Learning to ride a Segue Human Transporter in Tsukuba

I cant remember exactly when it was, but it must have been more than a decade ago when there were rumors of a new invention, soon to be revealed, which would radically tranform the way we all lived.  When I finally DID find out what this contraption was, a silly sort of battery-powered scooter upon which the rider stands upright, I could not help but feel GREATLY LET DOWN ( and I guess that MOST people felt the same way), and in all the years since I had only seen this environmentally friendly machine ONCE- at Narita Airport being ridden by a patrolling security guard.

Once, until TODAY, when I saw three or four SEGUE Human Transporters ( as these vehicles have been dubbed), which have been lent by Segue Japan to Tsukuba City for a special event focusing on CLEAN ENERGY! 

That means that YOU, or anyone else with the gumption to try riding one of these crazy machines ( as you have probably heard the man who had bought the company from its original owner died after falling off a cliff while riding his Segue), can give it a try- completely free of charge!

To assist you in getting the hang of it, several Tsukuba university students, who have been trained by the Segue company, will  be there, as instructors.

You will be able to take advantage of this opportunity through February 16th, from 10AM to 4 PM- at the building in the middle of the pond, just across from Tsukuba`s Expo Center.  

While there, you can also try riding a battery powered bicycle. While waiting for your turn you can soak your feet in the warmth of a solar- powered foot bath.

I gave the Segue a try myself, and I must say that I enjoyed it alot. It IS quite amazing! You can learn the basics in a couple of minutes and then can guide the scooter with the merest shifting of your weight.

It will not revolutionize society, but it sure is fun.

Getting the hang of it!

 Those of you who tried the Segue today (Feb. 13th 2011), or were just enjoying a stroll through Tsukuba`s Central Park, were in for an EXTRA treat- The Cosplay Festival- which was held a mere 100 meters away from the Green Living Event!

Dozens of young men and women ( and some not so very young) were dressed up as their favorite ANIME or game characters! What did they do? Well, nothing much- just alot of preening and posing before the cameras. Yes, there were plenty of eager photographers ( professional, or at least with professional looking equipment!) shooting away. It seemed as if some were even paying money for the Cosplayers to pose.

I found out the hard way that you had better ask for permission before taking pictures at such events. As I was taking a couple of candid shots ( with my cell phone), three girls came over to scold me for my poor manners. Then again, by being so authoritarian they might have just been getting into their characters- they were dressed as Nazis! 

Cos-Play in Tsukuba`s Central Park- right in front of the library ( Feb. 13th 2011)

It was all quite bizzarre! A conversation that I overheard between a 40- ish Japanese couple sums it up. Shocked by the scene of so many photographers snapping away at the Cosplayers, the wife disapporvingly said- Why are they paying them so much attention? Why are they taking pictures?

Her husband cooly responded:  Its....... CULTURE.

And what brings all this culture to Tsukuba? The Tsukuba Express! Yes, train-lines, like rivers of old, are conduits of culture- and now brainy, bookish conservative Tsukuba is linked directly to Akihabara- the OTAKU Capital of Japan!

TX has brought the commuters, the Mt.Tsukuba Day-Hikers, and now the Cos-players!

But sorry, if you werent there today, you will probably have to wait a while before before such a scene at Chuo Koen ( Tsukuba`s Central Park) 

More Cos-Play in Tsukuba

For more about the Segue:

http://www.answers.com/topic/segway

One of the many Cos-Players around the pond at Tsukuba`s Chuo-Koen Park (Feb. 13th 2011)

8 Comments

• At February 14, 2011, Mamoru Shimizu wrote:

  That transporter is very strange as a human-transporting machine, I agree with Avi-san . It looks like it would be much easier to use 3 or 4 wheels-battery-powered vehicles like those which already are used by the elderly in Japan.

  But now I can understand from this article there is an appropriate area for using this funny transporter. In a wide open crowded area like an airport, for those like security-persons or the like to patrol it might be suitable, because it could give its rider a higher view, even higher than the mounted police! Without dung-dropping or exhaust gas, it is very clean and much to maintain!! For this purpose I recommend standing place of this vehicle should at least 30cm high. Then one can get a distant view like Giant or someone on stilts. With a showy dress like cos-play.

