Dekochari

thumb|thumbtime=1|A dekochari in Japan, 2014 The {{nihongo|'''Dekochari''' or '''decoration charinko'''|デコチャリ or デコレーション・チャリンコ|dekochari ''or'' dekorēshon charinko}} is a form of art bike indigenous to Japan dating back to the mid-1970s. "Deko" in Japanese is short for "decoration" and "chari" is slang for "bike". The ''dekochari'' was a response by children to the Dekotora ("tora" is short for "truck") craze which swept Japan after a series of movies called ''Truck Yaro'' was released. These movies featured giant trucks decked out in chrome and flashy lights.

Unable to drive the giant chrome-plated flashing trucks they coveted, children instead built plywood boxes around their bikes and attached chrome plating and lights. Almost all current Dekocharis have elaborate light displays and many include hi-fi audio systems and cup-holders.

There are currently several dekochari bike gangs in Japan, including the All Japan Hishyomaru fleet, the All Japan DC Club Ryumaki and the All Japan Kyokugenmaru Gang.

== See also == * Outline of cycling * Art bike * Decotora trucks * Itasha cars

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060217190911/http://ittousei7.hp.infoseek.co.jp/ Art Bicycle Factory] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20181105023619/http://www.geocities.jp/every_hisyoumaru/ Hishyomaru Dekochari Gang] * [http://www37.tok2.com/home2/dekotyari/ All Japan DC Club Ryuumaki] * [http://sukikan639.fc2web.com/ Hokkaido Sukikan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524105443/http://sukikan639.fc2web.com/ |date=2019-05-24 }}

Category:Cycle types Category:Decorated vehicles

{{japan-culture-stub}} {{cycling-stub}} Category:Cycling in Japan Category:Japanese art