I chose by three things, weight, price and the range of line and lures, with the eye of a fishing instructor who has fished for 30 years and also does ajing. No. 1 is the Major Craft Ajido 3G AD3-612L/S. At 51g it is the lightest of the six, and its list price of JPY 21,000 (excl. tax) is JPY 8,900 or more cheaper than the two 55g rods. If you want to stay under JPY 20,000, take the 59g, JPY 17,400 Shimano Soare BB Ajing S64UL-S.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
The weight of ajing rods does not follow the price. The JPY 20,000-range Ajido 3G is 51g, and the two JPY 30,000-range rods are 55g. What makes a rod light is how the blank is built; money spent on the grip and reel seat does not come back as weight. So I narrow the candidates by weight first, and decide with the money left whether to pay for the build at the hand.
Key points
- The Ajido 3G AD3-612L/S is 51g, 27.5g per metre
- Saving 1g from the Solpara costs JPY 619–6,450
- All six have solid tips, and PE starts at #0.1
Even at the same 6ft, from 51g to 67g
Lined up, six ajing rods of about 6ft ran from 51g for the lightest to 67g for the heaviest. A gap of 16g.
And the lightest is not a JPY 30,000-range rod. It is the JPY 20,000-range Major Craft Ajido 3G. Rods do not always get lighter as the price goes up.
How I chose
I looked at weight first. Ajing is fishing where you feel a light rig of about 1g at your hand, so I judged that the lighter the rod, the better. Next I calculated how much you add to save 1g from the cheapest one, the Solpara.
I hesitated over No. 2. The Soare BB is 8g heavier than No. 1 yet JPY 3,600 cheaper. I agonized. In the end it came down to lightness. I ranked these from the current models you can buy on Rakuten, looking at the official numbers.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Major Craft Ajido 3G AD3-612L/S
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 17,907 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 32,879. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanOnly three things to choose an ajing rod by
For a first rod, these are the three things I look at.
- Length of about 6ft. Daiwa describes the Gekkabijin RX AJING 64UL-S as the standard for jig heads of about 1g
- A solid tip. All six rods here have solid tips
- Check the lure limit. A rod rated up to 3g and one rated up to 12g cast different rigs
Quick table of the six ajing rods
Swipe the table sideways →
| Rank / model | Length | Weight | Lure | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Major Craft Ajido 3G AD3-612L/S | 6'1" | 51g | 0.2–3g | JPY 21,000 |
| No. 2 Shimano Soare BB Ajing S64UL-S | 6'4" | 59g | 0.5–12g | JPY 17,400 |
| No. 3 Major Craft NEW Solpara SPAJ-S622L | 6'2" | 67g | 0.2–3g | JPY 11,100 |
| No. 4 Shimano Soare SS Ajing S64UL-S | 6'4" | 55g | 0.4–8g | JPY 29,900 |
| No. 5 Daiwa Gekkabijin MX Ajing 64UL-S・J | 6'4" | 55g | 0.3–5g | JPY 38,500 |
| No. 6 Daiwa Gekkabijin RX AJING 64UL-S | 6'4" | 65g | 0.3–5g | JPY 24,000 |
The price of saving 1g, and weight per metre
| Model | Per meter | Gap from the Solpara | Price of saving 1g |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajido 3G | 27.5g | +JPY 9,900 for −16g | JPY 619 |
| Soare BB | 30.6g | +JPY 6,300 for −8g | JPY 788 |
| Solpara | 35.6g | ― | ― |
| Soare SS | 28.5g | +JPY 18,800 for −12g | JPY 1,567 |
| Gekkabijin MX | 28.5g | +JPY 27,400 for −12g | JPY 2,283 |
| Gekkabijin RX | 33.7g | +JPY 12,900 for −2g | JPY 6,450 |
The ranking is nearly the same as the cheapest-first order of the right column. Whether 1g costs in the JPY 600s or the JPY 6,000s: that is where the gap showed clearly.
Why this order
| Rank | Model | Reason for this rank |
|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | Ajido 3G | 51g is No. 1 among the 6 rods, and the price of saving 1g is also the cheapest, at JPY 619. |
| No. 2 | Soare BB | JPY 17,400 for 59g, or JPY 788 per gram, is good value, but it is 8g heavier than No. 1. |
| No. 3 | Solpara | JPY 11,100 is the cheapest of the 6, but 67g is the heaviest of the 6. |
| No. 4 | Soare SS | 55g is the No. 2 lightest, yet 4g heavier than No. 1 and JPY 8,900 more. |
| No. 5 | Gekkabijin MX | 55g is the same weight as No. 4, but JPY 8,600 more. |
| No. 6 | Gekkabijin RX | A new generation of Sep 2026 at JPY 24,000, but 65g is 6g heavier than No. 2. |
No. 1 Major Craft Ajido 3G AD3-612L/S | 51g
51g at this price. The maker says it uses the same level of blank as the higher Ajido 5G, and it is not beaten on weight even next to the 5G S622L/AJI (52g).
