Motorcycles

Akira's iconic motorcycle races through Japan

Akira's iconic motorcycle races through Japan
A movie-accurate replica of the motorcycle from the classic film Akira recently toured Japan to raise money for charity
A movie-accurate replica of the motorcycle from the classic film Akira recently toured Japan to raise money for charity
View 22 Images
Recently the bike set out on a tour of Japan, starting at Tejima's own Showa Studio auto shop in Fukuoka
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Recently the bike set out on a tour of Japan, starting at Tejima's own Showa Studio auto shop in Fukuoka
Tejima even went the extra step and implemented a digital dashboard and working GPS navigator
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Tejima even went the extra step and implemented a digital dashboard and working GPS navigator
Tejima certainly made sure his motorcycle was as movie-accurate as possible, right down to a pill-shaped key for a hidden ignition switch
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Tejima certainly made sure his motorcycle was as movie-accurate as possible, right down to a pill-shaped key for a hidden ignition switch
Tejima made sure his motorcycle was as movie-accurate as possible, right down to a pill-shaped key for a hidden ignition switch
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Tejima made sure his motorcycle was as movie-accurate as possible, right down to a pill-shaped key for a hidden ignition switch
Tejima made sure his motorcycle was as movie-accurate as possible, right down to a pill-shaped key for a hidden ignition switch
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Tejima made sure his motorcycle was as movie-accurate as possible, right down to a pill-shaped key for a hidden ignition switch
Fans of the Akira have been drawn to some of its most memorable moments and visuals, particularly the futuristic motorcycle driven by one of the main characters
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Fans of the Akira have been drawn to some of its most memorable moments and visuals, particularly the futuristic motorcycle driven by one of the main characters
One fan even went so far as to devote several years to creating a working replica of the signature vehicle
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One fan even went so far as to devote several years to creating a working replica of the signature vehicle
A movie-accurate replica of the motorcycle from the classic film Akira recently toured Japan to raise money for charity
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A movie-accurate replica of the motorcycle from the classic film Akira recently toured Japan to raise money for charity
Tejima even donned a red leather outfit matching the main character's in the movie and toured Japan recently
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Tejima even donned a red leather outfit matching the main character's in the movie and toured Japan recently
The bike has become the only one officially recognized by Akira's creator and recently toured Japan to raise money for charity
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The bike has become the only one officially recognized by Akira's creator and recently toured Japan to raise money for charity
It took seven years and 10 million yen (about US$121,400) for Shinji Tejima to recreate the bike ridden by the film's protagonist
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It took seven years and 10 million yen (about US$121,400) for Shinji Tejima to recreate the bike ridden by the film's protagonist
The motorcycle has become the only replica officially recognized by Akira's creator
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The motorcycle has become the only replica officially recognized by Akira's creator
Tejima made stops in several Japanese cities in order to raise money for a children's autism support group
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Tejima made stops in several Japanese cities in order to raise money for a children's autism support group
Tejima even donned a red leather outfit matching the main character's in the movie and set out on a tour of Japan
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Tejima even donned a red leather outfit matching the main character's in the movie and set out on a tour of Japan
A movie-accurate replica of the motorcycle from the classic film Akira recently toured Japan to raise money for charity
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A movie-accurate replica of the motorcycle from the classic film Akira recently toured Japan to raise money for charity
The 1988 film Akira stands as a classic not just in Japanese animation, but in the entire post-apocalyptic film genre
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The 1988 film Akira stands as a classic not just in Japanese animation, but in the entire post-apocalyptic film genre
Tejima made stops in several Japanese cities in order to raise money for a children's autism support group
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Tejima made stops in several Japanese cities in order to raise money for a children's autism support group
Tejima made stops in several Japanese cities in order to raise money for a children's autism support group
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Tejima made stops in several Japanese cities in order to raise money for a children's autism support group
One Akira fan devoted several years to creating a working replica of the movie's signature vehicle
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One Akira fan devoted several years to creating a working replica of the movie's signature vehicle
A movie-accurate replica of the motorcycle from the classic film Akira recently toured Japan to raise money for charity
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A movie-accurate replica of the motorcycle from the classic film Akira recently toured Japan to raise money for charity
The bike is currently on display at the Katsuhiro Otomo GENGA Exhibition from now until May 30
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The bike is currently on display at the Katsuhiro Otomo GENGA Exhibition from now until May 30
Exhibition visitors can have their picture taken sitting on the bike among a post-apocalyptic backdrop
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Exhibition visitors can have their picture taken sitting on the bike among a post-apocalyptic backdrop
View gallery - 22 images

