Seiji Kato, the Master of Lure Building and the Winning Practitioner
Do you know what is common among these lures? Peanuts 2, Shoreline Shiner, Team Daiwa Vibration (TD Vibration), Bevy Shad, Flash Minnow, Pointer, Flick Shake, Vayron, Cross Tail, Scad Minnow etc. These are lures which Mr. Seiji Kato has developed in his career. As you see, these lures are from three brands, Daiwa, Lucky Craft […]
The Traditional Lure Fishing in Japan? From the history of Katsuo Fishing
Katsuo (Skipjack Tuna, or Bonito, Katswonus pelamis) is one of the most popular fish in Japan, as for the Japanese cuisine. For fishing, it is one of the favorite targets for boat fishing, while it may be second to tuna in terms of the popularity for target fish. As one of the most accessible and […]
The Man of the Strong Style, Norio Tanabe
This is an article of the man who became the first non-US citizen winner of a US bass fishing tournament, Mr. Norio Tanabe. He is one of the top anglers in Japan who has been one of the pioneers in bass fishing in Japan. He is not only the top tournament angler, but also a […]
Earthquake in Hokuriku, its effect on Fishing Industry in Japan, and Your Support
There was a big earthquake in Japan on the 1st of January in 2024. The shake from the oceanic plates right on the Noto peninsula in the region of Hokuriku brought the earthquake of magnitude 7.6 and tsunamis. In this article, I review the related area from a fishing point of view, and show the […]
Toshi Namiki, Palmares of Tournaments to Born O.S.P Lures
What does the name Namiki remind you of? Machine gun cast with rubber jig? The art of skipping? Actually, he is more than that. He is a champion tournament angler, a lure designer, and an entrepreneur. In this article, I will introduce his biography, some of his lures and the philosophy of his design. Life […]
Kazuma Izumi, the Legendary Pioneer in Japanese Bass Fishing
Have you heard of HMKL? Recently, DAIWA had launched their lure which has this name. For some of you this Daiwa product is the first one with this HMKL name. Actually, HMKL (to be pronounced “han-kle”) is the brand name which produces its own lures, and the name of the company which was established by […]
DEPS, the lure brand of the big bass hunter, Mr. Kazumasa Okumura
There are a lot of people who have heard the name, “DEPS,” but not so many people know the name of its founder, Mr. Kazumasa Okumura. Though he is not as popular as tournament oriented Japanese pro-anglers, he is one of the most famous black bass anglers in Japan. In this article, I will show […]
Do You Eat Fish? The Relation between the Fishing Population and Fish Eating Preference in Japan
Japanese people love to eat fish. And they like to go fishing. But it is too early to say the reason fishing is popular in Japan is the joy of eating fish. In the US, angling is a popular leisure activity, but it does not really reflect that they have a strong fish eating culture. […]
Haruhiko Murakami, a Genius of Fishing
Neko rig, Down-shot rig and the small rubber jig (Smo-Raba in Japanese). These are well known not only in Japan but also in other countries. It shows that these are well proven methods to catch the largemouth bass. Actually, it is said that these are said to be inventions of Mr. Haruhiko Murakami. From it, […]
A Brief Guide to JDM Bass Lure Brands
JDM (Japan Domestic Model) Lures are getting popular more and more. This is an article for those who want an overview of Japanese lure brands who produce bass fishing lures. (All in the alphabetical order) Adusta This brand produces lures for the monster fish all over the world. Located in Kobe, Hyogo. They are targeting […]