I started Tenkara at the age of 25.

I spent my childhood in the mountain area in Shizuoka  where

Mt. Fuji is located and there are many rivers around it.

I always went to river after school and in summer dived into it.

I tried to observe where they are holding by diving.

I did bait-fishing and also did hand-catching as well.

What the Touyama River is now: strength of its current is half of what it used to be.

It still attracts many fishermen.

The water current in those days was faster than today’s and

there were many ayu or sweet fish which you  probably get surprised.

It was when I was twenty years old that I tied flies for ayu fishing  on flies

called “dobuzuri” with material  purchased at a  flyfishing shop.

Actually my father was tying Tenkara flies when I was a child.

Recalling that, I was inspired to tie by myself.

I actually did saltwater fishing on lures in my twenties.

But I didn’t like to see trash or dead fish scattering around on the beach or

floating in the sea when I went fishing there.

I quit saltwater fishing in about two years and decided to go back to mountains.

I got into Tenkara.

My flies were not so beautifully tied but when I cast them, I caught so many fish.

It was so fun that I wasn’t tempted by bait fishing at all.

Also my favorite species became amago (land-locked salmon) from ayu.

I really thought they are beauty.

One of my Oni group makes “takoyaki” at the lodge.

And my quest for ideal lines started.

I started with braided lines.

I braided horse hairs and also used a fly line.

But I still didn’t like those.

They were cast well, but when the fly lands, it is pulled by the line.

Flies move too fast for fish to bite them although they chase flies.

I realized this is bad; lines are too heavy.

After that I had done research and research as I wanted to

fish amago.

But the bottom line is “line.”

Amago of my home water: its face is almost like a salmon.

There are some endangered species yamato iwana (char).

Iwana change their colors with their habitats.