Japanese built bikes

PeteinSQ

What brands of bicycle are still built in Japan?

GyatsoLa

I doubt very much if any major brands are still made there, that kind of work has long ago been offshored to China or Taiwan. As usual, Sheldon Brown has information on this:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/japan.htm

Louis Garneau bikes are very popular in Japan - I believe that the name (its a Canadian company) is licensed to a Japanese company, but I don't know where they are made.

Dunno if this counts, but I think some Thorn Ravens are made using Japanese tubing.

Anonymous

Toray, who make the carbon fibre for many brands, Pinarello for one, are Japanese (although the Pinarello frames are assembled in China.)

andyp

If you go and have a look in this thread on the Track forum, Tomity lists all the Japanese framebuilders currently holding NJS accreditation;

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12597007

The list starts on page 2 I think.

Monty Dog

There are some great Japanese frame builders as AndyP say, just be prepared to be sitting down when you see the prices. I visited a top-end bike shop in Japan once and the prices were eye-watering!

GyatsoLa

There are two Japanese frame builders listed on the sandsmachine website:

http://www.sandsmachine.com/fbplist.htm

acorn_user

Panasonic would be the obvious one. There are a couple of blogs where you can order their frames. I think one is along the lines of pisto poseur. They run about 1000$ for a Keirin frame.