The Supermums of Tokyo. Just getting on with it. Over at Copenhagenize.com we've posted about the political power of these gorgeous supermums. They're not to be messed with. In many cities in Japan it is not allowed to drop off your kids at daycare/school by car because of traffic safety and pollution so the bicycle is a very important transport option in the country, especially for mothers.
To read about the bikes they use, the mamachari, here's a review from Copenhagenize.com.
Getting the kid settled in.
Having a chat.
A lot of Japanese supermums have these handlebar grip covers on their bikes. Go figure. And off topic... what's up with the dog stroller on the right? Quirky.
And a superdad in Omotesando.
A little film featuring the Japanese supermums. Just click past the guy yapping at the beginning - he yaps for about 1:18 minutes - to see a parade of supermums.
Goodness, Tokyo is a cool town!
ReplyDeleteWow. Amazing how you could hear people instead of traffic.
ReplyDeleteOh, and regarding the yapping guy, if you imagine him as Kermit the Frog (similar voice), it really becomes quite entertaining: the arm gestures, the head tilt followed by a pause...
A traffic jam of moms on bikes! what a great video. The hats seem to be pretty popular, of one or two particular styles. A couple moms have their seats too low for knee comfort, but I don't think they will be pushing too hard.
ReplyDeleteLol. Love some of the kids with the Japanese 'work hard' head bands on them. Go SuperMums!!
ReplyDeleteAnd so much more chic when not obese like so many mothers and children in England.
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult not to make the connection between car/obesity/letting yourself go and cycle/slim/chic.
Peter - I spend an hour and a half on my bike every day, and I'm obese. Don't judge.
ReplyDeleteThankfully in the past year or so it's become a social norm to have your kids wear bike helmets, it's still a minority of mums who do this though but getting better all the time. No question of they wearing helmets themselves though.
ReplyDelete" In many cities in Japan it is not allowed to drop off your kids at daycare/school by car because of traffic safety and pollution"
ReplyDeleteSorry, this is totally untrue as far as I can tell, just another myth about Japan. It's probably because they wouldn't be able to find anywhere to park, there aren't many places where you can leave your car for free in urban Japan. It isn't a planned society to the extent that they can tell you when and when not to drive though. Japanese roads are absolutely clogged with cars and trucks.
having just spent time in japan on the Danish Embassy's COP15 cycling tour, where we travelled around the country and rode with the citizens of many cities, I can tell you that it is actually true.
ReplyDeleteit's not a national law by it's a bylaw in many municipalities. to encourage less traffic around schools and kindergartens as well as the resulting pollution.
craig, why 'thankfully' about the helmets? sounds like you need to get educated about the limited capabilities and the folly of promoting bicycle helmets and that can happen either over at copenhagenize.com or at The Bicycle Helmet Research Institute.
ReplyDeleteI'd get started right away if I were you.
"having just spent time in japan on the Danish Embassy's COP15 cycling tour, where we travelled around the country and rode with the citizens of many cities, I can tell you that it is actually true."
ReplyDeleteActually, no it's not true, you are talking rubbish. for a lot of these women, it's simply too much trouble to drive, they are 'paper drivers', meaning they have driven very few times, if at all since getting their licenses, or they can't drive. As for the "thankfully" comment about mothers providing helmets for their kids, just imagine one of those bikes falling over with a kid on the back (see your own photos if you are having trouble visualizing). I'm a daily bicycle commuter , and was at first interested in your blogs. Over the last week I have come to realize that you and your friends are little more than a bunch of dangerous kooks who envisage a world where people ride around on bikes with coiffeured hair and winklepicker shoes. Thanks for the entertainment.
bye bye then!
ReplyDelete