At the end of this writing, let me introduce the most exquisite fly fisher in Japan. He is Ken Shimazaki, famous for TMC hooks and some other products provided by Tiemco. Although his innovative works basically come from the practical way of thinking in American fly fishing, he never forgets to add some sort of fine devices to his inventions. His attitude seems to be based on the delicacy particular in Japanese people. I believe his ideas are more than borrowed things from America.
Japan is still a backward country of fly fishing.
Geisha, kimono, saki and Fujiyama used to be the most well known words to those who were not so familiar with our country. Even in 1995, I have come across some American people who have no idea about Japan except those four words. I have to say that is an old fashioned picture of our society. Geisha girls have almost died out now in Japan, there are few people who wear kimono in their daily life, and we consume much more beer than saki every year. These changes had occurred by the first half of this century.