What's this? Book review of Cycling Japan.

Impressions: What's this book doing here, you may ask. Although the subject matter is not directly related to photography, it is connected indirectly since you can take many good photos while bicycling in Japan. (Right?) Actually, I was one of the writers of this book and that's the real reason why I have included it.

The book might be a little dated, but most of the roads still exist. I wrote about cycling around Tokyo's waterfront (Odaiba, Yumenoshima, Wakasu, and Kasai Rinkai Park), Tokyo's cycling paths along the Arakawa and Edogawa Rivers, and the San'in Coast (Fukui, Tottori, Shimane Pref.). The sections are respectively titled, "Paradise on Garbage," "River Rides," and "Cyclin' the San'in." I wrote "Paradise on Garbage" just when the Rainbow Bridge was going to open. I called the bridge's administrator and asked whether the new bridge would allow bicycles. I didn't get a clear answer but was led to believe that it would be permitted (after all, pedestrians would be able to cross). Unfortunately, it turns out that bicycles are not allowed so a correction may be necessary in the book.

The editor of the book was Bryan Harrell who had founded a cycling club in Tokyo. He had been issuing a cycling newsletter in English called Oikaze and the book is a compilation of newsletter articles. (The club and newsletter are now history.) By the way, I don't get any royalties from the book. Any royalties would be very small since it would have to be divided among 20 or so writers. The royalties went to the cycling club. (Reviewed by Philbert Ono)