04/06/2026 JPBT Day 15 : Jitensha

Jitensha. I like that word.

In Japanese it means “self-revolving vehicle.” In English: “bicycle.”

I think nearly all of us have positive associations with this two-wheeled wonder, but I decided to look up the individual parts to see what they meant. In Japanese, “Bicycle” is written in Kanji, the characters derived from Chinese. Unlike the Katakana “loan words” (usually borrowed from English), this one has its own roots that go way back.

自転車 🚲

自 is “ji”, meaning “self.”
転 is “ten”, meaning turning or spinning.. like keeping life rolling.
車 is “sha” meaning “vehicle.”

I still get a small thrill whenever I see one of these marvelous machines. If it’s got fenders, and a grocery bag hanging off the back, I love it even more. My affection for bikes spreads across all modalities, but my favorite use is still for cargo or simple transportation.

On today’s ride, Janet and I got to wondering: is there a place on Earth where self propelled transport is the norm, not the exception? Some people might say, “I’m too old to ride to the store,” yet the helmet-less women here who look to be pushing 90 (years, not cadence) ride their bikes like it’s no big deal. They’re about the same speed as us.

After two weeks here, I have made a list of likes:

1. Peace and quiet
2. Politeness
3. Nature focus
4. Tiny vehicles that somehow fit everything
5. Small meals
6. Small, simple rooms where people sleep on the floor.

It seems like the common theme in these “likes” revolves around taking a smaller slice of the pie. I really like the “take/bring only what you need” aesthetic.

The only WTF is those heated toilet seats that stay warm 24/7…. When they only have to cradle à cold butt less than 1% of the time. Comfort is comfort, though, and I have to admit I’m now choosing my bathrooms like fine restaurants. I even told Janet that with a heated seat, I’m 50% more likely to seek a restroom than a quiet spot in the woods.

Now I just need to work on the smaller slice of the (food) pie part, because as much as I admire the small-meal culture, my supersized American appetite keeps nagging…