Mind the lure limit of 3g. It cannot cast heavy Carolina rigs or floats. It is a rod for people who stick to jig-head-only rigs and want lightness.
No. 2 Shimano Soare BB Ajing S64UL-S | casts up to 12g
Lures are listed from 0.5g to 12g, the widest range of the six. Even the Hi-Power X, which resists twisting, and the bridge-like seat for sensitivity come at this price.
The so-so part is 59g, 8g heavier than No. 1. It suits anglers who want to try everything from jig-head-only rigs to slightly heavier rigs with one rod.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Soare BB Ajing S64UL-S
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 13,396 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 19,184. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 3 Major Craft NEW Solpara SPAJ-S622L | JPY 11,100
In the early JPY 10,000s you get Fuji's K-frame guides and a down-lock grip that lets you touch the blank directly. The warranty is 1 year, extended up to 3 years with member registration.
But 67g is the heaviest of the six, and the transport length is not in the table. It is an entry point for people who first want to see whether they will stick with it.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Major Craft NEW Solpara SPAJ-S622L
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 7,590 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 17,622. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumNo. 4 Shimano Soare SS Ajing S64UL-S | with Spiral X
Spiral X, which resists twisting and crushing, is included in this series for the first time. 55g, 99.6% carbon content. Light.
The point to watch is the price: JPY 8,900 more than No. 1, yet 4g heavier. It is the rod for people who match it with a Shimano reel and want the higher build (rod 1).
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Soare SS Ajing S64UL-S
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 23,023 (as of Oct 14). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 5 Daiwa Gekkabijin MX Ajing 64UL-S・J | build at the hand
The back of the grip is molded in one piece from carbon, and the reel seat is the same Zero Seat Compact Fit as the higher models. Daiwa explains that it is built to carry vibration to the hand better.
It weighs 55g, the same as No. 4, and its price is the highest of the six. It suits anglers who want to pay for the build at the hand rather than for weight.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Gekkabijin MX Ajing 64UL-S·J
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 26,595 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 37,600. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 6 Daiwa Gekkabijin RX AJING 64UL-S | new generation of September 2026
A just-released generation. Daiwa writes that the blank uses X45 and HVF Nano Plus, with the centre of gravity moved toward the back of the hand so the rod is easier to hold up and shake.
So-so. At 65g it is 6g heavier than No. 2, the Soare BB, and JPY 6,600 more. It is a choice for people who value where the balance sits.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Gekkabijin RX AJING 64UL-S
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 17,688 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 23,886. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanOut of the ranking: Major Craft NEW First Cast Ajing FCAJ-612L/S
The official page lists a release in October 2026. 6ft 1in, 64g, list price JPY 6,000 (excl. tax). Weight per metre is 34.5g (64 ÷ 1.854), lighter than the Solpara at No. 3. When it reaches shops, I will add it to the ranking and review.
Solid vs tubular
A solid tip is filled all the way through; a tubular tip is a hollow tube. Daiwa explains that the carbon solid Mega Top can make a thin, soft tip, so on top of the sensitivity you feel in the hand it is also excellent at the sensitivity you see in how the tip bends.
Shimano writes that the -S at the end of the model number marks a solid tip. All six rods here were solid.
If you add the reel weight, the weights lined up in the ranking of size 2500 and C3000 spinning reels (185–235g) are a guide for the heavy side.
For the new generation, I have also written the 26 Soare Xtune review and the Gekkabijin MX MB review of the 5-piece rod.
Who is it for?
- Anglers who want to cast jig-head-only rigs lightly with a rod of about 6ft
- Anglers who fish with thin line up to PE #0.6
If you have no complaints about your current rod, there is no need to rush to replace it. If you cast Carolina rigs or floats of 5g or more far, you can also choose a longer rod in the 7ft range.
FAQ
What length of ajing rod is best for a beginner?
Around 6ft. Daiwa describes the Gekkabijin RX AJING 64UL-S as the standard for jig heads of about 1g, and all six rods fall within 1.85–1.93m.
Solid or tubular: which is better for a beginner?
If you are unsure, solid. All six rods of about 6ft compared here, from the JPY 10,000s to the JPY 30,000s, have solid tips.
How heavy a jig head can I use?
Up to the lure limit in the rod's table. The Ajido 3G and Solpara list up to 3g, the two Daiwa rods 5g, the Soare SS 8g and the Soare BB 12g.
