Japanese student and bicycle enthusiast Hiroto has merged traditional Japanese craftwork with bicycle-making to create what he calls a wa-modern bicycle. Borrowing both the technique and naming of Japan’s traditional wooden latticework, Hiroto is calling his piece “Kitsure.”
As a student studying bicycle design, Hiroto built his bicycle from scratch and it’s part of his graduating senior thesis exhibition. A detachable wooden window frame serves as a visual anchor, whose geometric form remains consistent throughout the entire bike. A lush, metallic frame, reminiscent of lacquerware, balances the wood nicely.
Hiroto is a student at the Tokyo College of Cycle Design, the first bicycle design school in all of Asia. The school offers 2 and 3-year programs that teach everything from basic product design and frame building to maintenance techniques with the objective of inspiring a new generation of “Bicycle Creators.”
This year’s senior thesis exhibition will be held at Spiral in Tokyo from March 1 – 3, 2020. Hiroto’s bicycle, as well as a large collection of other creative bicycles, will be on display.
Around this time of year we often feature some of our favorite student work from the thesis exhibitions of Japanese art and design universities. You can find all our previous posts here.
