Study of Traditional Japanese Fly
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Nowadays, different fly fishing methods that use "Kabari" or "Kebari" are known in Japan. There is also a view that "Kabari Fishing" and "Kebari Fishing" are different from one another, but I think that the origin is same and the difference is by the fisherman, the fishing area, and the main target fish, so I created two names newly in considering Traditional Japanese Kebari History. One of them is "Urban Kebari Fishing" of Hae (Hasu, Pale chub) or Ugui (Japanese dace) that had been done by the court nobles and the samurai mainly. (Standard Japanese name of Hae (Hasu) is Oikawa, and it is called Yamabe in Kanto.) Another is "Mountain Village Kebari Fishing" of Yamame (Amago) or Iwana that had been done by the people and the fishermen in the mountain villages. The first fly was called "Haegashira", and those were called "Hachigashira", "Kagashira", "Kabari", etc. with the times. I think "Kabari" (Another page for details) and "Kebari" became more clearly differentiated the late 1800s when the fishing methods were established, but all flies for Hae (Hasu) or Ugui, Ayu, Yamame (Amago) or Iwana are called "Kebari" now.

The word "Tenkara" was used at Kiso area and it was spread from there by many writings etc. of Mr. Soseki Yamamoto of an essayist and an angler who studied "Tenkara" under Dr. Hideki Sugimoto who lived in this area. Its word became pronoun of Traditional Japanese fly fishing now. "Tenkara" doesn't have the history as the game, and is different from the western style fishing. Therefore, there are neither the rules nor the limitations. The former tenkara fishing had used bamboo rod, furled tapered line of horse tail, tippet of silkworm thread, and hook that made by a sewing needle. Now, they became rod of carbon from glass, furled tapered line of nylon or fluorocarbon, and special hook with a eye, and it has developed as fishing of sports or game. Tenkara kebari (fly) is very simple. It is considered that in order to fish by using the auxiliary measures "Motion" in the mountain streams of Japan that is rapid stream and to cast by the lightweight line easily. I examined the pattern of tenkara kebari by such as the traditional kebari that I am collecting, the books, and the internet. As a result, pattern of tenkara kebari could be classified into six patterns excluding a particular pattern. Regarding Hook Type and Size for Traditional Japanese Kebari, the most used one is Sode 8-11 go. Next, it is the order of Masu 6-7 go, Kitsune 7-12 go, Maruseigo 7-9 go, Iseama 6-7 go. (Japanese "go" means "number".)

No one knows for certain why it's called tenkara. Some say it's because tenkara means "from the sky", suggestive of the way the flies are dapped into the water from above. Others say it came from the word "Tengara", which is an entirely different method of fishing for Ayu (sweet fish), it was introduced to Japan from China. Still others say the state of Tenkara fishermen are like the children's game "Ken-Ken" that hops with one leg, and came to be called "Tenkara" from a dialect in Hida, Etchu and Kaga area. There are various theories besides.

References: Ishigaki H. (1992). Kagaku suru Kebari tsuri [Science of Kebari fishing]. Tokyo: Kosaido Publishing. Katsube, N. (1978). Tsuribari Shiryo Shusei [Compilation of fishing hook historical materials]. Hiroshima: Keisuisha. Kumagai, E. (1985). Yamazuri no Rondo [Rondo of Mountain Fishing]. Toko: Yama-Kei publishers. Nagata, K. (1987). Edojidai karano Tsuri [Fishing from Edo period]. Tokyo: Shinnihon-shuppansha. Oda, J. (2001). Edo Chojutsu Hiden [Secret Fishing Techniques of Edo]. Tokyo: Soubunsha. Yamamoto, S. (1973). Nishinihon no Yamazuri [Mountain Fishing in Western Japan]. Osaka: Tsurinotomosha.


Traditional Tenkara Kebari Pictures
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These are the only one original pictures by ink and watercolor. If you are interested in Traditional Japanese Fly or ordering Picture, please look at STUDIO TROUT & SEASONS.


Traditional Densho Kebari Set
Traditional Fly (Densho Kebari) of various areas in Japan were reproduced by my supervision and were released by TENKARA-YA. If you are interested in Traditional Japanease Fly, please visit to Tenkara Fishing Tackle Shop TENKARA-YA.


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