Number of motorcycles in use in Japan 2006-2023
As of March 31, 2023, Japan recorded approximately 10.3 million motorcycles in use, down from roughly 11.69 million in 2014. The development over the past decade indicates a slow, yet consistent, decrease in motorcycles owned.
The Japanese motorcycle landscape
The Big Four — Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Kawasaki — dominate the domestic motorcycle market, splitting the lion’s share of bike sales between them. Among Japanese motorcycle owners, there is a strong preference for lighter machines with a cylinder capacity of up to 125cc. On the other hand, most larger domestically produced bikes are export products for motorcycle dealers abroad.
Road safety for motorcyclists in Japan
The number of motorcycle accidents in Japan had recently increased for the second time, but was overall on a declining trend, corresponding to the downwards trend of road traffic accidents in the country. An amendment of the country’s Road Traffic Act, implemented in mid-2020, imposed more severe penalties for aggressive driving and road rage. Under the revised law, obstructive driving and malicious behavior on the road are now punishable, even in the absence of accidents.
