

I have been visiting the shop for nearly two decades and each time I never fail to learn something new.  
Conveniently located just a three-minute walk from the bicycle shop is SAIGON restaurant which I think serves the best curry in Japan.

I've always wondered what the secret ingredient is that makes the curry do delicious.
The other day when I visited the restaurant, I think I may have discovered the secret

There it was, handwritten and posted on the wall in the restaurant, but despite having eaten there for nearly two decades, I never noticed it.

Once I read it, I felt enlightened.
Loosely translated, it read, "Savor the time and effort you put into something as it builds character".
In today's world of instant-foods, I found this tidbit refreshing and came to understand that there is no short-cut to good quality and that's what sets their curry apart from the rest.

Tool Reference (Hataya English)

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In the previous post we looked at a handy tool guide from Hozan.  In this post we will look at a tool catalog from Hataya.  The nice thing about this catalog is that, in addition to the description, it provides illustrations for some tools.  This is helpful to understand where and how the tool is actually used.

On a side note, if you are interested in Japanese tools, especially wrenches, head on over to Combination Wrench Collection.
Although the site is in Japanese, many of the brand names are listed in English.  The amount of research is incredible.
Check out the Hozan page and  Hataya page.

 

Tool Reference (Hozan English)

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Here is an interesting, and handy, Japanese bicycle tool identification guide in English dating back to 1951.  The company, Hozan, established in 1946, is still manufacturing bicycle tools today.  Click on the photo to enlarge.  See if you can identify what each tool is used for and check your answers in the accompanying list!

Child seats

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I can vividly remember as a small child growing up in the U.S., riding three abreast in the front seat of my grandfather's 1950s Oldsmobile.  Back then, there were no child seats and automobiles had no airbags nor seat belts.  Automobile safety has come a long way.  But what about bicycles?  Apart from wearing a helmet or other protective gear, not much has improved in terms of standard safety features since I was a kid back in the early 1960s.  In Japan, one thing that certainly has changed is bicycle child seats.  There are bicycle models specifically designed for carrying one or two children.

Back in the 1950s, the most common means to carry children was to have them simply sit directly atop the rear carrier (aka luggage rack).
.

It was a bumpy ride, as most of the streets were unpaved.  To provide comfort, often a zabuton (a floor seat cushion used in traditional tatami mat floors) was placed on the rear carrier to provide the child with some comfort as shown below.

Of course, the precious child learned to hold on for life, and, to keep one's feet away from the spokes.

Infants were carried on the rider's back onbu-style.  

Look closely at the photo below as there are three important points.
(1) The zabuton atop the rear carrier.
(2) The womens bicycle front-mount bicycle seat.
(3) The guard to keep both the mother's skirt and the child's feet from getting caught in the rear wheel spokes.

For mens bicycles, there were front-mount bicycle seats which were fitted to the top tube.

These front-mount child seats too often lacked any padding.




  

Some sort of improvised padding was placed on the seat to protect the child's bottom.

And, finally, some people made their own child seats by simply strapping a wooden box to the rear carrier.

Pedals

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Fender ornaments, badges,  reflectors, grips, guarantee medals, frame top tube covers, chainwheels、revolving bells, spoke bells, raised letter tire treads, black enamel paint and pinstripes, sprung leather saddles, chrome center-line rims, chrome headlamps, and the list goes on and on; you name it, the design and detail of each part on Japanese bicycles from around the 1950s, right down to the tiny fender stay bolts, never ceases to amaze me.  The same holds true for pedals. 　

The design below was, among rubber block pedals, top of the line for high-end bicycles.
Note the four separate rubber blocks with metal pyramid dividers, each block bears the manufacturer's trade mark on all four sides.
 

Another example, Kin (Gold) Pen.
Note the white celluloid spindle sleeve.

One more, from a Hakutsuru bicycle, this time with a black celluloid spindle sleeve, 

 

It makes sense that pedals for high-end bicycles would be a notch above the rest.  However, even some of the standard rubber block pedals with their polished chrome, and ornate trade marks on all four sides were works of art.

Zebra trade mark

Pedals are just one more example of how bicycles from the 1950s or earlier, were over-engineered works of art on two wheels.
Indeed, they just don't make them like they used to (Part 1) and (Part 2).

Bicycle Sidecar (Ambulance)

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In the previous post we looked at an old pedicab (aka cycle rickshaw), known as RINTAKU in Japanese.  
In this post we will look at another pedicab, these photos were in the public domain and appeared on the Yahoo Japan auction site several years back.
 
Interestingly, this pedicab belonged to a pediatric ward of a hospital.  The bicycle served as an ambulance-cab or pedi-ambulance.  Pay close attention to the following points:

1. Frame
The front wheel and rear wheel are offset (not in-line with each other)

2. Handlebars 
Normally, there would be rods on the handlebars to activate the front and rear brakes; however, the handlebars have no rods.
The handlebars are offset and attached to the handlebar stem at the far right-side handle.

The convertible top provided protection in cold or inclimate weather.

 
From this angle it is easy to see how the front and rear wheels of the bicycle are offset.
Also, from this angle we can see how the handlebars are offset and attached to the handlebar stem at the far right-side handle.



As previously mentioned, here we can clearly see that the handlebars are offset and attached to the handlebar stem at the far right-side handle, and, there are no rods attached to the handlebars to activate the brakes. 




The passenger (patient) cab.

There is a dynamo attached to the front fork to power the headlamp.
The battery box (below) was most likely for the siren or horn.


Siren/horn


No front stirrup brake nor front fender ornament.

Undercarriage, note the brake linkage.


Brake lever


Brakes linked to bicycle rear wheel and side-car (cab) wheel.
Note the heavy-duty carrier (cargo) cycle brake pads (shoes).

I'm unsure what happened to this unique pedi-ambulance, but I certainly hope for the sake of posterity that someone eventually restored it .

Bicycle Sidecar (Old Pedicab)

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Here is an old pedicab (aka cycle rickshaw), known as RINTAKU in Japanese.  The photos were in the public domain and appeared on the Yahoo Japan auction site several years back.

The bicycle was manufactured by the Yamaguchi Bicycle Factory Co. Ltd., but first let's look at the cab.


The pedicab is actually a sidecar attached to the bicycle.


The convertible top could be rolled back in nice weather.
(example)

The top was raised in cold or inclimate weather.

Cab interior

The two large screens at the front, and adjustable windshield, enabled ventilation when the top was up.
Also, note the lamp bracket mounted on the ventilation panel.

The cab was mounted to a MARUWAI utility cycle manufactured by Yamaguchi Bicycle Factory Co., Ltd.
Note the MARUWAI fender ornament and faded ornate pinstriping.

 Registration badge.

I was hoping to get a first had look at one of these as there was one on display at the Chigasaki City Museum of Art.
Unfortunately, it is not on display year-round; however, the museum granted me permission to use their photos.

 

In the next English post we will continue to look at pedicabs.