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 Eastern Japan 2

Zakogawa Area Kebari
Zakogawa(Zako River) is the confluence of Uonogawa(Uono River) in Oku-Shinano. The famous place for Shokuryoshi(Professional fishers) made their lives since long time ago. This is typical kebari those shokuryoshi used in this area.
Hook : Akita-Sode No.12
Hackle : Rooster Neck
Body : Silk thread, Peacock

Tsumagoi Area Kebari
This is the kebari that Shokuryoshi(Professional fishers) in Tsunagoi, Joshu used. There is a
famous river called Azumagawa(Azuma River) where those shokuryoshi fished.
Hook : Sode No.8
Hackle : Rooster
Body : Peacock

Yodagawa Area Kebari
This is the kebari that had been used around Yodagawa(Yoda River) in Nagano. Yodagawa has its source near Wadatoge(Wada Pass) on Nakasendo (Edo-period road from Edo to Kyoto).
Hook : Seigo No.9
Hackle : Hen Pheasant
Body : Nylon thread

Okutano Area Kebari
Kannagawa(Kanna River) runs through the mountain villages of the southwest part of Gumma Prefecture. This is a kebari of Mr. Shin-ichi’s Takahashi who has run Hamadaira Hot-spring Inn ranging to four generation from Mr. Hikobei who also was Takajo(Falconer) of Tokugawa Shogun family.
Hook : Gamakatsu Tenkara No.8
Hackle : Rooster Neck
Body : Rooster Nec, Silk thread

Kuromori Area Kebari
Kuromori kebari had been handed down in Koshu area where has been a traffic strategic location of Yamanashi and Nagano since many hundred years ago. Mr. Goro Fujiwara was a famous angler who took over this kebari, but they say no one uses this kebari in Kuromori area now. There are many color variations of the body of this kebari.
Hook : Ise-Ama No.6
Hackle : Rooster Neck
Body : Wool

Taba Area Kebari
Taba is located in the mountainous area of the western part of Tokyo. There were many shokuryoshi and expert anglers in this area. Kebari fishing(Tenkara fishing) was called "Hane-tsuri" in Taba in the old days.
The peculiar tradition of Taba kebari is retractable tippet. If the tippet is damaged, you can renew the tippet pulling two knots on the end of body
Hook : Akita-sode No.8
Hackle : Rooster Neck
Body : Cotton thread