Interest

Akira's Kaneda Bike Goes on Road Trip Throughout Japan

The only officially recognized replica of Shotaro Kaneda's motorcycle from Katsuhiro Ōtomo's Akira manga and film is currently traveling across Japan. Shinji Tejima from the Showa Studio automobile repair shop spent seven years and approximately 10 million yen (about US$121,400) to build the motorcycle, and he is riding it across Japan to raise money for the children's autism support group Bokura Company. Tejima started his journey in Fukuoka where he lives and is traveling south and has stopped in various cities such as Osaka, Nagoya, and on Shōdo Island.

Tejima will also display the motorcycle at the "Katsuhiro Ōtomo GENGA Exhibition" in Tokyo, which is being held from April 9 to May 30. Visitors to the exhibition will be able have their picture taken while sitting on the bike. The exhibition itself is being held to raise money to support the reconstruction efforts in the Tohoku region after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.

The exhibition's official YouTube channel is posting videos of the bike in the different cities as it travels across the country:

In Fukuoka

In Shikoku

At Kobe Harbor

In Osaka

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Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news tip.

Sources: Shikoku News, Katsuhiro Otomo GENGA Exhibition