Life in Japan: Rules about that Bicycle[MAMA AMIA! Surviving Japan]

ママ・アミアSurvivingJapan LIFESTYLE

A message of all foreigners living in Japan: From Mama Amia
A survival column to you in Japan–those working so hard, trying, sometimes succeeding and other times not–words of encouragement along with a strict “buck up” from your home-away-from-home mother-figure. Mama Amia shares everything from mental health survival tips to how to take out the trash. Come back to this column regularly for your virtual check-up. (Japanese readers welcome as well!) Today She is talking about “Life in Japan: Rules about that Bicycle”.

Life in Japan: Rules about that Bicycle

ルールの写真

A heart-to-heart chat today. I’m not scolding. I just want to raise something to the surface. You’ve already noticed this. We simply need to go on record and get it out there.

It’s not our fault. We’re not Japanese. This isn’t our country. So long as we’re here, we need to accept and deal with the fact Japan is country of rules. Big rules, small rules, company rules, school rules, social rules, cultural rules. It’s endless. And, they’re a big deal, and you’re expected to know them, and you’re expected to follow them. Saying to the police, for example, “I didn’t know” will not get you off the hook. Japanese police are not known for their generous spirit. I’ll cover some of these rules in later posts but today we need to talk about your bicycle.

自転車の写真

Assuming you have one, that is. I don’t. No way I’m going to be caught dead riding on the street or the sidewalk on a bicycle in Japan. That means, these are rules I’ve researched and/or been told of. There’s a lot of information online. Look it up. And, if you get really stumped, go to your police box. Ask politely what the rules are for registering your bicycle. Because, and here’s the rule, your bicycle must be registered.

The good news is if you’re buying a new bike the bike shop will do it for you. You have to pay but that’s the easiest route.

If you’re buying a used bike, from a friend for example, your friend has to cancel their registration and you need to re-register it under your name. If you don’t and you get stopped? If you get into an accident? If it gets confiscated because you parked illegally? Good luck. It’s on you for not knowing, and it’s on you for not registering. Again, we’re in a country of rules. The expectation to know these rules is on you. Is that fair? Yes. No. Life’s not fair. It’s best to accept this, deal with it, and move on. If you fight it you won’t win.

Re-registering your bike. Here’s what I found online. First off, the cost differs per city, ward, prefecture. In general, the information you’ll need to provide is the color, type, size (tires, especially), manufacturer of the bicycle; your name, address and whom you bought it from. You will also need ID and something in writing from the person from whom you bought it saying they do indeed give you permission to be the owner and that they’re transferring that ownership. You’ll get a sticker and that needs to go on the bicycle. In the end, it’s simply easiest to do this at the police station. Just go do it. Not doing it is far far far worse than doing it, even if you don’t want to, see why, think it’s stupid, or in general are feeling cantankerous.

駐輪禁止のサイン

IF you’ve parked your bike illegally and after you’ve had your dinner or meeting come out and see that it’s gone, you’ll also likely see something like this. You’ll need to go to this location identified on the sign (I’ve never seen a sign in multiple languages). You’ll need to take the cash, and you’ll need ID to show you’re you.

And lastly, motherly advice: Wear a helmet, don’t wear a helmet. Why you wouldn’t wear a helmet is beyond my ability to understand, as that’s going to hit the road (hard), a car (hard), and as it houses your brain, I’d think you’d want to protect it at all cost. Just putting it out there.

Be safe. Be smart. Helmets and registration. The latter is mandatory. The former? Be smart.

ママ・アミア(MAMA AMIA)

料理人・タレント。日本育ちのアメリカ人。18歳で渡米、通訳やコンサルティング業に従事する。2011年、東日本大震災を受けて退職し、陸前高田市にてボランティアを開始。7年にわたり数々のメディアを通して世界に被災地の情報発信を続ける。2014年には岩手県知事から表彰、2018年には在サンフランシスコ日本総領事館から総領事表彰を授与された。
別名「Pie Queen」。ハードなボランティア活動で心が疲弊していたある日、故郷の食べ物——バターと砂糖が焼けるパイの香りに癒やされることに気づき、パイの販売を始める。2019年より「ママ・アミア」の名で活動開始。日本在住外国人のママとして元気を発信中。相撲が大好き。
所属事務所Profile

Food consultant/Talent. American born and raised in Japan. Returned to the US at age 18 for university, and continued on as an interpreter and US-Japan consultant. Came back to Japan in 2011 to volunteer in the aftermath of the Tohoku disaster and stayed on in Rikuzentakata (Iwate Prefecture) for seven years. Raised funds, liaised with major international media outlets for coverage of the city and region. One of the primary sources of information on the disaster region for foreigners. Recognized and awared by the Governor of Iwate in 2014 and the Consul General of the Japanese Consulate of San Francisco in 2018 for the work and dedication to promoting awareness. Also known as the PieQueen. Found the scent of baked goods was both food for the soul as well as emotionally therapeutic, she began a business selling American-style pies. Working as Mama Amia as of 2019 promoting cooking and baking using traditional Japanese ingredients and offering advice to foreigners in Japan as "your mother in Tokyo". Big fan of sumo.