While digging into something else I found this article. I was aware of the samurai transition from warriors to merchants but had not realised that it also applied to fishing rod manufacture:

The history of Japanese bamboo rod:

I enjoyed it

So did I, thanks Vince.
S.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

Fascinating read!

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"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a
living are now outnumbered by those who vote for a living." -- Anonymous

Excellent read. I love history in all forms and always suspected that there might have been a connection.

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The best way to a fisherman's heart is through his fly.

http://www.gardeningleave.org

I recently became interested in Japanese cane, but especially in those who combine modern methods with traditional techniques and materials.
For instance, Ishda Hideto (Kagerow Rods) also uses the 7000 year old technique of applying urushi natural varnish to his rods (as per this article), making them virtually impervious to water. This process takes some three months to apply in many thin coats!

Cheers

Tam

I found Japanese history fascinating its well worth a read.

Steve

How did you end up going down that path and have you completed any?

vgb,

I got into it by talking to some guys I know who are dealers for reels in the US and are also on the Clark's forum. They have a lot of history with Japanese cane and suggested a few. I ended up talking to the makers, and also some silk line makers who knew and cast rods by the makers.
I eventually placed an order for a Kagerow (I don't build myself ) which I took delivery of last month or so, though there are several makers not as well known as Ishida san but make as accomplished and beautiful rods. I'm still trying to work out the best combo for it as my first experience was not optimal (a Yano DT3.5 silk with a silk leader seemed to be too much for it), but I have to say it's probably the best finished rod I've even seen to date in any material.
Taniwha (Mark) will be able to give you getra input, he cast it the day I spent with him and also christened it with several tiny grayling!

Cheers,
Steve

Thanks Steve. I'm not sure about talking to Mark. That was what got me into this mess in the 1st place

Would love to see a picture of it

The Kagerow was lovely Steve, I agree impeccably finished even with the expectations you'd start with both for cane and Japanese craftsmanship. A 12" grayling put a good bend in it. I'm not so sure it was overpowered by the 3.5 line given the para action, new to me and which I didn't fully get the hang of. A thought perhaps, the silk line was very new, seems to me it would soften and smoothen up with use and cast the better for that.

Mark, I'm glad you liked it, hopefully we will in time both become more acquainted with its idiosyncrasies!
Having cast semi-paras for a while, and the fact that Ishida-san suggested upping the line to a 3.5 because it was "a strong 3", I was quite suprised it was such a delicate rod, not that that's a bad thing. Both the men who highly recommended it, in the "business" and extremely versed in cane, thought that this was the best of the bunch. Perhaps by converting it into a 3 piece, with the extra ferrule it has slowed the rod down a tad, I guess these are the things which will be fun finding out. Another thing I hadn't factored is that it's a penta, meaning that the flex is different on the back cast (firmer) than the forward, and perhaps this needs getting used to.
Rock on the new season, you never know I may be sporting yet another new old material!