  My interest turns toward much more towards the “ Robot suit ”HAL” which assists human movement of the arms, hands, legs by using a motor with a very sophisticated mechanism. They say a show about this one will be held near Kenkyu-Gakuen station 16th Feb.

  Cos-Play-Festival! Near Akihabara-Station, dancing or stop-walking have been prohibited after recovery of Hokosya-Tenngoku (Heaven for pedestrians) as an effect of that awful indiscriminate killing two years ago. So those Cos-Players and people who want to take photographs in Tsukuba might be refugees? For them Tsukuba center should be very attractive place! It is wide open and clean,can dance or sing also there they can expect many queer spectators (like researchers) who like queer or originally invented things.Otakus too.

  I agreed it is Japanese culture to put on costume quite different of one’s being like Kabuki-Players,Takarazuka-Girls,New-Half-Dancers,Berusaiyu-no-bara-players(Famous comic for girls, Rose in Versailles palace), even the Samurai warrior wore very gorgeous colorful clothes and armors to compare everyday life.

  Japanese have not needed to be caring about religious authorities when they put on clothes not like people of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, or Communism, except during WWⅡ.

  It could be thought somehow symbol of free expression of oneself and peace Japan enjoyed recent 65 years beside violent demonstration of 1960s. Some young people don’t know Nazis nor such the fact Japan fought ABCD countries during WWⅡ. They don’t mind other than their own environment which effect directly. But they can get information easy if they want, this is very important aspect in East Asia.

• At February 15, 2011, Avi Landau wrote:

  Mamoru-San, I agree with you very much about DRESSING UP in Japan. If one could say that there is one or more particular GENIUS to a particualr people or culture, maybe overall, looking at its entire history. I guess we could say that FASHION and dressing up have always been one of Japan most brilliant features.

  When I first started reading Japanese classical texts, The Tale of Genji ( Genji Monogatari) for example, one thing that really stood out for me, was the constant and detailed reference to what each character was wearing.

  Walking around Japan itself, especially Tokyo, but really anywhere in the country, one can always spot some people with their own unique and very creative way of dressing-

  and just look at how many Japanese are among the most successful fashion designers in the world!

  In the case of Cos-Play, we surely have an interesting cultural, sociological, or even ANTHRPOLOGICAL phenomenon!

  In a country where finding your own GROUP can be very important, we can see more and more people finding place and comfort by BECOMING ANIME CHARACTERS! I guess this can sometimes be easier than being ONESELF.

  To tell the truth, growing up in New York, I might have witnessed the true birth of Cos-Play.

  Back in the 1980`s there was a movie, which had not been successful during its first run but which became hugely popular, a so-called cult-movie, as a regular MIDNIGHT FEATURE which played at certain theaters. The film is called the Rocky Horror Picture Show ( you can rent it in Tsukuba).

  Near my family`s apartment in The Village, was a theater which was probably the most famous place to see the show.

  It was quite amazing.

  Many in the audience would dress up as their favorite

  characters ( or the ones which they could resemble most).

  Then as the movie played, some of the cos-players would actually stand up in front of the screen and perform along with the movie- moving with the on screen characters motion by motion!

  An unforgattable scene!

  And getting back to freedom in fashion.

  I agree with you, that NOW Japan is one of the FREE-EST places that the earth has ever known.

  In past ages, howeverm dress was extremely restricted.

  One reason why you can find just as many refrences to WEAR in The Heike Monogatari, a tale of war, as in the Tale of Genji, is the fact that certain colors and style were worn by persons of specific ranks.

  There had always been restriction on color, material, and design, which related to the very detailed system of social ranking which existed in Japan.

  During the Tokugawa Period the austerity orders restricted the populance from wearing SHOWY ( HADE, 派手) clothes.

  That is why YUUKI TSUMUGI, the famous type of textile produced in Ibaraki Prefecture`s Yuki City is so famously subdued ( JIMI).

• At February 15, 2011, Mamoru Shimizu wrote:

  I agree Avi-san that Japanese have been so called group-oriented, it was said Japanese people were relay depended on cultivation-agriculture especially Rice-production using water. To use water there need much cooperation with other people of using same water resource. They were not like people of nomadic nor animal husbandry-agriculture life where they rely mostly on themselves. Those people were more dependant or accustomed individual-decision making. I have learned so and think so now. This aspect is not so simple like you wrote but easily understand the difference.

