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Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Shimano 26 Kaimei 50-240 / Shimano 26 Kaimei 50-270 / Shimano 26 Kaimei 30-240 / Shimano 26 Kaimei 80-240Shimano 26 Kaimei reviewRelease date, price and how to choose among the 8 models. Shimano's 26 Kaimei went on sale in Sep 2026 in Japan at JPY 36,500 (excl. tax). If you are unsure, the 50-240 for sinkers No. 30–100 is my pick, at 163g. Among the 8 models, I explain how to choose by the action that runs from 7:3 to 6:4 and the weight gap between lengths.Review · Oct 18, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Shimano 26 Ocea Jigger ∞ (Infinity) B65-3 / Shimano 26 Ocea Jigger ∞ (Infinity) B65-2 / Daiwa Saltiga J HIGHRESPONSE 60S-3 / Shimano 26 Ocea Jigger ∞ (Infinity) B63-4Shimano 26 Ocea Jigger ∞ reviewRelease date, price and how to choose among the 11 models. For slow jigging rod No. 1, the core B65-3 is my pick. It went on sale in Aug 2026 in Japan at JPY 72,000 (excl. tax), weighs 137g and takes jigs of 120–280g. I calculated the slimmer blank of the 3th generation and the weight and drag gaps among the 11 models.Review · Oct 18, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Shimano 26 Soare Xtune S64UL-S / Shimano 26 Soare Xtune S58UL-T / Shimano 26 Soare Xtune S64UL-T / Shimano Soare SS Ajing S64UL-SShimano 26 Soare Xtune reviewRelease date and how to choose among the 8 models. If you are unsure about a top-end light game rod, the S64UL-S is my pick. It went on sale in Sep 2026 in Japan at JPY 69,000 (excl. tax) and weighs 60g. I compared the lightness of the new X Guide Micro and the difference between solid and tubular tips.Review · Oct 18, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Shimano 26 Exsence Genos S110MH/R / Shimano 26 Exsence Genos S110H/R / Shimano 26 Exsence Genos S112MH+/R-3Shimano 26 Exsence Genos reviewRelease date and how to choose among the 4 models. If you are unsure about a rock-shore hirasuzuki (blackfin sea bass) rod, the S108M+/RF for lures of 8–48g is my pick. It went on sale in Sep 2026 in Japan at JPY 84,000 (excl. tax). I calculated the difference from the previous model, which now has full X guides, and the weight gaps among the 4 models.Review · Oct 18, 2026
Product in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Daiwa Presso AIR AGS 61ML-EDaiwa Presso AIR AGS 61ML-E reviewRelease date. A buy if you reel mid-weight spoons and cranks on ester line. It went on sale in Sep 2026 in Japan at JPY 48,500 (excl. tax), weighs 43g and takes lures of 0.6–5g. I also cover how it differs from the 510UL-E and from the Presso-LTD AGS released the same month.Review · Oct 18, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Daiwa Gekkabijin MX MB 65L-S-5・J / Daiwa Gekkabijin MX Ajing 64UL-S・J / Daiwa Gekkabijin MX MB 510UL-S-5・J / Daiwa Gekkabijin MX MB 610UL-S-5・JDaiwa Gekkabijin MX MB reviewRelease date and how to choose among the 3 5-piece models. For a light game rod that packs small, the 5-piece 65L-S-5 is my pick. It went on sale in Sep 2026 in Japan, with a transport length of 45cm and a list price of JPY 34,500 (excl. tax). I also cover how to choose among the 3 models and the weight gap to the 2-piece Gekkabijin MX.Review · Oct 18, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Daiwa Saltiga J HIGHRESPONSE 60S-3 / Daiwa Saltiga J HIGHRESPONSE 60S-4 / Daiwa Saltiga J HIGHRESPONSE 64S-3 / Shimano 26 Ocea Jigger ∞ (Infinity) B65-3Daiwa Saltiga J HIGHRESPONSE reviewHow to choose among the 6 models. If you are unsure about a spinning jigging rod, the 60S-3 is my pick. It went on sale in Sep 2026 in Japan at JPY 62,000 (excl. tax), weighs 161g and handles jigs up to 250g. I compared the 6 models by jig limit divided by weight.Review · Oct 18, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Daiwa Megadis R 3-53 Distance Casting / Daiwa Megadis R 4-53 Distance Casting / Daiwa Megadis R 5-53 Distance CastingDaiwa Megadis R Distance Casting reviewRelease date and how to choose among No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5. For basket-casting rod No. 1, the 3-53 distance casting rod rated for sinkers No. 5–15 is my pick. It went on sale in Oct 2026 in Japan at JPY 83,500 (excl. tax) and weighs 350g. I compared the effect of the added guide and the gaps from No. 4, No. 5 and the Megadis R 3-53T.Review · Oct 18, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Daiwa Megadis R 1.5-53 / Daiwa Megadis R 1.25-53 / Daiwa Megadis R 1.75-53Daiwa Megadis R reviewRelease date, price and how to choose a size. If you are unsure about a rock-shore grey (mejina) rod, the 1.5-53, 5.3m and 235g, is my pick. It went on sale in Oct 2026 in Japan, with a list price of JPY 77,000 (excl. tax). I worked out how to choose among the 10 sizes, the weight gap between 5.0m and 5.3m, and how it differs from the distance casting models (10).Review · Oct 18, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Daiwa Morethan 95MLMB / Daiwa Morethan 93LMLB / Daiwa Morethan 104MB / Daiwa Morethan 93ML/MDaiwa Morethan Bait Model reviewRelease date, price