あらすじ
Forged for Speed: The Rise of Japan’s Motorcycle Industry leads you on a thrilling journey through the birth and meteoric growth of Japan’s motorcycle industry.
From the earliest bicycles to today’s global prominence of Japanese brands, this book reveals how engineering brilliance, relentless experimentation, and daring competition fueled a nation’s passion for two-wheeled speed.
Drawing from extensive historical and technical sources, it shows how modest workshops evolved into giants like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki.
Chapter I (Origins of Motorcycles) explores early bicycle and engine milestones, including steam-powered “bicycles” and the breakthroughs that enabled mass-produced motorcycles.
Chapter II (Prewar History) spotlights pioneers like Narazo Shimazu, whose resourcefulness sparked domestic manufacturing and set the stage for postwar growth.
Chapter III (Postwar Industrialization) details how resilience and ingenuity created a dynamic production network, from repurposed military gear to bustling local hubs in Nagoya and Hamamatsu, before Kawasaki joined the global race.
Chapter IV (Establishing Japan’s Motorcycle Technology) shows how early imitations evolved into bold innovations, from practical mopeds to pioneering prototypes.
Chapter V (Racing and Technical Advancements) focuses on the motorsport crucible-from local events to the famed Isle of Man TT-where visionaries like Soichiro Honda crafted winning machines.
Chapter VI (Conquering the World Market) describes how Japanese makers soared on the world stage, redefining performance and reliability for avid fans across Europe and the Americas.
Chapter VII (Large-Displacement Motorcycles and the Western Expansion) covers the era of bigger bikes, featuring groundbreaking models like Honda’s CB750FOUR and Kawasaki’s 900SUPER4 (Z1), which reshaped global consumer tastes.
Complete with references, a museum guide, and a timeline of key models, Forged for Speed is essential reading for historians, motorcycle buffs, and anyone intrigued by how an industry can transform a nation’s global identity.
Dive in to witness how Japanese motorcycle makers went from humble workshops to dominating world circuits, forever changing modern motoring in the process.
