NITTO

NITTO (K.K. Nittō, 株式会社日東) is a Japanese manufacturer of bicycle components, based in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, with a production plant in Fukushima. The company was founded in 1923 in Tokyo and describes itself as a bicycle parts maker specialising in the working of metal tubing. Its catalogue centres on handlebars and stems, seatposts, camping carriers, cycle stands, bottle cages and front and rear carriers, produced using traditional craftsmanship combined with welding and tube-forming techniques. NITTO sells through cycle shops and specialist dealers rather than direct or mail-order channels; the company states on its website that it does not sell products directly to individuals and does not accept custom orders from private customers. Its product range is documented in an annual printed and PDF catalogue, which had reached No. 39 (2026) at the time of the source material. The company is small, with 48 employees according to its own company profile, and is led by president Akira Yoshikawa. Historically, NITTO is closely associated with Japanese track cycling and keirin racing: various NITTO components are certified for track racing, and the firm was one of the first to equip Japanese keirin races. Over its long history it has received awards from Japanese government ministries, including the ministry of industry, the ministry of trade and the ministry of labour. Today NITTO remains a niche, craft-oriented brand whose components are prized by touring, randonneuring and classic-bicycle enthusiasts as well as track cyclists.

NITTO was founded in 1923 (Taishō 12) in Tokyo, Japan, and was incorporated as a joint-stock company in 1948 (Shōwa 23). From its early decades the firm specialised in the working of metal tubing, a skill it applied to the manufacture of bicycle components. Its traditional craftsmanship, combined with welding and tube-forming techniques, became the basis of its product identity. Over the twentieth century NITTO built a close relationship with Japanese track cycling. Various NITTO components were certified for track racing, and the company was one of the first to supply equipment for Japanese keirin races, a form of professional track racing that is closely regulated and culturally significant in Japan. This association helped establish NITTO's reputation for durable, precisely made handlebars, stems and seatposts. In the post-war decades the company expanded its range beyond pure racing parts into touring and utility components such as camping carriers, cycle stands, bottle cages and front and rear carriers. Its catalogue became a fixture among Japanese cyclists and, later, among international enthusiasts of touring, randonneuring and classic bicycles, who valued the brand's understated, repairable and long-lasting designs. NITTO's headquarters moved to Kawaguchi in Saitama Prefecture, while manufacturing was carried out at a plant in Fukushima Prefecture. The company remained small and privately held; its own company profile lists 48 employees. Leadership passed to president Akira Yoshikawa. Over its long history the firm received awards from Japanese government ministries, including the ministry of industry, the ministry of trade and the ministry of labour, recognising its manufacturing contribution. In the 21st century NITTO continued to operate as a craft manufacturer. It maintained an annual printed and PDF catalogue, reaching No. 39 (2026) in the source material, and used its website to communicate production news, product changes and warnings about counterfeit stickers. The company has repeatedly noted that demand sometimes exceeds its craft-based production capacity, with waiting times of months or more than a year for certain products, a sign of its enduring niche appeal. It sells only through cycle shops and dealers, does not sell directly to individuals, and does not accept private custom orders.

• 2026

  PDF catalogue updated to No. 39 (2026)

• 2025

  PDF catalogue updated to No. 38 (2025)

• 2024

  PDF catalogue updated to No. 37 (2024)

• 2023

  PDF catalogue updated to No. 36 (2023); stem tightening torque added

• 2022

  PDF catalogue updated to No. 35 (2022)

• 2020

  STI mark printing on M186 ended; notice about rubber marks on white frames

• 2019

  PDF catalogue updated to No. 34 (2020); collaboration products page published; Mod.90 carbon drop bar 380/420 widths discontinued

• 2018

  PDF catalogue updated to No. 33 (2019)

• 2017

  PDF catalogue updated to No. 32 (2018); MTB S92 seatpost added

• 2016

  PDF catalogue updated to No. 31 (2017); Facebook page link added

• 2015

  Production ended for FRONT-M12SL stainless carrier

• 1990

  Carrier clip band rubber in use since at least this year, per later notice

• 1948

  Incorporated as a joint-stock company (Shōwa 23)

• 1923

  Founded in Tokyo, Japan (Taishō 12)

Craft-oriented, traditional Japanese maker of high-quality bicycle components, sold through specialist cycle shops rather than direct channels.

• Handlebars

  Road, track and touring handlebars, including track-certified models.

• Stems

  Quill and threadless stems, with tightening torque specifications published.

• Seatposts

  Including MTB S92 seatpost added in 2017.

• Camping carriers

  Front and rear carriers for touring and camping.

• Cycle stands

  Kickstands and display stands.

• Bottle cages

  Accessory bottle cages.

• Mod.90 carbon drop bar

  Carbon drop bar; 380/420 widths discontinued in 2019.

• M186 STI

  Component whose STI mark printing ended in 2020.

1. 1NITTO LTD 日東のハンドルnitto-tokyo.sakura.ne.jp
2. 2COMPANY NITTOnitto-tokyo.sakura.ne.jp
3. 3Nitto Ltd. - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Nittō - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
5. 5Nittōde.wikipedia.org