Cars, trucks, the odd tractor…yes, but it’s not everyday you see a rickshaw on the Hume Highway, or in a sleepy country town for that matter.
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Four friends from Tokyo have caused many double-takes as they have travelled with their rickshaw through southern NSW, but having pulled it through eight other countries they’re used to sideways glances.
Photographer Tom Denahy said he first noticed the peculiar sight of Yuji Suzuki, 28, Mayu Oki 21, Riku Matsumara, 22, and Seki Atsuyoshi, 26, and their rickshaw two weeks ago in the Riverina.
“It looks hilarious, a Japanese rickshaw on a country road with paddocks of sheep,” he said
“They’re pretty brave, travelling down the Hume Highway, it’s fairly dangerous but they’re wearing high vis.’
After a chance encounter in a Wagga McDonalds with the four Japanese nationals on Sunday, Mr Denahy invited them to stay with him and learnt the Riverina was just a small part of an enormous journey.
Yuji Suzuki, 28, was a rickshaw driver in Tokyo when he set out on an adventure in 2016.
Since then he and a rotating group of friends have pulled the rickshaw through China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, India, France, Spain and now Australia, Mr Denahy said.
Their Australian journey began in Sydney three weeks ago and they have covered 500 kilometres, often giving residents a ride along the way.
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Mr Denahy said his mother was Japanese and he had travelled through Japan extensively himself, so he invited the group to stay with him in Wagga so he could learn more about their journey.
The foursome and their rickshaw are due to arrive in Albury on Wednesday, before Mr Denahy takes them to meet his mother in Yackandandah.
“It’s fascinating,” Mr Denahy said.
“They’ve got a whole lot of followers from around the world (on social media).
“I think they are doing it to improve their English but they’re doing it on a budget, camping on the side of roads in tents….They’re a fantastic group of people.”
Mr Denahy said residents might be able to spot the foursome along the Olympic or Hume highways in coming days.
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