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Featured
Article: Show Coverage |
Japan's International Sportfishing Show 2005
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Date: |
1/30/05 |
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Location: |
Chiba, Japan |
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Event Dates: |
January
27-29, 2005 |
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Reviewer: |
Team
TackleTour in Association with JapanTackle |
Introduction:
This year,
TackleTour, in Association with Jun Sonoda of JapanTackle is proud to bring you
coverage of Japan’s International Sportfishing Show. Jun reports that there were
many brilliant, new offerings amongst the array of 130 booths by tackle
manufacturers and other associated businesses, and the show did not disappoint.
However, a few days prior to the opening, Japan’s Minister of the Environment
announced their decision to classify black bass as “harmful foreign creatures”
with a possible plan to exterminate bass from all waters in Japan. Such a move
could potentially devastate the tackle industry in Japan so although the air was
electric with new offerings, there was a cloud of caution and reserve through
the course of the show. Many of the seminars addressed this problem directly
imploring anglers to appeal to the government on this potentially devastating
ruling.
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A glimpse of
the annual Japan International Sportfishing Show |
Shimano Japan:
Shimano
unveiled the new Metanium XT at this year’s show revealing the Japanese market
counterpart to the Chronarch B. This is the first time in recent memory that
Shimano has released a reel to the US Market before debuting it in Japan. By all
counts, the reels are virtually identical. Additionally, Shimano debuted the new
Twin Power (Sustain) spinning reel, Biomaster L (Stradic) rear drag spinning
reel, Cardiff series trout rods, and high end Monster Limited and Stream Limited
series rods featuring burled wood reel seats. While rather understated with
their offerings at this show, Shimano hinted that there will be additional new
releases during the year so stay tuned.
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Shimano
offerings included the new Twin Power Sustain (left), Limited Stream rods
(center), and Biomaster L rear drag spinning reel (right) |
Daiwa Japan:
The big news from Daiwa this year is the planned release of two, new, limited
production reels - the Alphas-Ito Ai and Millionaire Lite 103 I'ZE. The
Alphas-Ito Ai continues Daiwa’s collaboration with Megabass featuring a reel
with a polished aluminum body and transparent sideplates. Expect the spool to
have some modifications over the stock Alphas as well, but the exact tuning
information is not yet available. The new Millionaire Lite 103 I'ZE is a red
reel featuring a super light-weight body. Other reels on Daiwa Japan’s list this
year include the Caldia KIX spinning reels which will be introduced just below
the Luvias. This reel will borrow on the “real four concept” introduced with the
Certate. The Certate adds 2506 and 2004 models for finesse fishing. Daiwa plans
to add a “Big Bait Special” TD-Z baitcaster in black and gold featuring a deep,
flat spool quite possibly targeting swimbaits, a growing trend in Japan. Jun
got a closeup look at the Smak – an orange baitcaster featuring 4” automated
line retrieval with the click of a lever. The Smak is targeted as a finesse
fishing reel. The new limited color for the Pixy this year will be red, and
Daiwa will also be releasing a reel to match the US Market TD Advantage
titled.....The US Advantage.
Daiwa showed off a range of
offerings including new variations of the Alphas, Millionaire, and the automated
Smak (lower left)
Megabass:
Megabass unveiled some
new rods at the show including a topwater series (Paniga), inshore series
(Shoreluck UL), and heavier action Orochi rods. Other news from this specialty
manufacturer were some new lures, the SR-X Cyclone, MR-X Cyclone, a new Baby
Griffon, and the Anthrax minnow. Stay tuned in coming months for a TT review on
the SR-X Cyclone, a shallow water crank with internal water chambers for
increased water disturbance and vibration.
The Megabass booth. Mr. Ito, CEO,
and lead designer of Megabass was on hand (upper right)
ZPI: The famous
magnesium tuning spool manufacturer will release a super tuned ABU, IM-AE-74 in
March based on the Morrum SX series. These reels will be limited production
based on pre-orders but limited to a couple dozen overall. ZPI has developed a
magnetic brake system for Conquest 100 reels and sales rep, Mr. Kato, told Jun
that they have started testing a 7.1 gear system upgrade for the TD-Z100. No
official release date has been set.
