Ride the Ninja, Wield the Katana: The Japanese-Named Motorcycles That Conquered the World

The Kawasaki GPZ900R, released in 1984. In the United States, it was sold under the name “Ninja.” Notably, Tom Cruise rode this motorcycle in the movie Top Gun. Photograph taken on October 25, 2023, at the Japan Mobility Show 2023. (© Ōya Yūichi)

Kawasaki’s Ninja ZX-10R ABS has achieved notable success in the Superbike World Championship, the highest level of road racing for mass-market vehicles. Photograph taken on October 28, 2015, at the Tokyo Motor Show 2015. (© Ōya Yūichi)

Suzuki’s GSX1100S Katana, released in 1981. (Courtesy Suzuki Motor)

The Suzuki Katana, based on the design of the original GSX1100S Katana. Photograph taken on October 23, 2019, at the Tokyo Motor Show 2019. (© Ōya Yūichi)

The 1999 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa was followed by the Hayabusa 1300 in 2008, which featured an engine upgrade from 1,299 cc to 1,340 cc. Photograph taken on November 27, 2013, at the Tokyo Motor Show 2013. (© Ōya Yūichi)

The final model by Meguro Manufacturing was the Kawasaki 250 Meguro SG, built at Kawasaki’s Akashi factory in Hyōgo Prefecture and first released in 1964. “Meguro” was removed from the name the following year. Photograph taken on October 25, 2023, at the Japan Mobility Show 2023. (© Ōya Yūichi)

The Meguro S1 was announced in 2024 as the official successor of the Kawasaki 250 Meguro SG. Its chrome-plated fuel tank and elegantly colored emblem masterfully re-create the atmosphere of 1964. Photograph taken on October 25, 2023, at the Japan Mobility Show 2023. (© Ōya Yūichi)