By Diogo Yamada
When we add knowledge and experiences we eternalize and justify our own existence. And when America and Japan met they sealed the future of sport fishing in the world.
It all started with the occupation of Japan by the Allied Armed Forces between 1945 and mid-1952 led by the United States and which had a great influence on its culture, food and lifestyle.
To this day the United States maintains military bases on the Okinawa island and the soldiers liked to fish for Black Bass in the lakes near Tokyo where the young teenager Hirosuke Nori, a Black Bass fisherman, met American soldier Charlie and developed a great friendship.
Charlie taught Hirosuke what he knew about black bass fishing with artificial lures. Hirosuke then spent his days trying to improve his technique using American baits like Big-O lures, created by Fred Young, from whom he had great influence.
In the 70s Hirosuke founded Alpha and Craft & Balsa 50, the first artificial bait brand in Japan and the predecessor company of SAURUS and it`s first bait created with a design by Tadashi Nishioka was a balsa wood crankbait called Balsa 50 Original, one of the most popular baits ever developed in Japan and today a rare collector’s item.
In the following years Hirosuke focused on the development of saltwater and bass fishing lures.
In the early days of salt water lure fishing in Japan, fishing with minnow plugs and metal jigs was mainly from the field and the targets were Sea bass, yellow tail or small size of trevally and then lure fishing from the boat began to take place.
Some anglers have come to use metal jigs frequently because of distance and in the late 90’s many Japanese saltwater anglers started jigging fishing in search of even bigger fishes but the problem of this era was the soft rod and nylon line.
The metal jig had to be large in order to use the stretchy nylon line and a flexible rod to bend the big balls, and a long rod was needed to move it quickly. To solve these problems SAURUS made a good original metal jig with a 9 foot jigging rod and a water bite. That’s the raise oh the famous famous Hilla Jiglla and the beggining of the modern concept of vertical jigging.
Until today SAURUS INT. produce and develop not only baits but all kinds of saltwater material under the supervision of Diogo Yamada, always seeking to maintain quality control and respect and honor the name of Mr Hirosuke Nori and his legacy.
If you are interested in Saurus products you can find it at The Fisherman’s Hut in Bradenton, FL.