16th Monkey Meeting in Tama
On April 28, 2024, the 16th Monkey Meeting in Tama, a gathering of Monkey fans, was held at Tokyo Summerland in Akiruno City, Tokyo. This event has been held once a year since the inaugural event at Tama Tech in 2005, as a gathering of Monkey fans. This year, 492 Monkeys, and 507 riders and fans gathered to share their love of the Monkey series.
On arrival, visitors first stop their engines and walk to the reception desk. These two participants, who came to the event on Monkey 125s, traveled 150 km.
The event was filled with participants proudly showing their Monkeys.
A test-ride event for Class 2 moped models was held in cooperation with Honda Motorcycle Japan. Four of the latest models including the Monkey 125, CT125, and Hunter Cub could be ridden.
A group of Monkey 125 riders participated.
First generation Monkey still going strong.
Family participates on 50-year-old Z50Js
Impressive group of parked Monkey Rs
The Bike Forum, a regular feature of the Monkey Meeting, is attended by a variety of guests who introduce the appeal and history of the Monkey. This year, Sotaro Inoue, president of Inoue Boring, a company that develops hydrogen-fueled motorcycles, took the stage to talk about the future of the internal combustion engine. For over 20 years, Inoue has been developing and improving technology to power existing 2-stroke engines using hydrogen, as the ultimate economy engine. Inoue stressed, “In order to stop global warming, EVs and fuel cells need to improve, but the possibilities of hydrogen are expanding, so I am very much looking forward to the challenge.”
Inoue demonstrates a hydrogen engine bike.
Prizes and the popularity vote by participants are also a regular event at the Monkey Meeting.
The award for the furthest participant went to a Monkey-owner from Hokkaido.
There is also a ladies’ award.
The oldest Monkey award went to a true Monkey collector, with extremely rare models: the pre-Monkey Z100, CZ100, and the Z50M.
In the awarding of the popularity vote by the participants, winners talked about the features of their modified Monkeys.
Since the introduction of the Monkey 125 in 2018, the Monkey Meeting has attracted more and more fans, riding to participate in the event. The variety and scope of the meeting, from 60+ year-old Monkeys to the latest 125s, is a fascinating event to participate in.
Before the Monkey Meeting was held at Tokyo Summerland
The Monkey (Z100) was created as an amusement park ride at Leisure Land Tama Tech, a motor sports facility and amusement park that opened in Hino-cho, Minamitama-gun (now Hino-shi), Tokyo in 1961.
Tama Tech and Monkey (Z100) in 1961
Tama Tech was a popular amusement park where visitors could experience the joy of mobility by riding various vehicles powered by Honda engines, and was also the home of the Monkey. The Monkey Meeting, a gathering of Monkey fans, began at Tama Tech in 2005.
2006 2nd Monkey Meeting
Talk sessions on stage introduced the history of the Monkey and Tama Tech. In this 2006 photograph, former racing driver Kunimitsu Takahashi and former motorcycle racer and racing driver Masahiro Hasemi appear on stage. Both were fans of Tama Tech and the Monkey.
Tama Tech entrance (2006)
Tama Tech was loved for many years, but was unfortunately closed in September 2009. Due to strong demand from Monkey fans, however, the Monkey Meeting management office searched for a new venue. Tokyo Summerland, a popular leisure facility in the same Tama region, has a history similar to Tama Tech, starting out as a motor sports facility. Because of this connection, the event has been held at Tokyo Summerland since 2010.