In 1856, the young French printmaker Bracquemond was shown a collection of ceramics by an acquaintance. These ceramics, imported from Japan, a country then closed to foreign relations, would likely have been rare in Western Europe. However, what captured his attention was not the ceramics themselves but their wrapping paper. It was a page from Katsushika Hokusai’s “Hokusai Manga.(Hokusai Sketch)” Impressed by the artwork, Bracquemond went on to obtain a copy of “Hokusai Manga” through great effort and introduced it to his painter friends in Paris, eventually leading to Hokusai becoming widely known across Europe from France. …Unfortunately, the story is sa […]

Connecting people who enjoy rides. This time, the “Ring-Tomo” introduced by model Miho Ishigaki features sports journalist Kazuyuki Yamaguchi, whom she met through an event job. His relationship with road biking began after his first job post-graduation. He joined a publishing company with the desire to write articles and was assigned to the magazine “CYCLING SPORTS,” which marked the start of his professional involvement with biking. He quickly became responsible for covering the Tour de France, and this has become a routine for him over 30 years of reporting.We spoke with Mr. Yamaguchi about his rides, including his private experiences. *In Global Ride, a new column […]

Introducing a How-To Video on Traffic Rules for foreign cyclists who are interested in cycling in Japan. In Ehime Prefecture, which hosts the largest cycling event in Japan called “Cycling Shimanami,” they promote bicycle tourism and provide an introduction to basic rules of cycling such as traffic regulations and riding on the left side of the road in English. They also explain exceptions where cycling on sidewalks is allowed and provide important points to note in such cases. Additionally, they provide clear explanations of prohibited behaviors. Please take a look at the video for more information. *Note: While basic bicycle traffic rules are generally the same nationwide, some municipalities may have their own unique rules.