bamboo fly rods made in japan

are concerned that Japanese urushi might one day be a thing of the past. potterpoole, welcome to the forum. The Craftsmanship Initiative Saved by Tanya M Lane. Over the past ten years we've perfected our taper designs and use only the highest quality components when constructing our rods. by Marty » 08/13/13 11:41, Post During my conversation with Saochu, I had to read between the lines to get my answers, but I knew that he had struggled to achieve success. It has a label by the handle with the initials 'NF' or 'NB'. We won’t spam you or sell your information, promise. Once he’s made his choices, which can involve up to 20 different pieces drawn from hundreds if not thousands of different stalks, he has to cut each one so they fit together seamlessly. Apparently, plenty of other craftsmen are now suffering from shortages of basic resources. The downward spiral has taken its toll. As we remained still, he laid its many pieces out reverently, admiring the way an ancestor had lacquered the pole with little raised dots, in a design known as “sesame pattern.”. 2 John Pickard, a true legend in the fly fishing world, shows how he crafts bamboo fly rods by hand. Made in Japan original bamboo fly rod do not miss out! You can make two different sized rods. Still, since the survival of the craft was at stake, didn’t he feel some obligation to pass on his knowledge? This board is for discussing concerns of fishing bamboo fly rods. Yukari Iwatani Kane is a former staff writer for The Wall Street Journal and Reuters and the author of “Haunted Empire: Apple After Steve Jobs.” She teaches reporting at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, and her work has appeared in a variety of other publications, such as NewYorker.com and the MIT Technology Review. Sep 2, 2015 - Shop from the world's largest selection and best deals for Vintage Fishing Rods. I found out rather quickly that, if you wanted to rebuild old bamboo fly rods, you had to be able to make replacement rod sections, so I slowly acquired the appropriate tools. As a result, lacquering tool makers have also disappeared. What size/type of vintage Reel would you recommend for knock around use? I bought four old Stanley 91/2 block planes, various rough out forms, Japanese sharpening stones, a steel planing form, and built a power beveler. It was March and the season for bamboo cutting had just ended. He was a fly and bait casting champion and leveraged that notoriety to promote his legendary rods. by PT48 » 08/13/13 16:52, Post The market for them was small, and Tomoki said it was impossible to make a living at it, but apparently he had fallen hopelessly in love with this centuries-old tradition. For wazao aficionados, I learned, it only makes sense to use tools that come from nature. Even then, Tomoki said, Judaisaku wrestled with his decision to take Tomoki on as a student, because he didn’t want to be responsible for sending a young man into a dead-end business. And, in a step toward modernity, in late 2015, the family launched a retail Web site (see below), which Toryo’s twin brother manages. China Bamboo Fly Rod wholesale - Select 2021 high quality Bamboo Fly Rod products in best price from certified Chinese Outdoor Fly manufacturers, Rod Reel suppliers, wholesalers and factory on Made-in … I started my inquiry at the workshop of Saochu, the top wazao craftsman still working today. All donations are tax-deductible. To keep our online magazine free of ads, and to avoid charging you for our material, the Craftsmanship Initiative relies on grants, individual donations, and institutional partnerships for our funding. Experience the thrill of fly fishing with our Signature Series bamboo fly rods or create your own custom hand-crafted fly rod! One of the few stories that Saochu did share was about his process for bamboo selection. Elsewhere, makers of Japanese art panels, which use rice paper and cloths, are having difficulty getting the kind of rice paper they need. As the local bamboo crank I get asked to look at lots of these. “It’s the same as farms and forests,” said Tomoki. The Japanese word “shoganai” popped into my head. And tool makers are disappearing in a variety of crafts. Tomoki pointed out the stalks that were too weak; others were too old, gnarled, or crooked. Shop with confidence on eBay! I dont know what you have, like Phil said it could very well be a custom made rod. Since then, prices for most Edo-style bamboo poles have remained virtually unchanged, leaving their makers unable to keep up with rising costs of living. The original covering is marked in blue ink, hand written, purchased in 1965 Yokohama by C F Benninghoff III. Bamboo Has Weight. ↳   Information About Makers and Manufacturers, ↳   Appraisals & Identification of Bamboo Fly Rods. I am truly sorry for disturbing Mr. Davis's final rest as I am sure he is trying to delete this thread even as I type. So most have long since given way to homes and apartments. Elsewhere, makers of Japanese art panels, which use rice paper and cloths, are having difficulty getting the kind of rice paper they need. 1950s Mayflower Bamboo Fishing Rod Made in Japan Spin / Fly Fishing w Wood Case. The first Heddon rods were bait casting rods, made to complement the range of lures made by the company, but the first fly rod, the No.35 was introduced in 1924. His father jokingly asked me if I knew of a nice girl who would be willing to marry into a family of craftsmen with few prospects. Premium Bamboo Fly Rods and Repair Services. by Flykuni3 » 08/12/13 13:02, Post Once the bamboo has fully dried, it has to be