I just returned from a visit to Tokyo and Seoul. The trip started in Tokyo.
Tokyo
Most of the rods are rods that are offered for sale are from customers. Rather than selling on an auction sites, these customers prefer the service of selling through an established fly shop like Hiranotsurigu.
To see such an extensive numbers of high end bamboo fly rods from Mark Aroner, Mario Wojnicki, Winston, Gary Howells, Bjarne Fries and Tom Moran to name a few is simply astounding. As I said before, fly shops like these are only possible in a country like Japan where exquisite craftsmanship is highly regarded.
From what I understand the Japanese economy has been on the decline for many years now and there are very few people able to afford rods like these. So one also wonders how a shop like this can pay its bills...
The weather in Tokyo in mid March can be a hit or miss. Our two days were definitely a miss. It was chilly and the second day we were met with rains all day. As we had a full second day, we decided to get an early breakfast at a famous sushi restaurant at 7am (that's also only possible in Japan!). The sushi chefs working on the freshest fish at such an early time is a delight to see (and taste!).
After breakfast we headed to the Royal Akasaka Palace for a guided tour. This palace built in 1909 is now in use as the state guest house of the Japanese government for heads of states like presidents of countries. Seeing this huge building built in a style that resembles European palaces is
quite remarkle. Unfortunately you are not allowed to take pictures
inside. Wandering through the building makes you feel like visting a museum.
After the tour we headed to lunch to meet up with my friend and amazing full dressed salmon fly tier Yuji. We had a tasty lunch of Soba noodles and afterwards headed to the Tsuruya fly shop. Entering the shop almost felt like I was coming home.
In Japan, Sakura cherry blossom season generally takes place in spring between late March and early April. During the hight of the blossom period, large number of Japanese as well as tourists visit the cherry tree parks around the country. Although the weather was quite chilly, we saw cherry trees starting to blossom in the streets of Tokyo.
We headed to part of the city with a small alley full of tiny restaurants on both sides. The evening ended with eating amazing Yakitori in a tiny Yakitori restaurant. What a way to end the two days in Tokyo!
With around 14 million inhabitants, Tokyo is a busy city. yet it's extremely well organised. The Japanese culture is for sure the reason everything being safe and clean. At the crossing area near the Shinjuku station where our AirBNB apartment was, there is also the famous billboard with the 3D animated cat.
Seoul
After two days in Tokyo, I traveled to Seoul.
I woke up at my parent's place the next morning and was welcomed with winter wonderland.
During my stay I met the only professional bamboo maker named Hyunchul Cho at his workshop in downtown Seoul. He is one of the very few (the only professional) bamboo makers in Korea. He used to run a small fly shop called River, but it looks like he is now only focusing on bamboo rod making. We cast several of the rods he built including a Dickerson 7012, PHY Perfectionist and an own taper design.
He builds rods for fishing. However I had to complement him on a rod that was just being finished for a customer. I really like the shape of the cigar grip, kinda on the smaller size which I like on my bamboo (and fiberglass) rods.
Before saying good bye, he cut a piece of a bamboo blank he built as a souvenir for me.
Update March 31, 2025:
I found out there's another bamboo maker in Korea named K.R. Lee. He runs a fly shop called Fly Fishing End Craft. It's located in a nearby city of Gunpo-si, that's south of Seoul.
I'm amazed how many fly shops there are in and around Seoul! A few shops are gone now but still a few are still running. A fly shop called Trutta, located east of Seoul. Another fly shop called Adams Fly, located on the west side of Seoul. The largest fly shop in Korea now seems to be Rainbow Outfitters, located just south of Seoul.
It's
amazing how fast fly fishing has established in Korea. I remember
asking my father to bring me a Korean fly fishing magazine back in the
late 1980's. He came back with the news that nobody had a clue what he
was asking... 😃