and how to choose among the 3 models. If you are unsure about a sea bass baitcasting rod, the 95MLMB for lures of 7–40g is my pick. It went on sale in Sep 2026 in Japan, with a list price of JPY 76,000–81,500 (excl. tax). I also worked out how to choose among the 3 models and how they differ from spinning rods of the same length.Review · Oct 17, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Daiwa Saltiga SJ TG / Daiwa Saltiga SJ TG 58B-2 / Daiwa Saltiga SJ TG 58B-5Daiwa Saltiga SJ TG reviewRelease date and how to choose among the 5 models. For offshore jigging where 1 rod handles heavy jigs of 200–400g, the 58B-3 is my pick. It went on sale in Sep 2026 in Japan at JPY 77,000–83,000 (excl. tax). I wrote about the difference from the previous model, now stretched to 5ft8in, and how to choose among the 5 models.Review · Oct 17, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Daiwa Dragger EX / Daiwa Dragger EX 98HHF-3 / Daiwa Dragger EX 91XXHF-3Daiwa Dragger EX Shore Casting Rod reviewRelease date, price and how to choose among the 3 models. A review of the Daiwa Dragger EX. It goes on sale in Oct 2026 in Japan, with a list price of JPY 112,000–115,000 (excl. tax). All 3 models weigh about 400g. The lure limit is 120g for the 98HH, 160g for the 93XH and 280g for the 91XXH. If you are unsure, the core 93XHF-3 is a buy.Review · Oct 15, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Shimano Trout Rise / Shimano 26 Trout Rise S60SUL / Shimano 26 Trout Rise S63SUL / Shimano 26 Trout Rise S50SUL-FSShimano 26 Trout Rise reviewRod No. 1 is the S60SUL, and how the 7 models differ. A review of the Shimano 26 Trout Rise. For rod No. 1 at a trout area, the S60SUL is my pick. It went on sale in Sep 2026 in Japan, with a list price of JPY 11,000–13,000 (excl. tax). I sorted out the differences in length, stiffness and build among the 7 models, and how it differs from the 19 Trout Rise, from the official descriptions and my own calculations.Review · Oct 18, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Major Craft Ajido 3G AD3-612L/S / Shimano Soare BB Ajing S64UL-S / Major Craft NEW Solpara SPAJ-S622L / Shimano Soare SS Ajing S64UL-SAji rods for beginners: how to choose, with a top 6No. 1 is the 51g Ajido 3G. The #1 beginner aji (horse mackerel) rod is the Major Craft Ajido 3G AD3-612L/S: 6 ft 1 in, 51g, JPY 21,000 (excl. tax). I compared 6 solid-tip rods of about 6 ft by official numbers and worked out the price of saving 1g (JPY 619–6,450) and weight per meter.Ranking · Oct 18, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Major Craft Eggzaust 3G EZ3-842ML / Major Craft NEW Solpara SPE-862ML / Daiwa Emeraldas X 86ML・J / Daiwa Emeraldas MX 86ML・VEging rods for beginners: length guide and top 6No. 1 is the 72g Eggzaust 3G. The No. 1 eging rod for beginners is the Major Craft Eggzaust 3G EZ3-842ML: 72g, JPY 21,500 (excl. tax). I compared 6 ML rods from 8.3 to 8.6ft by the official numbers. Going from 8.3 to 8.6 adds only 0–3g, and I also calculated the price of saving 1g.Ranking · Oct 18, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Major Craft NEW Solpara SPSJ-1002M / Major Craft Crossride 5G XR5-1002M / Shimano Colt Sniper SS S100M / Daiwa Dragger X 100MShore jigging rods for beginners: rankingThe No. 1 10ft M rod is the 255g Solpara. For a beginner's shore jigging rod, No. 1 among 10ft M rods is the Major Craft NEW Solpara SPSJ-1002M: 255g and JPY 13,700 (excl. tax), lighter than the Colt Sniper BB and Dragger X at in the JPY 20,000 range. I lined up 5 rods by the official numbers and calculated how many grams the extra money saves.Ranking · Oct 18, 2026
Product in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Shimano Encounter S96MLShimano Encounter S96ML review138g, and the gap to the models below it in numbers. A review of the Shimano Encounter sea bass rod S96ML. My verdict is a buy. The official numbers are 2.90m, 138g, jigs up to 35g, PE #0.6–1.5 and a list price of JPY 25,500 (excl. tax). I compared it with the Dialuna, the Moonshot and Daiwa's Lateo 96ML by the price of saving 1g.Review · Oct 17, 2026
Products in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Shimano Dialuna S96ML / Shimano Encounter S96ML / Daiwa Lateo 96ML / Daiwa Seabass Flat X 96MLSea bass rods 96ML: top 6Among rods at JPY 10,000–30,000, No. 1 is the 138g Encounter. The No. 1 sea bass rod 96ML is the Shimano Encounter S96ML: 138g, JPY 25,500 (excl. tax). I lined up 6 rods by the official Shimano, Daiwa and Major Craft numbers and calculated how many grams an extra JPY 10,000 saves (87.5–1.3g) and the weight per metre of length (46.6–59.7g).Ranking · Oct 18, 2026
Product in the image (Rakuten Ichiba): Daiwa Lateo 96MLDaiwa Lateo 96ML review135g, and only 1g apart from the model above it. A review of the Daiwa Lateo 96ML sea bass rod. My verdict is a buy. The official numbers are a total length of 2.90m, 135g, lures of 7–35g and a list price of JPY 32,000 (excl. tax). I compared it with the Labrax AGS, the Seabass Flat X and Shimano's Dialuna S96ML by the price of saving 1g.Review · Oct 17, 2026