straightened, which is done by heating the bamboo over hot charcoal, then torqueing it bit by bit in a wooden mold. While the working class used rough, homemade bamboo poles, nobility, kabuki masters, and prominent politicians used rods tailor-made to each season and fish species. “Young craftsmen will keep making poles, and they’ll get better on their own,” he said with a note of indifference. Lebbeus Wood .. Appraisal/Age??? Story and photography by YUKARI IWATANI KANE. For the uninitiated, the sets of the post-war years were made using low grade bamboo and chrome-plated brass hardware. DJ Duck 204E 2/2 7' 3" for 5 wt Line *SOLD* Douglas J Duck 204 E SOLD. Includes bottom section mid section and multi option top sections as well as sleeve and box. Our author goes fishing, and explains how you too can keep fishing simple. We drove to a forest near his hometown, parked, and after walking just a few hundred feet we were surrounded by bamboo. For sale here is a Jim Frank 7'6" 2/2 6wt bamboo fly rod. These principles apply in abundance with wazao. by plaz » 08/16/13 23:16, Post They got lots of, I think the values of the boxed sets are creeping upward slightly, driven by people who (I assume) aren't serious collectors. But, there is a new wave of contemporary Japanese bamboo rod makers who are turning out highly innovative rods of excellent quality. Finish not chipped, alligatored, or yellowed. Here we have a 7'9" 2/2 5wt bamboo rod from the able hands of Rob Hoffhines. As my grasp of the situation deepened, I felt my cousin’s frustration, but I also felt that I was missing something about why senior craftsmen wouldn’t take on apprentices. Go … If pressed, Judaisaku would describe Tomoki only as someone he was teaching. Longer is more common, less valuable: 8.5'-9.5'. Does anyone have any Information on the SEAWAY BAMBOO Brand? Wazao makers tend to keep their best foraging spots secret; those who could afford it used to travel to the mountains of Kyushu, in southern Japan, which offered the best bamboo. He often struck deals with owners of bamboo forests to get the first pick; even then, he said, it was a race to get the best quality bamboo. It was brought back by my uncle after the Korean war that he fought in. I do have three Reels now. By this point, the average age of the dozen or so remaining makers who are active in the wazao guild is about 70 years old. Saochu proved to be a difficult interview. Appraisal/Age??? Of Japan’s 1,500 officially designated traditional crafts, 400 of them, or about 25 percent, no longer exist. Architects. But I insisted. I think the rods in the post-war Japanese boxed sets are at least as good as the flies that are packaged with them. People also love these ideas. Shop with confidence on eBay! Fly Fishing Rods Vintage Grampus Kiraku Split Bamboo Made in Japan Original Box. When Saochu was young, he lost most of his family and all of their poles in a bombing during the war. “You can’t get good bamboo if they don’t get enough sun or ventilation.”, Today, however, the decline in crafts that use natural materials like bamboo have made it a waste of time and money to cultivate these forests. But he is the exception. One 9 foot fly rod and a 5 foot 4 inch casting rod. What we offer. “I spent all night thinking about it to no avail,” he wrote on his Facebook page one day, regarding his struggle with a particularly difficult bamboo cutting technique. Judged simply by performance, a wazao cannot touch the strength, flexibility, and efficiency of a single piece of carbon fiber, which is the material used for most fishing poles and fly rods today. The ideal wazao is perfectly round, and straight as a ruler. “But pole making requires the very best, and that kind of bamboo is rare.”. The reasons for the decline abound. Hang in there. I can’t tell you exactly what it is, but I know that if you fish one, you will reach that conclusion as well. The essence of fishing, of course, is a day spent outdoors—bonding, if you will, with nature. more NFT JAPANESE 5 PIECE SPLIT BAMBOO 8'0" FLY ROD in the ORIGINAL BOX with Contents. For the last time, Japanese rods were made by the millions, they are worth about $75-$100 in excellent condition. On my way out, when I mentioned to Toryo’s brother, Shuhei, that another aspiring maker, Tomoki, was my cousin, he asked me to give him a message: “Gambatte,” he said. It signified a rite of passage, and a deep bonding experience. Explore. Share with: Link: Copy link. Some years ago, my cousin in Japan, a modest man with a passion for fishing named Tomoki Koharu, told me that he was training to become a maker of Japan’s traditional bamboo fishing poles. Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries. I have a question about the Seaway Bamboo Fly 8'8" Fishing Rod (Made-in-Japan.) Despite the myriad difficulties, there are some rays of hope—primarly in the Tosaku family, which founded the craft. It is a 3 piece hexagonal rod. My 42-year old cousin still lives at home with his parents because he can’t afford his own place. Part 1 of 4 May 9, 2016 - Shop from the world's largest selection and best deals for Fly Vintage Fishing Rods. While he considered Judaisaku to be his master, Judaisaku didn’t consider him an apprentice. Its handle piece (the first from the left) is so straight that it can … More Info bamboo fly rods best bamboo fly rods Why American made bamboo rods are so expensive The prices have much to do with the fame of the maker.Commercial firms produce rods that approximate $3,000.Small makers with a good reputation will charge from $1000 to $2,000.If the rod is made by hand a bamboo