Jinrikisha
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The Jinrikisha ("man-powered-vehicle"), called a rickshaw in English, is a
two-wheeled, hooded carriage pulled by one man. Having made its debut in
Japan in 1869, it rapidly replaced the kago (see above) as an upperclass
means of transportation and was widely used until 1945. The fare varied
according to the steepness of the terrain. In Osaka city in 1901 the fare
for five cho (545m) was 3 sen 3 rin. At the same date, one sho (1.5kg) of
rice cost 12 sen. In 1970, a few jinrikisha are still seen -as a conveyance
for geisha or as a tourist attraction.
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