The 1988 film Akira stands as a classic not just in Japanese animation, but in the entire post-apocalyptic film genre. As such, fans of the film have been drawn to some of its most memorable moments and visuals, particularly the futuristic motorcycle driven by one of the main characters. One fan even went so far as to devote several years to creating a working replica of the signature vehicle, which has become the only one officially recognized by Akira's creator, and which recently toured Japan to raise money for charity.

It took seven years and 10 million yen (about US$121,000) for Shinji Tejima to recreate the bike ridden by the film's protagonist, but it was probably all worth it when the creator of the Akira manga and movie, Katsuhiro Otomo, deemed it the only officially recognized replica. Tejima certainly made sure his motorcycle was as movie-accurate as possible, right down to a pill-shaped key for a hidden ignition switch and stickers matching the ones from the movie. He even went the extra step and implemented a digital dashboard and working GPS navigator.

Tejima even went the extra step and implemented a digital dashboard and working GPS navigator
Tejima even went the extra step and implemented a digital dashboard and working GPS navigator

Recently, Tejima even donned a red leather outfit matching the main character's in the movie and set out on a tour of Japan, starting at his own Showa Studio auto shop in Fukuoka. He made stops in several Japanese cities in order to raise money for the Bokura Company, a children's autism support group, with his last stop being Tokyo for a special exhibition honoring Akira's creator.

Exhibition visitors can have their picture taken sitting on the bike among a post-apocalyptic backdrop
Exhibition visitors can have their picture taken sitting on the bike among a post-apocalyptic backdrop

The bike is currently on display at the Katsuhiro Otomo GENGA Exhibition from now until May 30, where visitors can have their picture taken sitting on it among a post-apocalyptic backdrop. Proceeds from the exhibition will support reconstruction in the Tohoku region following last year's earthquake and tsunami in the area.

Check out the video below to see how the bike drives, turning more than a few heads as it goes.

Source: Otomo-Gengate via Anime News Network

大友克洋GENGA展バイク走行 大阪

View gallery - 22 images
8 comments
8 comments
Mr Stiffy
Gotta love that big long properly fastened neck height wind shield........
Or should that be called "guillotine".
sascha.kremers
@ Stiffy. And I have nowhere to put my shopping bags either. Totally sucks!
I think you have to have VERY bad luck to get your throat into that windshield. There are much more dangerous windshields on motorcycles that are meant for every day transportation and not just for driving from exhibition to exhibition.
Mr Stiffy
@sascha.kremers
I copped a BMW windshield up underneath my ribs, tore all the muscles away...... took 3 years before I could sit up in bed.
Had to roll over onto the hands and knees and then go upright using the back muscles.
And the EDGE ON, "flat screen" this is aimed more squarely at the neck area - probably only take a 30Kmh head on crash to crush your trachea and jugular type veins....
Dawar Saify
You're frightening me stiffy.
Mr Stiffy
Go Youtube.
motorcycle crash test
motorcycle crash test dummies
People don't tend to go "up and over" the handlebars, they tend to squish and slide into and over things..... and the sharp pointy and unyielding things tend to slice, rip, tear or impale on the way through them.
The windscreen is bad - but the instrument console looks like a decapitator too.
Google (with or without quotes) "motorcycle decapitation pictures"
I think I will stick to walking in open fields.....
Gregg Eshelman
But does this one fold in the middle like the animated one in the movie? There's some replicas that do that.
BigGoofyGuy
I think it is way cool. It would be even cooler if it went into production (or a version similar to it that can be put into production). :)
d_sirius
He who risks nothing, does nothing. I'd ride it in a heartbeat, just like I'm going to continue motorcycling, kayaking and flying an experimental 40hp 300lb wood and fabric aircraft a friend of mine glued together 15 years ago.