  Tokugawa-Era Tokugawa Government sometime forbid to wear certain gaudy clothes because when people became rich(especially merchant class) and had worn such gaudy clothes then government prohibited to consider feeling of peasant who had spent subdued life, even their official class-rank were higher to compare merchant class. Also it was warning to Samurai-class mostly their Domain had been near Bankruptcy. A few Japanese people were tending to wear gaudy clothes if they can afford. So modest person like Ryoukan-san, load Uesugi-Yozan,Ninomiya-Sontoku have been intentionally praised.

  I remind famous singer Kobayashi-Sachiko’s clothes in Kohaku-Utagassens especially at 31/Dec. last year. I could not close my mouse even I forced to close. To compare her gaudiness Marilyn Monroe in “Gentlemen like Blonde” or Cos-play girls in Akihabara were nothing!?

• At February 15, 2011, Alice wrote:

  I saw the SEGUE Human Transformer on TV and a TV reporter trying it out. I wouldn't ride it near a cliff! It's insane!

  Yeah, nowadays those dress-up youngsters in Harajuku doesn't like their photos being taken. This 'culture' has also spread to other countries like Malaysia.

• At February 15, 2011, Avi Landau wrote:

  Hi Alice! Could you tell us more about Cos-Play in Malaysia? Do those into it dress as Japanese ANIME characters? Im very interested.

• At February 16, 2011, Alice wrote:

  Avi,

  Cosplay is "Made in Japan!"

  Here are a few articles on cosplay in Malaysia :

  http://ecentral.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/17/tvnradio/1791923&sec=tvnradio

  http://rage.com.my/writeups/story.asp?file=/2010/12/22/otakuzone/20101221173549&sec=otakuzone

  http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?sec=sarawak&file=/2010/11/17/sarawak/7440619

  http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2010/8/7/lifefocus/6752756&sec=lifefocus

• At February 18, 2011, Keiko wrote:

  Riding the segue was easier than I expected and also very fun. The staff told me that in Japan there is no permission for people to ride segue on roads or sidewalks. If there is permission by law in the future, maybe many people will use segue in Tsukuba. The pedestrian walkingway woulld be a convenient place to ride segues.

  Thank you for the information

• At February 20, 2011, midori wrote:

  Hi Avi

  This happened a little while ago but…

  I also experienced riding the Segway.

  At first it was scary but I enjoyed very much and was able to go fast and get used to the speed.

  I thought that it is also quite good fun in addition to being eco.

  I was sorry we could not see the costumes.

In response to rapidly increasing social demands to restrict smoking, East Japan Railway Company (JR East) has decided to make all Shinkansen trains and Limited Express trains operating only within JR East territory entirely no-smoking. With this change, additional smoking rooms will be provided on the platforms at major Shinkansen stations and conventional line stations where Limited Express trains stop.

Read the English press release from June 6, 2006.

In the press release, it says that this new rule is to take effect "in Spring 2007". This Japanese press release says that the date was set for March 18, 2007.

I wonder if they will be doing anything to get the stinky smell out of the smoking cars or if they will just wait until they need to be replaced.

My experience shows that this route has less traffic and fewer signals and it is easier to speed. It takes approximately 45-60 minutes to get to Narita on this route.

Download a kmz file for Google Earth

You can enjoy a tour of the route by clicking on "Tools" > "Play tour".

The trick is to minimize your time on Route 408 as much as possible. The above route follows Route 408 after entering Chiba Prefecture, but I believe this part can be improved. Once I encountered a very slow, huge trailer three cars ahead of me carrying a very big part of something. It almost made me late for my flight that time.

I welcome other recommendations, impressions, and feedback. Let's develop a faster route to Narita!

3 Comments

• At March 13, 2007, Anonymous wrote:

  You can keep road 11, turn right to 79, turn right to 44 and come almost to the airport

• At March 14, 2007, Prima Cabina wrote:

  Oh, that would be better than route 408.

  Fortunately, I usually use a parking service among the prefectural route 44.

  I would like to try your route next time.

