Tenkara-ya

Mr. Yoshikazu Fujioka was born in 1948 in Kyoto, Japan. He graduated from Aichi University of the Arts and Music in 1970.
During his professional carrier, he was an acclaimed industrial space designer / producer and received many awards for his work.

Mr. Fujioka started fishing in the mountain streams of Japan in 1975, and also began his famous art work (painting and drawing of mountain streams, trout and other wildlife) around the same time. His artwork are on display at number of museums and other public facilities.

Also in 1975, he discovered some regional traditional kebari (flies) used for tenkara fishing in Sho-kawa (Sho River) region in a small shop. He has devoted his passion for collecting and studying traditional Japanese tenkara kebari since.
In 1997, he opened his website My Best Streams.

We are very much honored to present his traditional Densho kebari collection series. These kebari come in a traditional Japanese "Kiri bako" (foxglove) box. This is a masterpiece collection of Japanese mountain fishing culture, as well as a display of Mr. Fujioka’s long devotion to discovering and preserving authentic Japanese kebari patterns.

Fujioka Collection Traditional Densho Kebari Set Western Japan 1

Itoshiro area kebari
Traditional kebari that was used in Itoshiro River, north part of Gifu prefecture. This kebari was used like Western dry fly that floats on the water surface and don't add manipulation. Fishing method using this kebari was performed by Mr. Tomoyoshi Kubota of commercial fishermen(Shokuryoshi) around 1935.
Hook : Masu No.7
Hackle : Bantam rooster
Body : Black cotton thread

Kashimo area kebari
Kebari of Urakiso Kashimo-mura(village) of Gifu prefecture side in Adera mountains that is known as a place of production of the hinoki(Japanese cypress) from the ancient days. Interesting point of this kebari is wire of shipping tag that was twisted together to peacock eye was used to ribbing of the body.
Hook : Sode No.11
Hackle : Hen pheasant neck
Body : (cotton of flowering fern)

Kurobe genryu area kebari
The kebari of commercial fishermen(Shokuryoshi) of Kurobe genryu(headstream) that is in Northern Japanese Alps of 3,000 meter class mountains in the border of Toyama Pref. and Nagano Pref. This is the kebari of Mr. Zenichirou Onikubo who fished iwana (char) in the Kurobe headstream for 40 years. Body is tied three times by silk black thread and peacock herl. Shamisen string is used for the eye.
Hook : Kaizu No.13
Hackle : Bantam rooster neck
Body : Peacock, silk thread

Matsumoto area kebari
This is a rare styled double hackeled kebari that has been used since long time ago around Matsumotoarea in Nagano Pref. and also in the wide area such as the main stream and branch of Azusagawa River, Saigawa River and Hakuba area in addition to Kisogawa River and Naraigawa River. I heard that this kebari had been tied by the grandfather of one fishing tackle shop owner, and the production of kebaris are commissioned to a fly hook workshop of Banshu (Hyogo Prefecture) now.
Hook : Sode No.10(Tippet of about No. 2 (2X) has attached about 30cm.)
Hackle : Hen neck
Body : Peacock, silk thread

Takayama area kebari
This kebari was used at Miyagawa river system of Gifu prefecture. This kebari is typical "Sakasakebari" in Japan. Kebari is tied with reverse hackle. The eye is made by black silk yarn.
Hook : Sode No.8
Hackle : Hen pheasant
Body : Peacock, silk thread

Shokawa area kebari
Shogawa is a river flowing from northern Gifu Prefecture to Toyama prefecture, and the basin has Shirakawago and Gokayama, famous for Gassho-style houses.
This kebari has ginger hackle, and body of red silk thread. Eye is made by black silk yarn.
Hook : Masu No.7
Hackle : Rooster neck
Body : Silk thread