The question of how we move has never been more important, in light of growing environmental threats caused by the transportation industry, paired with a growing concern about health among people in the world. Japan's bicycle industry is well-positioned to assist the transition or revolution of the transportation sector in Japan and elsewhere through state-of-the-art technology and innovation. While Japan's exports of whole bicycles were comparatively small, the country is a major
. Similarly, only a fraction of ready-to-use bicycles produced in Japan cover the domestic demand, with
.
Bicycle utilization and safety concerns
Bicycles have long been a commonly used mode of transport in Japan. Despite decreasing bicycle ownership per household over the past years, more than every second household possesses a bike. Bicycles in Japan are
most utilized for shopping errands, but also serve as an intermediary form of travel to reach train or subway stations, which constitute the principal mode of transport in metropolitan areas to cover longer distances. In general, all demographic groups in Japan use bicycles, although to varying degrees. Men have a slightly higher utilization rate than women, while senior generations also tend to have higher usage.
Bicycle riding is environmentally friendly and good for the health, but it also has some drawbacks, one of which is the issue of road safety. The
number of accidents involving bicycles in Japan has decreased within the past decade overall. However, thousands of accidents involving cyclists still happen every month, some of which are fatal. Most bicycle accidents in Japan occur due to the negligence of traffic participants. Helmet use is optional in Japan, leading to a high share of head injuries among bicycle casualties.
Growing popularity of e-bikes and the start of bicycle-sharing services
The most used bicycle type in Japan was the city bike. It is a general-utility bicycle, often equipped with a basket and up to two child seats. As of 2023,
e-bikes were the second most popular bicycle type , with around 17.4 percent of bicycle owners in Japan possessing pedal electric assist cycles (pedelecs). Considering Japan's aging population, pedelecs are expected to attract many elderly consumers, who benefit from reduced effort exertion when riding the bicycle. Sales figures for e-bikes in Japan have
kept growing over the past years, reflecting an ongoing demand not only among elderly consumers but also a more general target group. In recent years, a growing number of cities have authorized the launch of bicycle-sharing services, making alternative and budget-friendly mobility options more accessible.
Overall, while issues regarding bicycle utilization in Japan remain, authorities are working to resolve such issues. An increase in the number of publicly available bicycle sharing facilities, combined with the introduction and increase in the usage of electric bicycles, are boding well for the domestic demand of Japan's bicycle industry. As the shift from the automobile pedal to the bicycle pedal is occurring in many other countries in the world, the export of Japanese bicycles and bicycle parts can be expected to grow further.
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