  Thanks.

  Actually, there is another option for passing through Ushiku city.

  If you go straight from Hitachino-Ushiku station and turn left at the corner of Kasumi supermarket and connect to prefectural route 48, you can completely avoid the route 408 with Anounymous' suggestion in Chiba prefecture!

• At November 26, 2007, TsukuBlog » Parking at Narita wrote:

  [...] you have made your reservation, you might want to have a look at Prima Cabina’s empirically determined faster route from Tsukuba to Narita. Related [...]

• Tsukuba Express
  If everything is ok, it will say 「平常通り運行しております」.
• Tokyo Metro
  If everything is okay, it will say 「現在、平常どおり運転しています」. If there is something wrong, it will be written in red. The lines are written in this order: Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya, Tozai, Chiyoda, Yurakucho, Hanzomon, Nanboku. 一部直通運転中止 means some trains are not running.
• JR East
  • Tohoku Area
  • Kanto Area (Tsukuba is in this area)
  • Shinetsu Area
  • Shinkansen
  • Long-Distance Buses

  If everything is okay, it will say 「現在、平常通り運転しています。」. Possible problems: 遅延 = delayed, 運転見合わせ = waiting for a decision, 一部運休 = some trains are not running, 運休 = trains are not running

November 5: Around Area 1 (in front of the student plaza)
November 8: In front of Hirasuna dorms
November 9: In front of Ichinoya dorms

The purpose of these events is to educate people about using bicycle lights at night. People will be handing out flyers and calling out to cyclists with megaphones.

My battery died today and I needed a boost. I don't have any jumper cables in my car, so I thought I would try going to a gas station to see if they could lend me a set. I went to the Eneos just across from Andersen and they were able to lend me the cables for a 2000 yen deposit plus some ID. When I returned the cables, I got my ID and deposit back.

So, if you are ever in the same situation, try to get yourself to the closest gas station to see if you can borrow the cables. Or, if you can't find a gas station, call your insurance provider to find out if you have road-side assistance as part of your coverage. Finally, if you have 4000 yen to spare, consider joining the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), so you will always have someone to call when you run into problems like this.

Tsukuba to Narita Airport Bus Schedule

Tsukuba to Narita Airport Bus Schedule (after November 20, 2008)

Please keep in mind that the bus schedule is subject to change, so keep an eye on the Japanese page for the updated schedules.

3 Comments

• At October 30, 2008, Prima Cabina wrote:

  Great job!

  Bus companies in this area haven't internationalized yet. It's a shame...

• At October 30, 2008, Shaney wrote:

  Thank you, Prima Cabina! Yes, it is a shame. It's especially annoying because they used to have the schedule available in English and now they don't. It's the opposite of progress!

• At November 26, 2008, TsukuBlog » Getting to Narita from Tsukuba in the Early Morning wrote:

  [...] is a fairly convenient bus service that runs between Tsukuba and Narita airport, but it doesn’t run in the early morning or late at night. For example, the earliest bus [...]

The sign is prominently displayed in the window of Motoshop Wildcats, a motorcycle shop in the north of Tsukuba. The shop's owner is Osamu, an expert in all things related to motorcycles -- and more than happy to serve his customers in fluent English!

The shop is located at Ozone 114-4. Take Nishi Odori north all the way to where it meets Higashi Odori (McDonald's will be on your right). Keep going north for about a minute or two. You will see the shop on your left.

Osamu's shop sells motorcycles and scooters. Also, one of my friends says that he is an excellent mechanic and that he can help people get their vehicles insured.

I think it is really important for the international community in Tsukuba to support businesses that welcome foreign clients. Feel free to give him a call at 029-864-7233 if you are thinking of buying a motorcycle or scooter, or if you need some advice about the one you already own.

The closest car auction to Tsukuba is called "Car Auction Tsukuba" (CAT) and it is held in Tsuchiura (Nakamura Nishine 1111) on Fridays. (It's quite common for events and sites in places around Tsukuba (but not actually in Tsukuba) to use the Tsukuba name, I guess because it is well-known and has good associations.)

Read more about car auctions.

I have never bought a car this way, so I can't offer any advice. I wonder if any Tsukuba residents might be able to tell us about their experiences?