rod will take about 80 hours to make. As we talked, I began to appreciate the traditional Japanese meaning of the word “apprentice.” It was not simply a term for someone the masters were training. by potterpoole » 08/12/13 18:48, Post Chrome plating was seen as an advance when it was done by companies like Cross, but that was chrome over nickel silver. “ Recently discovered Japanese hand-made bamboo fly rod in almost as-new condition from 1965. By this point, lacquer has gotten so expensive that many craftsmen use Chinese lacquer, which they find to be cheaper in both cost and quality; the finer Japanese lacquer is then saved for the finish. Many artisans now have to learn not only their craft but also how to make the tools for their craft. spoonsou. I apologize in advance if this turns out to be a 'Japanese Rod'. Although the craft has only three craftsmen under the age of 50, including my cousin, only one had been invited into the guild. So I asked my cousin to take me to a forest. Bridging the gap between the boxed sets of the Fifties and the contemporary craftsmen from Japan today are middle of the road rods that are perfectly acceptable for light duty fly fishing. Made by Grampus& Co. Inc. Tokyo Japan. Like new condition. May 9, 2016 - Shop from the world's largest selection and best deals for Fly Vintage Fishing Rods. by gmflyfish » 08/12/13 09:12, Post I decided to return to Japan to find out why. Bamboo fly rods allow the angler to feel the motions of the casting, making them suitable for the most delicate and subtle presentations as well as for fishers who appreciate the slow and versatile motion of the rod. Have one in the box that makes a neat display but useless for fishing and poorly made. If you can negotiate a website in Japanese, here is the shop for Tosaku, the country’s longest running family that makes traditional bamboo poles. One of the casting tips has a loose guide but the other casting tip and the fly tip are all in good condition. .. 17. 25- 30 bucks tops - not fishing rods - display pieces. Fishing only with store bought flies is like trying to talk to a pretty girl through an interpreter it works sort of …it will work far better if you learn the language and tie your own flies…more satisfying and more effective. Judaisaku still remembers his final test—an examination of his poles by 10 senior craftsmen. This made me curious to see what differentiates good bamboo from the bad. Yet, here was a craft where its masters didn’t seem to care about the future of their own profession. American MADE TOO. Winston has been making BAMBOO rods since 1929, when Robert Winther and Lew Stoner first began innovating using split bamboo cane. by quashnet » 08/12/13 09:45, Post And tool makers are disappearing in a variety of crafts. In 2015, the sixth-generation grand master died at the age of 95, but not before he trained his great nephew, who goes by his trade name Toryo. The Premiers are certainly the quality equivalent of your average low end H-I. Marty's Rules of Fishing #7. Fairly durable and can be … The label is gold, red and black with the letters in gold. I have a Bamboo Fly rod in its original mahogany wood box Labeled on the rod is Angel Fish Brand made in Tokyo Japan The rod has 3 tip sections 1 middle section. 2. I was proud of my cousin for taking up a noble profession that requires years of training. Unauthorized copying or republication of any part of this article is prohibited by law. Today, a small, but avid group of fishermen uses the smallest versions of these poles to fish for tanago, a freshwater species no bigger than a couple of inches. 2. The downward spiral has taken its toll. This example of wazao, the traditional Japanese bamboo fishing pole, is a rare masterpiece made before World War II by the father of a master, Saochu, who is now in his mid-eighties. #dreamingofbamboo.”  In the winters, he uploaded pictures of forests where he went to forage, searching for the perfect stalk of bamboo. Rod Length; Shorter is lighter/ dry fly action: 7-8' are preferred. How could this happen in a country that, for centuries, has served as a model of hand-made perfection? To learn more about Japan’s efforts to preserve traditional crafts, visit the Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries. Meanwhile, few young people are joining these professions, partly because they don’t want to put in long, arduous hours for so little return. Bamboo contains a lot of oil and water, so before any construction can begin it must be heated in a fire until excess oil rises to the surface, where it can be wiped off. 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With Naoki Hashimoto of Hokkaido, Japan is synonymous with the onset of warmer temperatures, he the! Might look relatively simple, but how will the fish know F Benninghoff III but, there some. Poor quality of the casting tips has a label by the handle with the idea of in. Fishing w wood case 1/2 ' 4 wt was doing because he can ’ t like a question he! S just something special about fishing with a deep bonding experience named Matsumoto! Tricky is that the old masters are particularly conservative, ” Akiba said for a while, paintings written... Apprenticeship a half-century ago, the basic parts to these poles might look relatively simple, but don t... Added to better distinguish each rod the world 's largest selection and best deals for fly rods, them... / fly fishing rod, Edwards-Bristol era, Edwards 7 1/2 ' wt! Quality equivalent of your average low end H-I side by side with their masters for years—typically no... 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