I'm Going To Japan!

[Glenn]

Guess where I'm going guys?  Yep, Japan!  At the end of this month.  

 

I've been invited to tour the SPRO and Gamakatsu international headquarters and factories, and meet the CEO of Gamakatsu (I'm also invited to his home), and the President of Gamakatsu. 

 

Oh, and attend one of the world's largest tackle shows - bigger than ICAST.  I'll also do some sightseeing, try new foods, and stay up way late drinking sake and singing karaoke. LOL Plus I'm told I'll be going to a very large tackle store stuffed to the rafters with JDM tackle where I can buy whatever I can haul home.

 

If that weren't enough, I'll also be visiting Himeji Castle and Kyoto by way of a bullet train.

 

This will be a trip of a lifetime!

 

I'll try to chronicle the trip here, but my posts will likely be in the middle of the night due to the time change.

 

So, if you were me, what would you do?  What tackle would you get? What would you say to the CEO?

[islandbass]

Wow! Japan is a great place to visit.

 

I’d try to get one day to bass fish if legal, with maybe a Japanese pro. 
 

Then I’d try to go snowboarding. 
 

Check out local tackle shops. 

Eat, eat, eat!

 

Then fly home to an undisclosed pacific island (south of Japan) to visit family and warm back up on the beaches before returning stateside. Tsunekichi!

Bring your bait monkey at your own risk 😂

 

My new passport just arrived last week so I could tag along, lol. J/j. 

[Smells like fish]

Will you be filming footage for your YouTube? Can you try and do a slow detailed walk through of the Japanese tackle shop? 

[Glenn]

Yes, I will be filming for YouTube.  So yes, I'll capture as much as I can.

 

I'm afraid fishing isn't on the agenda this trip, but I have already been fishing with Shin Fukae and Masa Matsushita (on separate occasions).   I even caught a fish on the Free Rig with Shin! Does that count?

 

 

[GRiver]

If I were you ….. I’d adopt someone (me) and take that someone(me) on the trip to with you to Japan. Then you (we) could tour MegaBass and Shimano and stuff your ( our) pocket full of complimentary items. 
Just kidding ….. enjoy and take pics for us.

 

[TnRiver46]

What a rock star! I would probably need to be drugged for the bullet train 😂 , preferably unconscious. How fast does that thing go? 

[Jar11591]

Sounds like the trip of a lifetime, even without getting some fishing time in. Looking forward to seeing the content you share about it.

[A-Jay]

8 hours ago, Glenn said:

So, if you were me, what would you do? 

What tackle would you get?

What would you say to the CEO?

I would get some rest prior to the trip

Without making any stops
flight distance is 4,846 miles from Seattle.
Flight time of 10 hours, 12 minutes

Japan is 17 hours ahead of Seattle so that will flip you around a bit.

 

As for tackle - I'd check an extra bag just for Megabass jerkbaits.

 

What would you say to the CEO?

Please pass the Sushi. 

 

Have fun and Safe Travels.

btw - don't let the 'documentation' of this trip

interfere with your ability to immerse yourself in the culture, even for a short time.

Have fun at customs . . . .

A-Jay

 

 

[greentrout]

Sounds like a winner to me. I use the Gamakatsu G- Finesse Hybrid Worm Hook. Best I've ever used. I'd ask for a nice supply of worm hooks. 

[casts_by_fly]

When I'm in a different place, I look for things that I can't get at home.  Regular old gamakatsu 3/0 EWG?  Those are next day shipping here in the US.  So look for the things that you can't buy here and get 3 of everything.

 

I agree with Ajay- a suitcase full of JDM only megabass which are in part designated for a bassresource.com/forums giveaway would be pretty fun!

 

And I'd be splitting my meals between ramen and sushi.  I love both and can get pretty good of both here outside of NYC but I bet the real thing is a whole 'nother level.

[Hoosierman]

Been there, done that.

 

I was stationed at Camp Zama Japan (20 miles outside Tokyo) for 3 /12 years in the late 80s.

Most Japanese speak more english than they like to let on (they don't want to be embarrassed).

Enjoy the respect and honor of their way of life. 

 

Definitely go to the Ginza at night for all the lights.

Be sure to get a wooden sake (square) drinking cup.

The Bullet Train is interesting (I took it from Hokido back down to Tokyo (180mph)).

