Speaking to the bicycle question...

As someone that taught in Japanese public schools for five years, I can tell you that everything is the same - uniforms, shoes, backpacks, bicycles, etc - when kids are students so no one kid feels left out cuz he/she doesn't have what the other kids have.

You can't underestimate the group mentality in Japan, and the need to fit in.

I once had an interesting discussion with some of my teachers about why there was no "honors" classes in Jr High schools in Japan, and they said parents would complain if some students were singled out ("Why isn't my son/daughter in the advanced class?", and most students would be embarrassed to be in a different group.

-JCH