The History
The Bullet Train, Shibuya Crossing, Godzilla… We’re sure you’ve heard of some if not all of these famous Japanese icons, but what about the “Bosozoku” (pronounced bo-o so-o zoku)? - They’re the 16-20 year old anti-establishment rebellious youth “gangsters” subculture that had the idea of stealing “Tsurikawa” off public transport.
Why?
There was a huge standoff between the Bosozoku and Police. Gang members decided to make a stand against the authorities, whilst also rebelling against society. In doing this, they chose to steal Tsurikawa from public transport, hang them off the back of their vehicles, dragging them along the road surface with the hope of destroying them. Essentially the Bosozoku stole and used Tsurikawa to say F-you to authorities and society in general.
What were they supposed to be used for?
Tsurikawa - Tsuri (吊) - meaning to “hang”, and Kawa (革) - which translates as “leather”, these were the standing room only handles that adorned many forms of public transport, installed to allow passengers to hang onto and stop them from falling over when in motion.
Now there’s more than just the one name used to describe these famous rings and straps… Some call them “Tsuriwa” - hanging “ring” (wa), and the transport authorities refer to them nowadays as “Tsurite” - hanging “hand” (te).
Why do people still hang them now?
Unlike the Yo-yo, they simply haven’t gone out of fashion. They’re a sign of rebellion, and since their adopted use began, JDM fans have continued to adorn their rides with Tsurikawa as an expression of the freedom they represent. These-days you’ll find Tsurikawa rings made from Plastic, Bamboo, Hardwood and Resin, most commonly with a strap made from Polyester, Nylon or Leather (a material the Japanese banned the use of during WW2).
Why did we redesign the (Tsurika)Wa [again]?
Tsurikawa design has evolved many times over the years, starting with the leather strap ban during WW2, and the 1950’s influence from Plastics with their increasing use in manufacturing brining the second change. Glitter versions started appearing in the 1980’s, and were the “in thing” among Zokusha (Lowered car) drivers - even today!