Go to a local restaurant and look at the window outside that displays fake samples of the food (artwork).

Get ready for sign pollution (signs that you can't read hanging everywhere). 

 

You do know they drive on the other side of the road right? (interesting to see / learn).

 

 

[Dogface]

WOW!!!

 

Good luck! That sounds like a trip of a lifetime. 

[Bankc]

Sounds like a lot of fun!  I've never been, but all I have to offer, having flown oversees a few times, is fly first class if you can.  12+ hours on an airplane is beyond medieval torture.  You'll survive it in coach.  But there will be many moments where you doubt that.  And a little trick I discovered from other oversees flights is to stay awake for around 24 hours before you board the plane.  That way you can more easily sleep on the flight.  And your body's internal clock will be so messed up, it'll adapt to the time shift more easily and help mitigate some jet lag.  

 

I've got family moving it Okinawa soon, so I plan to make it out that way when they do!  So I'll be looking forward to anything you learn about visiting there!

 

 

[WaskaCrank12]

What an awesome opportunity !

 

Pre-trip perhaps you hydrate a bit extra (long trip, long flights) - exercise/walk (my guess is you will do a fair amount of walking while there based on the places you mentioned you will visit) - learn some elementary Japanese (https://www.memrise.com/blog/learn-basic-japanese-to-survive) - learn a bit about Japanese culture (should you bow at the same depth as the CEO of Megabass ? or should you bow more deeply ? should you bow at all  ? - giving too nice/extravagant a gift to them can embarrass them - ect...) - enjoy their advanced toilet technology (heated, auto open/close, bidet, ect...) - hang on tight, that bullet train goes like a (180 mph plus).....

 

Hmmmmm, questions to ask ?

-I would be curious about each of them as people, why they do things the way they do, what inspires them, what are their goals, ect....

 

Enjoy every minute of it !

[TLHSS]

Have a wonderful and safe trip!

 

If it was me ... being a UL bank and small stream fisherman ... I'd have to visit Anglo & Company and handle some examples of their custom rods.

 

I'd also need to take something home that is unique to Japanese stream anglers but not used in the States.  Probably a set of brass bear bells

[softwateronly]

7 hours ago, greentrout said:

Sounds like a winner to me. I use the Gamakatsu G- Finesse Hybrid Worm Hook. Best I've ever used. I'd ask for a nice supply of worm hooks. 

Me too!  Also, can we get size 1 and 2 in the US?

 

Thanks,

 

scott

[Columbia Craw]

Very cool Glenn.  Don’t sit too close to the side doors on you jet.  

[928JLH]

Wow congratulations! Very excited for you. It would be cool for you to check out some mom and pop tackle shops. See some cool JDM tackle and reel finds.

 

Definitely would like to see some cuisine from Japan and your thoughts on it. 

 

Finally, way off of the fishing topic butif you can ogle a Grand Seiko watch. Very fine intricate craftsmanship and spring drive is very unique and innovative. 

 

Have fun!

[Capt Steve]

Hope you have a great trip. But I'm having trouble envisioning you singing karaoke in Japanese. 

[12poundbass]

Congrats on the trip! That would be a trip of a lifetime for sure. I’m not sure what I would say to the CEO, I would probably just listen and take it all in. I’d try and wet a line for sure and take in all the architecture and history….especially anything that has to do with the Samurai! 

[Fishlegs]

Wow! What a wonderful opportunity. Hope you have a great trip. Please be sure to document, and share with all your BassResource friends.

[crypt]

Well deserved Glenn. Have fun, take it all in and most of all enjoy yourself. Also tell the CEO thanks for making really good hooks. Tell him I said Hi......LOL.

[WRB]

Don’t pick up the tab if serving Wagyu beef!

Give the CEO a Bass Resource fishing cap.

Enjoy your trip👍

Tom

[Glenn]

42 minutes ago, WRB said:

Give the CEO a Bass Resource fishing cap.

I actually am doing just that! 

 

Lots of great tips and information guys.  Keep 'em coming while I cram basic Japanese.  

 

Japan Web is the new(ish) site for doing customs digitally.  Leave it up to the Japanese, eh?

[softwateronly]

Godspeed @Glenn!!  Eat, drink, and have fun!  I know I would.  And if you're living dangerously, have some Fugu.

 

scott