June 27–29, 2025
Friday & Saturday: 1pm-6pm
Sunday: Noon-5pm
Fly fishing was introduced to Japan in 1902.
This trunk show invites you to experience the beauty and allure of Japanese fly fishing gear crafted through a distinctly Japanese perspective shaped by animistic beliefs and a deep reverence for nature, unique to this island nation.
Yudai Mochizuki
Bamboo Rod Builder / FFI-Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Yudai Mochizuki, a rising bamboo rod builder known for his Modern Classics, blends tradition with innovation. For this special occasion, he presents a Special Edition bamboo rod, designed and field-tested on his home waters in Hokkaido as well as the storied rivers of the U.S., U.K., and New Zealand.
Originally a jewelry and product designer, Mochizuki moved to Hokkaido to dedicate himself to rod building. In 2015, his work was featured in Japanese Artisan Spirits, a special exhibition at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum in New York, the birthplace of American fly fishing.
Nobuyuki Sugito
Nobuyuki Sugito curates and sells vintage fishing gear sourced from around the world. His collection features rare, limited-edition reels made exclusively for the Japanese market by both Japanese and historic international makers, along with wood-carved bears and art inspired by fly-fishing.
After working as a buyer for a select shop, Sugito opened COMPASS in Nagoya in 2012. He continues to travel the globe—especially to the U.K. and U.S.—where he combines antique hunting with fishing expeditions as a way of life.
All bamboo rods, fishing gear, and artworks in this trunk show are one-of-a-kind pieces.
*photos taken by Kentauros Yasunaga
Interview with Yudai at his studio in Hokkaido on March 27, 2025:
What are the characteristics of the materials used in your bamboo rods?
I use a type of Japanese madake (true bamboo) known as Karatake, which is also used to make traditional Japanese longbows in Miyakonojo. Historically, the "golden standard" has been Tonkin cane, which is cultivated along the Xijiang River in Guangdong, China. This type of bamboo is thinner than Japanese madake and was once used for scaffolding.
When did Tonkin cane begin to be used in fishing rods?
It started in the early 17th century, when a British army officer and fishing enthusiast brought the bamboo back from China. He wondered if it could be used as a fishing rod tip. That marked the beginning of the shift from wooden rods to bamboo rods.
Could you tell us more about the history of bamboo fishing rods?
Before the 19th century, most anglers used wooden rods, including whole bamboo "cane poles." Eventually, France, the UK, China, and the U.S. all claimed to have originated the "split cane rod." In the early 19th century in America, people began experimenting with gluing together two, three, or four split bamboo pieces to create rods.
What structural characteristics does bamboo have?
The cross-section of bamboo contains vascular bundles—fibers that function like rebar in reinforced concrete, drawing water upward. These bundles are concentrated near the outer skin of the bamboo and contain a high amount of silica. In the madake I use, the outer layer contains about 5% silica, while the inner layer has only 0.5%, a tenfold difference.
What is the process of crafting a rod?
First, I shave away the soft parts to maximize the strength of the vascular bundles and shape the bamboo into triangular cross-sections. Six of these pieces are then glued together to form one rod. Next, the rod is heat-treated in an oven at over 174°C (345°F), carbonizing the bamboo to give it stiffness and resilience. Each builder has a unique approach to this "baking" process, it's like a recipe in cooking.
Do you use any special tools for shaving?
Yes. I use commercially available planes that I’ve customized to suit my own technique. Like the philosophy of Japanese temple carpenters, tools are a medium for communicating with the material. You feel the grain and hardness as you shave, and developing that sensitivity requires building a trusting relationship with your tools.
What is a hollow structure in a bamboo rod?
My rods are semi-hollow. I carve out the inner side of each triangular piece to form a shell, and then adjust the taper and wall thickness to fine-tune the rod's action. The design is highly sensitive, allowing me to control flexibility and stiffness with precision.
I hear you're particular about selecting bamboo from the very beginning.
That's right. I visit the bamboo groves myself and examine the soil, age of growth, how the light enters, the condition of the nodes, etc. Out of hundreds of stalks, I might choose only five. Bamboo has 71 nodes, and once it's cut, the natural balance is disrupted. So I replicate the original spacing of the nodes when rebuilding the rod. It's about recreating nature’s balance at a smaller scale.
The adjustments during production are very meticulous, too.
Designing the joint sections is also crucial. I make four parts for the base and four for the tip, eight in total, and try all 16 possible combinations to find the one that feels just right.
How do you choose which rod to use?
It depends on the size of the river and the type of fish. For example, when targeting fish like iwana that hide in complex currents, you need a rod that allows precise control of the line.
What is the appeal of fly fishing?
It’s a sport meant for enjoyment, not just catching. The principle is catch-and-release. We wet our hands before touching the fish to avoid harming them, and limit how long they’re exposed to air.
How is it different from Japan’s tenkara fishing?
Tenkara also uses artificial flies, but its purpose is harvesting. Hunters in northern Japan would catch iwana and sell them to inns. Only one type of fly is used, and the gear is extremely simple. It’s recently gained attention in the U.S. as “simple fly fishing.”
Could you explain how you choose or make your flies?
In fly fishing, you select flies based on the life stages of aquatic insects. The most iconic is the mayfly. Depending on whether the insect is emerging or has died and is floating on the surface, you observe the rise rings and decide what kind of insect to imitate.
Do you make your own flies?
Yes. For instance, the classic "Adams" fly is designed so that when it floats on the surface, the refraction of light makes it look like an insect struggling from below. These optical tricks, and the art of making a bundle of hair resemble a living creature, are part of the craft’s beauty.
Can you tell us about your fishing background?
I started fly fishing at 13, and now I’m 48. I've caught mahi-mahi in the ocean and pursued bonefish and 2-meter-long tarpon in Mexico and Hawaii. I study old fishing manuals and also create my own techniques and flies.
Before I join you all at Tortoise for this event, I will have the opportunity to do some fly-fishing near Yellowstone National Park. We will cast our lines in Henry’s Fork, a coveted spot for dry fly fishing. I am looking forward to sharing some stories from this upcoming fly-fishing expedition, and it will also be a great opportunity to meet both seasoned fly fishers and those just getting started!
