80年代まで日本自転車産業は国内完結の生産構造であった。90年代以降, 部材と完成品の物的生産の場は中国となり, 国内販売のほとんどが輸入車になった。企画開発から中国立地企業群が担えば, 日本自転車産業は消滅したことになる。本稿では, 事例調査により日本市場向けの自転車の製品開発の担い手が, 今や, 国内の大規模小売店や卸企業であることを見いだし, 日本での産業存続を確認した。これを可能としたのは, 日本自転車市場の独自性と大きさにあることも解明した。
Until the 1980s, the Japanese bicycle industry had a domestically self-contained manufacturing structure. 
Since the 1990's, the physical production of materials and finished products predominantly came from China as domestic sales were dominated by imported bicycles. 
If Chinese local industry groups are assigned the entire production process beginning with development and planning, the Japanese bicycle industry will go extinct. 
In this study, through a case study investigation, I find that large domestic retail and wholesale companies are currently responsible for product development for the Japanese market, confirming the survival of the industry in Japan. 
Furthermore, the explanation allowing for its survival can be found in the size and uniqueness of the Japanese bicycle market.

論説