The Leobritz 500J is a buy for anglers who jig by hand for drop-in fishing or offshore squid. It's out in November 2026 at JPY 107,700 excl. tax. It's 50 g lighter than the 23 Leobritz S500JP and retrieves faster, though the max retrieve force figure drops.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
The biggest change on this 500J is that retrieve control moves to one thumb. The power lever becomes a jog dial at the center of the body, so the thumb of the hand gripping the rod runs both the retrieve and the clutch. So I'd pick it for people who jig by hand rather than leave the rod in a holder, and by this build before the retrieve-force figure.
Key points
- Out Nov 2026. List price JPY 107,700 (excl. tax)
- 750 g, 50 g lighter than the S500JP. Standard retrieve speed 155 m/min
- Same 750 g as the 26 Seaborg 500J, and JPY 11,600 cheaper
When is the Leobritz 500J released, and what does it cost?
It's out in Nov 2026. It comes in only 1 variant: the '26 Leobritz 500J'. List price is JPY 107,700 excl. tax.
| Release date | Nov 2026 |
|---|---|
| List price | JPY 107,700 (excl. tax) |
| Weight | 750g |
| Gear ratio (line retrieve per crank) | 3.9 (60cm) |
| Max drag | 20kg |
| Max retrieve force | 61kg |
| Standard retrieve speed | 155 m/min |
| PE line capacity | #4 500 m / #5 400 m / #6 300 m |
| Power supply | DC 12 to 16.8 V |
The handle arm length can be swapped between 75 mm and 85 mm. It ships at 75 mm.
How I judged it
First I looked at weight. At 750 g, it's 50 g lighter than the 23 Leobritz S500JP in the same 500 size. If you jig by hand all day, that matters.
Then I lined up the retrieve numbers and hesitated. Speed went up, but max retrieve force fell from 75 kg to 61 kg. It's still a buy for people who jig by hand, because the build that gathers the controls under the thumb counts for more.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Leobritz 500J
Pre-release: available from Nov 1How does the Leobritz 500J differ from the S500JP?
| Item | 26 Leobritz 500J | 23 Leobritz S500JP | 26 Seaborg 500J |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 750g | 800g | 750g |
| Max drag | 20kg | 16kg | 23kg |
| Max retrieve force | 61kg | 75kg | 90kg |
| Standard retrieve speed | 155 m/min | 135 m/min | 165 m/min |
| JAFS standard retrieve force | 15kg | 15kg | 20kg |
| List price | JPY 107,700 | JPY 64,900 | JPY 119,300 |
The S500JP is still on the official lineup as a current model. The price gap is 107,700 − 64,900 = JPY 42,800. Divided by the 50 g saved, that's JPY 856 per gram.
Speed shows up in the numbers. Reeling in 100 m at the standard retrieve speed takes 100 ÷ 155 × 60 = 38.7 s for the 500J and 100 ÷ 135 × 60 = 44.4 s for the S500JP. That's 5.7 s saved on each retrieve.
Hand-cranking got faster too. One handle turn retrieves 60 cm (gear ratio 3.9), 5 cm more than the S500JP's 55 cm (3.6). It has 11 ball bearings, 3 more than the S500JP's 8.
Mid-water, the fall brake dial helps. Across 180°, your thumb sets everything from free spool to maximum brake. Nice.
The linked clutch, which stops the motor when you disengage the clutch, works at depths of 9 m or more.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Leobritz S500JP
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 43,634 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 104,437. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanMax retrieve force fell, so why is it still a buy?
Max retrieve force is a reference value derived from motor shaft torque at a 13 V supply. The other figure, JAFS standard retrieve force, is an estimate calculated under Japan Fishing Tackle Industry Association rules. They are different yardsticks.
Line them up by JAFS standard retrieve force and the 500J and S500JP are the same at 15 kg. Deciding that power dropped from the 14 kg gap in max retrieve force alone is premature. That's how I read it.
Leobritz 500J or Seaborg 500J?
The 500J carries on the lineage of the 26 Seaborg 500J. Weight is the same 750 g, and the price gap is 119,300 − 107,700 = JPY 11,600.
For that gap, the Seaborg gets 90 kg max retrieve force, 20 kg JAFS standard retrieve force and 23 kg drag. Its motor warranty is longer too: 3 years / 300 km for the Seaborg versus 1 year / 100 km / 200 hours for the 500J. If you fish heavy rigs or big fish a lot, take the upper model.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Seaborg 500J (2026 model)
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 102,314 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 180,640. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanSee it on Rakuten IchibaThings to watch
This part is so-so. The 61 kg max retrieve force is lower than the 75 kg of the cheaper S500JP. On numbers alone, it's a step back.
Mind the power supply too. It runs on DC 12 to 16.8 V; household AC 100 V and a boat's DC 24 V won't work. Boat power tends to have unstable voltage, and the protection circuit can stop the reel.
Who is the Leobritz 500J for?
- Anglers who jig by hand for drop-in fishing or offshore squid
- Anglers who want a 500 size that holds 300 to 500 m of PE #4 to #6
If you mostly use light rigs for hairtail or tai rubber, the 385 g Seaborg 150J, which carries the same jog dial, fits better: see the Seaborg 150J review. How to choose PE size is in how to choose PE line size. For what to wear on a boat, see the waist-belt life jacket rankings.
If you want max retrieve force and a longer motor warranty first, the Seaborg 500J is another route. If you have no complaints about the S500JP, there's no harm in keeping the reel you have.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Leobritz 500J
Pre-release: available from Nov 1Release dates for other new gear are in the fishing gear release calendar.
The smaller 300-size electric reel is in the Leobritz S300J review, and a general-purpose boat rod to pair with it is in the 26 Kaimei review. For wakasagi electric reels, see the Crystia Wakasagi CRS II review.
FAQ
When is the Leobritz 500J released?
It's out in Nov 2026. List price is JPY 107,700 excl. tax.
How does the Leobritz 500J differ from the S500JP?
The 500J for hand-held jigging, the S500JP to keep the price down. The gaps are 50 g and JPY 42,800, and the standard retrieve speeds are 155 m/min and 135 m/min.
Does the Leobritz 500J come with a battery?
No. The accessories are things like the Super Power Cord and line-threading pins, and it assumes you power it with a genuine Daiwa electric reel battery.