ZPI magnesium tuned reels included
a supertuned ABU Morrum and a TD-Z
Miscellaneous:
Perhaps in anticipation of the Minister of Environment’s ruling, a strong
emphasis in the show this year was on lures and trout fishing. The following are
reports on various other happenings in Japan from Jun Sonoda:
Evergreen
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Evergreen,
like Megabass produces both fishing rods and lures and while their rods are more
conservative in nature, their baits closely rival their competitor. At the
center of this year’s show were a few additions to their swimbait lineup, the
Timberflash Jr. and Timberflash Noisy Dach.
Uo-ya
– Uo-Ya introduced a the new 3-piece version of their
Monster Jack. The original model attracted much attention for it’s stunning finish and has been
back-ordered for a very long time. The new, 3-piece Monster Jack promises the
same popularity.
Jackal
– Following the increased popularity of swim baits in
Japan,
Jackall has released three new swimbaits: The Flat Bone Clicker (1.5 oz), 180
Pencil Bait (2 oz), and the Mikey Slim swim bait (3.4 oz).
Jackson –
Another rod manufacturer that debuted a reinforced trout rod lineup of rods
titled Monster Brown series and Trout Unlimited (a casting model designed for
steelhead). The grips of these rods are finished in burled
Maplewood.
Smith
– Smith, aka Heddon of
Japan,
introduced a new series of boron trout rods titled Inter-Boron X. These rods
have boron graphite blanks and solid tiger maple reel seats. Smith has also
brought over some of their US
domestic lures such as the Zara Spook and Baby Torpedo.
Toray
– The line manufacturer released two new fishing lines: Super Hard Strong
fluorocarbon and Solaroam Super Strong nylon. The new fluorocarbon reportedly
has more abrasion resistance, and a softer body than the Super Hard Natural.
New Megabass offerings include
ultra refined rods and interesting birdlike lures
Jun’s Final Notes:
The fishing show was
successful to accommodate tons of new great, beautiful tackle, talk shows and
demonstrations. However, it seems the time has come, for lure-fishing industry
to see the oversea market. I surely see the shrinking lure-fishing industry in
Japan, and the trout fishing seems the only hope for them. Is it true?
The industry has already made
large industry efforts to expand lure-fishing market in Japan,
mainly after year 2000. And the efforts didn’t see much result so far. The first
target was seabass fishing in metropolitan bay area. However, the target
population was very limited, and it saw small peak a couple of years ago. Later,
industry focused on fishing for squid from shore. The fishing is the mixture of
traditional lure “egi” and western tackle. It sees slightly increased
population, but it is still very small compared to the bass fishing. The number
of pay fee area limits the expansion of trout fishing, and I may not expect too
much on the winter-spring limited fishing. Many professional bass anglers will
go overseas to find better opportunities in 2005. Why not tackle? Hope 2005 is
the great year for all anglers in the world.
-Jun
Conclusion:
TackleTour would like to
thank Jun Sonoda for this collaborative coverage of the Tokyo International
Sportfishing Show. It appears there are many new and exciting tackle items in
store for all of us in 2005 - opportunities both here in the US and abroad. Will the pending turmoil surrounding black bass fishing in Japan impact
what’s
available to us here in the United States? Will much of the excitement and
innovation that surrounds the tackle industry in Japan simply be shipped
overseas to other shores to spice up an already highly competitive tackle
market? Perhaps the creation of Megabass USA is the result of this pending
outcome and the first step of at least one Japanese Tackle Manufacturer in
seeking a more diversified market.
Whatever the case may be,
we here at TackleTour will share with you, news as it is made known to us. For
now, realize that many of the new and exciting tackle items reported in our show
coverages for this year are already in our TackleTour vaults and we are excited
and anxious to share with you, our discoveries, tests, and reviews for 2005
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