In addition to fishing rods and apparel, fishing accessories, such as fishing lines, hooks, and floats, are also important. These tools are what allow anglers to catch their target. And if the quality of these fishing accessories is subpar, your chances of catching fish will be lower. Thankfully, Japanese brands manufacture world-class fishing accessories.
Japan fishing accessories are renowned all over the world thanks to their high-quality manufacturing and craftsmanship, reliability, and overall value. They are the top choice of professional anglers who join international tournaments. Their fishing lines are some of the toughest and most durable in the market, while their fishing hooks are some of the sharpest and most consistent.
(Photo: Japanese Cormorant Fishing)
In addition, Japan has also produced a certain type of fishing equipment that is no longer used today but is highly sought after by collectors. In this article, we will talk about fishing lines, hooks, and floats in more detail.
We will learn what they are used for and why Japanese brands are usually the go-to for anglers. We will also introduce you to popular brands, such as Daiwa, Shimano, Gamakatsu, and Sunline, who are the leaders in fishing accessories.
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Why is Japanese Fishing Tackle so Popular?
The popularity of Japanese fishing equipment boils down to three key points: craftsmanship, experience, and innovation. Japan is a country well-known for crafting some of the best equipment for different industries in the world.
No matter what they do, Japanese craftsmen always give it their all. It is as if they are engraving a part of themselves in the product they create. As a result, Japanese products consistently become the top choice for professionals.
(Photo: Professional Japanese Angler Masayuki Matsushita)
Japanese tackle is always praised for its precision, craftsmanship, and highly durable nature. It is reliable and long-lasting equipment that easily makes them worth the money. With Japan's big fishing industry, many brands aim to outdo each other to become the leaders of the fishing equipment market.
The craftsmen behind these fishing equipment have decades of experience. Today, many world-class Japanese brands are mainstays in the arsenals of professional anglers competing in international fishing tournaments. These include Shimano, Gan Craft, Daiwa, Imakatsu, TIEMCO, and Gary Yamamoto.
Also Read: TOP JAPANESE FISHING ROD BRANDS
Japan constantly innovates its fishing products. Japanese brands always introduce new materials that increase the reliability of their fishing tackles. In addition, Japanese fishing equipment evolves and adapts to their users.
The founders of Nories and Gary Yamamoto are well-renowned, world-class professional anglers who founded their respective companies to create custom products that fit their unique fishing styles.
As a result, both companies developed a new wave of products that better-suited anglers of the modern age. These factors allow Japan to stay on top of the fishing equipment market.
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Japanese Fishing Lines
High-quality fishing lines are an essential tool for anglers. They directly connect the angler to the fish. Since they can make or break the fishing experience, it is essential to get the best quality fishing lines to pair with your other high-quality fishing tools.
Japanese fishing lines are extremely popular for a number of reasons. Just like other Japanese fishing products, they are high-quality tools that fishermen have depended on for decades. They are known for being built with the best materials to withstand wear and tear.
Japanese fishing companies often introduce new, innovative products using new materials and technologies that set them apart from their competitors. Examples of these advanced technologies include Nanotechnology, Fluorocarbon coating, and Double Resin Processing. Japanese fishing line manufacturers have also been introducing biodegradable materials to reduce the negative environmental effects of discarded lines.
Some popular fishing lines produced by Japanese manufacturers include braided lines, fluorocarbon lines, and monofilament lines. For braided lines, Xbraid, Varigas, and YGK are very popular. They are well-known for producing industry-standard thin but strong fishing lines.
For fluorocarbon lines, Sunline leads the pack. They produce innovative products that utilize Double Resin Processing. Lastly, Momoi Fishing produces some of the best products for monofilament lines. They claim to have over a century of experience crafting fishing materials and pay close attention to the materials they use and how they impact the environment.
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Japanese Fishing Hooks
In addition to fishing lines, fishing hooks are important accessories for anglers. Fishing hooks pierce through the mouth or body of fish to catch it. Just like with fishing lines, Japanese fishing hooks are renowned as some of the best in the fishing industry.
The main reasons for the success of Japanese brands with fishing hooks are their craftsmanship and durability. Japan has a long history of crafting blades. Japanese blacksmiths have been perfecting their craft since the age of the samurai (1185-1868).
Since then, various Japanese blade crafting techniques have been passed through the generations and have made their way to different modern-age items, such as Japanese knives and fishing hooks.
Also Read: BEST JAPANESE FISHING LURES
Japanese fishing hook manufacturers use intricate processes to craft their products. Gamakatsu fishing hooks, for instance, are heated to exact temperatures, perfect for styling and shaping their hooks, which are then cooled in oil, resulting in highly durable high-carbon steel fishing hooks with fewer impurities. In addition, Japanese fishing hooks are well known for their sharpness, leading to successful fishing hooksets.
The process of making Japanese fishing hooks isn’t easy. However, through this rigorous process, Japanese brands can manufacture top-tier fishing hooks with consistent quality.
Other Japanese brands, such as Owner and Hayabusa, are also well-known for producing versatile hooks that work in a number of different fishing scenarios.
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Japanese Fishing Floats
Another popular accessory in fishing is fishing floats/bobbers. Fishing floats are buoyant devices that serve as strike indicators that tell when the fish has taken the bait and control the depth of the bait. Float fishing has become popular in Japan, where it is now considered to be an art form.
Like the other accessories in this list, Japanese fishing floats are special. They are known for their robust build quality, making them long-lasting accessories. Japanese fishing floats are traditionally built with natural materials, such as Paulownia wood and bamboo. Recently, Japanese manufacturers have also introduced synthetic materials such as plastic and foam.
Also Read: POPULAR JAPANESE FISHING APPAREL
Many companies sell Japanese fishing floats. Some popular brands include Shimano, Daiwa, Gamakatsu, Nissin, Hayabusa, Jackall, Tiemco, and Nissin. In addition to the popular brands, Japan is also known for its Glass Fishing Floats.
Glass fishing floats were popular in the 1800s but are seldom used today. Due to the material used, glass floats are considerably less durable than today’s solutions, which is why they have been retired.
As a result, they have become collector’s items. Japanese glass fishing floats, in particular, are highly sought after. They are beautiful and well-crafted floats deeply rooted in Japanese history and culture.
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