Company Profile
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History of
Edogawa (Sakurai Family) Sakurai Fishing Tackle was
established in 1888 in Tokyo.
The founder, Shintarou Sakurai (Also known as Edogawa I),
opened a small fishing tackle shop by the Edogawa River with his
father, Jisaburou (he originally was dexterous and creative enough
to make lots of crafts). While
the business prospered, Shintarou, at the age of twelve, became
interested in “Wa-zao” (traditional Japanese fishing rod)
handmade by “Maestro Saoji”, a famous wa-zao artisan at the
time. Saoji used to
sell his wa-zao at wholesale to the shop. Thus, while Shintarou sold
Saoji`s rods, he also began to intently learn how to make wa-zao by
Saoji though Shintarou was not an official pupil. Later, Hiroshi Sakurai, or Edogawa II, opened his own
shop at the age of twenty-three in Kanda, a very famous street near
Ginza. |
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・A
birdcage “Sashiko” for white-eye by Jisaburou Sakurai from about
1868. It is decorated with ivory, and painted with Urushi (pure Japanese lacquer). |
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Edogawa
II was not only a master of fishing but also talented in rod making.
Japan being a treasure-trove of high-quality bamboo, he
succeeded in exporting mass-produced Japanese style hexagonal split
bamboo and cane rods to the United States after WWII. He also
continued to manufacture various original Japanese fishing rods
using split bamboo, ranging from surf fishing to deep-sea rods.
Inspired by the flexibility of the nylon threads by DUPONT
Company, he created the world’s-first artificial soft plastic
bait, the Sakura Bait. From then on, Edogawa II and III cooperated
to develop the basis of atelier Edogawa under the concepts of wa-zao,
and decided to call it “Splendid Action”. To this day, the concepts of Edogawa rods are still based
on this, though the main materials used in the fishing rods have
changed from bamboo to glass fiber or carbon graphite fiber. ・Upper left: In 1953, 10000 pieces of fly rods
being shipped to U.S.A. |
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About
Atelier Edogawa Many
Japanese anglers regard Edogawa II a prodigy of rod crafting for his
considerable aesthetic tastes (enhanced through being a sculptor,
painter, and magician). He has left great footsteps in the fishing
industry. His works were considered artworks, though them being
industrial crafts, and Chiyoda-Ward in Tokyo granted him the title
of an intangible cultural asset.
Edogawa III, being a calligrapher and qigong master, had put much effort into administering the fairness of quality in
Japanese fishing rods ever since the National Fishing Rod Fair Trade
Conference (former Japan Glass Rod Industrial Society) was found in 1956.
The Fair Trade Commission of The Japanese Government finally
awarded him for his effort representing all the Japanese fishing rod
manufactures. Currently,
Atelier Edogawa is the only fishing rod brand recognized as Japanese
traditional craft manufacture by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry. Young Edogawa
IV, American footballer, pours his tough energy in export including,
China, Hong-Kong, Taiwan and Korea. Edogawa craftsmen also thought
out the rod designing method, so called “Blend Magic”, in the
balance of composite cushioning glass fiber and sensitive carbon
graphite fiber material. By this method, anglers are always
favorably impressed with the taste of enjoyable fishing.
Also, the method adopts in such as Japan’s
“Hera-fishing” (hera is similar to “Crucian Carp”), which
high tensile carbon prepreg (Toreyca etc) is required.
Those materials are called“Hoso-Karu-Pin
(super fine stroke, light, sensitive)”series
or “Kongou (named after Japanese term of diamond)”. The actions
of those materials gain Japanese anglers` trust. ・Right: Edogawa III
(far left) as the President of the National Fishing Rod Fair Trade
Conference at opening ceremony of Osaka Fishing Show 2006. |
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・Above: A certificate shows
that Japanese
traditional craft manufacture by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry.
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Wa-zao
(basis of our “Splendid Action”) Wa-zao
“和竿” is Japanese Traditional Fishing Rod made by many kinds of bamboo
and cane. Its length
varies from 90cm to 6m, and there exist from one piece to about 18
pieces. It takes long
time and experience to choose the best match of materials to express
peculiar actions. Just similar to European fishing, Japanese fishing
itself firmly reflects in our culture, such as novels, so we have
large variety of games from bitterling to tuna.
Thus, large variations of wa-zao exist to correspond all the
games. Methods of
fishing those games also depend on each region in Japan.
In order to enjoy all types of fishing, Edogawa craftsmen
also have large variety of fishing rod designs or concepts.
Also, wa-zao is well known as highly aesthetic value, being
finished with Urushi (100% Vegetable Pure Japanese lacquer).
Our prominent urushi painters also plant anglers in rich
sensitivity. ・Upper Left: 18
pieces (Length of 10ft, closed length of about 8inches) bamboo rod
presented on a board with paulownia wood box signed by Edogawa II
and scabbard decorated with silver and rattan. This is used for
fishing small river fish. |
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