Japan's Motorcycle Wars
An Industry History
- Publisher
- UBC Press
- Initial publish date
- Jan 2009
- Subjects
- Automobile Industry, History, Motor Sports, General, Japan
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9780774858441
- Publish Date
- Jan 2009
- List Price
- $30.95
Library Ordering Options
Description
For decades the crown jewels of Japan’s postwar manufacturing industry, motorcycles remain one of Japan’s top exports. Japan’s Motorcycle Wars assesses the historical development and societal impact of the motorcycle industry, from the influence of motor sports on vehicle sales in the early 1900s to the postwar developments that led to the massive wave of motorization sweeping the Asia-Pacific region today.
Jeffrey Alexander brings a wealth of information to light, providing English translations of transcripts, industry publications, and company histories that have until now been available only in Japanese. By exploring the industry as a whole, he reveals that Japan’s motorcycle industry was characterized not by communitarian success but by misplaced loyalties, technical disasters, and brutal competition.
About the author
Contributor Notes
Jeffrey W. Alexander teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.