I have heard that the Japanese authorities treat the "gajin" (I think that's the term) with a different set of standards than Japanese citizens, but I don't know.
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Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?), 1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"