picture of the day

Balancing act

24 Comments

A ramen deliveryman rides a bicycle in Tokyo. These riders are so good at balancing the ramen bowls that they hardly spill a drop.

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24 Comments
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Isn't it illegal now? Carrying an umbrella is.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Hope not. That's not an umbrella. The physics of resting a tray is different and requires less effort than grasping a parachute-like umbrella that could exert enough vector force to unexpectedly offset balance.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Amazing !

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Ah! This was a typical street scene I used to see when I was a little kid in Tokyo. But I didn't think it's still being practiced in this modern age. And yet, it's one of good old memories.

Thank you for bringing me back to the good old days.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

What happens when there is a need to brake suddenly? Using only one brake is not going to cut it!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Looks more like 'don-mono' to me. I remember back in the days (probably even now but hardly see them), it was delivered on super cub with a gadget that hung the aluminum box in the back. It had three air spring that allowed the box to swing freely to keep it level.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Not only do they hardly ever spill a drop of ramen, they hardly ever crash into anyone!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Awesome picture, but extremely dangerous and illegal. Police should be fining the guy. Sorry, but even the slightest thing gets in this guy's path and not only the ramen goes bye-bye, but the guy most assuredly has an accident.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

They stretch superior Japanese Saran Wrap over the bowls before covering. Saran Wrap is ace here. Same stuff in America does not work.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

It's a great skill, but it's illegal to use an umbrella and a phone while riding a bicycle due to only having one hand to control the bike. Should y this be illegal too?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

if there going to enforce laws about using two hands while riding a bike, etc unbrella of holding a phone. This is no different, really he should be using a carrier on the back. But hey double standards abound in Japan so all is fine.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

He' probably delivering the ramen bowls to a KOBAN.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Amazing pic, but i have seem them crash more than once and i was not soup rised.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

shonanbb: "They stretch superior Japanese Saran Wrap over the bowls before covering. Saran Wrap is ace here. Same stuff in America does not work."

Not the usual stuff, no. Only the commercial stuff or very expensive (relatively speaking) stuff. The saran wrap you find in your average supermarket is no different than the crap elsewhere, and worse than the cling wrap in a lot of developed countries.

CrazyJoe: "He' probably delivering the ramen bowls to a KOBAN."

Haha. No doubt.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

I used to see that a lot, but have not for a long time. As others have said, this is very cool und skillful, but it all comes crashing down if there is an unexpected situation like sudden braking.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Should only be done for entertainment purposes only. Otherwise, it's just an unnecessary hazard in the making.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I disagree smith. I buy the stuff here called saran wrap and bring it back as gifts. People are amazed at the difference. I would agree with you if you said the in house brands. They are like America.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Totally illegal.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

No better solution in techo-paradise Japan? Really? I would think a self-balancing tray attached over or in place of the basket or bag carrier in back would be a snap.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Sassenach:

" No better solution in techo-paradise Japan? Really? I would think a self-balancing tray attached over or in place of the basket or bag carrier in back would be a snap. "

Apparently you don´t live in Japan, otherwise you would have seen the Cub scooters with their balanced tray contraption in the back. Those are standard today.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

shonanabb: "I buy the stuff here called saran wrap and bring it back as gifts."

I have three different kinds of saran wrap in my apartment, having bought new ones after the previous buy sucked. Everything I wrap, unless I basically wrap completely around the thing again and again, comes off without clinging. Got some cling wrap from CostCo and it works just fine. There are some that I've used in Japan that work just as fine if not better as well, but not the kinds at the local supermarket. Maybe they are the inhouse brands you mention, but they all say "saran wrap".

In any case, looked at the pic again and I noticed he's also riding on tires that are low on air -- another common illegality here. Whomever took the photo should show police and ask them to watch for the guy. Seriously. It's not just him he'd be hurting when he got in an accident, since the first thing he'd likely try to save is the ramen.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

I certainly hope he keeps delivering. What a talent. and I bet he knows how to beat traffic.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The Japanese are not complaining, why should you all...?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@ diuneahma,

Logic, reason and progress.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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