September 12 2012
Tenkara China
Innovation, the best tenkara rods, and working with China
Written by Daniel
I have been in China for about 3 days now (5 more to go), following a 2-week long stay in Japan. This tour of Asia is very important and I believe will translate into ever-better Tenkara USA products. And, I’m already seeing concrete insights and results from being here.
For about 4 years I have focused on developing authentic tenkara rods. I do not copy any rods and have my own design philosophy when it comes to making (and releasing) new tenkara rods. Futher, for the last 4 years I have been taking your feedback into account into everyone of our rods. As you can see, I brought all those notes here with me.
Spending time in Japan provides a greater understanding of tenkara – the method as well as the tools available in the country where the method originated. Spending time in China provides a far greater understanding of the main tool used for tenkara and the options available to us so we can develop new products – and obviously some valuable time spent with our engineers and manufacturing partners to whom I have made sure to relay the most important messages of this trip: we need to ensure superb quality control, and we need to innovate.
Coming to visit our factories right after spending time in Japan was a smart decision. There are insights and ideas that wouldn’t translate as well had I decided to go home right away. Further, seeing more of the possibilities available to us here in China for the making of new rods will easily foster future innovation and will be translating beautifully into the new tenkara rods we’ll release in the future.
Recently, Mike of Troutrageous.com wrote a good (even if a bit heart-breaking to me) piece on the current perceived commodization of tenkara rods. It is indeed easy and cheap to source rods from China, and buy them off-the shelf based on work done by others. the difficult part is designing something unique, doing the due diligence to find the right partners, ensuring the quality of the products and if necessary improving them. All our rods are unique designs and have gone through multiple iterations, taking into account user feedback and feedback from teachers as well as my own thinking about how they could be improved. This visit is but one step in continuing making our rods better and standing apart from the copying (or partial copying) of our older models. So, Mike, I think you’re correct that “competition tends to breed innovation”; though I really wish I could have stayed a bit away from releasing new products just because there are so many “copies” coming out; that may be what made fishing complicated to begin with.
It is also important that our partners here understand tenkara better as I want them to know what makes a good tenkara rod. Yesterday we headed to a body of water nearby and spent ime going over some of the main performance criteria I look at when designing a rod: does it feel comfortable and lightweight? Does it cast well? Does it set hooks well? Can it play fish well? Is it sensitive? etc. These are all common elements of any fishing, rod, but it was very cool to see the light going off in their heads when they better understood why I make certain requests for our rods. It wasn’t a mountain stream, but showing them what tenkara looks like in person, and getting them excited about this style of fishing will certainly translate into better products. I’m happy to work with the partners we have.
A few notes on working in /with China
Some see a bit of irony in us introducing a Japanese method of fishing to the world but having the rods made in China. What they do not know is that the vast majority of tenkara rods available in Japan – including the large manufacturers – make their rods in China as well. It is not so important where the tool is made as that it be well designed and well made. The biggest part of a tenkara rod lies in its design and on whom is directing and overseeing the development of the rod. I understand tenkara well, and that goes into Tenkara USA rods.
The quality indication of a “made in China” stamp is directly proportional to the company that backs it. I – Tenkara USA – back my products: I design them, work with our engineers to make them better, and am able to continually improve on them. And, by the way, those who may have noticed a typo or two in the packaging of one of our current rods, the labels of past rods and even the cloth bag of the Ito rods a while ago, should know those typos were entirely mine (done on this very same computer)!
I am very proud that our tenkara rods are made in China. This is my second visit to the China; I spent a semester of college living here and travelling throughout the country. In that time I gained a reasonable understanding of the cultural and manufacturing landscapes of the country, and that knowledge has directly contributed to the making of Tenkara USA. It made it possible to make good rods to begin with and is now making it easy and fun to be here working on the rods in person.
The partners I have chosen to collaborate with in China have been reliable and diligent in their work. Their willingness to make new products that I specify, and tweak ours rods have allowed Tenkara USA rods to go through continuous improvement – as well as some innovations that are generally invisible. This same responsiveness and willingness to take risks can be difficult to find anywhere else.
The fact that something is made in China tends to bring out strong opinions in people. Thus, I think it is important that I should make a few notes “as an insider” about it. It should be noted that because of the work with our partners in China, I have been able to create at least 12 direct jobs in the USA, provided part-time employment to several more contract workers in the USA (including people with special needs who do packaging for us) and contributed to the economy in some pretty concrete ways (1% for the Planet, 10% excise tax, income taxes, etc). And, yes, we also created a few jobs in China too; and, I should note I can personally confirm that our rods are all produced in safe factories, with good working conditions, decent-paying jobs, no minors hired and in very satisfactory places to work with.
Should I have stayed in my old (promising and safe) job I can almost guarantee I would have contributed very little to the economy in general and certainly would have created no new jobs. It is my hope that by “investing the time to learn about the sport, technique, and the art of superior rod design” to use Mike’s words again, Tenkara USA can continue to thrive based on superb products, customer service, and certainly innovation in tenkara rods. Luckily these are things that can not be commoditized.
Daniel,
Very well said. I have been extremely pleased with the quality of my Iwana. A great rod at a very reasonable price point. Keep up the good work!
Daniel,
As a small business owner myself, I appreciate your efforts in bringing Tenkara to the US through TUSA. I especially appreciate:
The level of quality of the gear I’ve purchased (iwana rod, level and traditional lines, flies etc.) and the speed and care with which they were delivered.
Your efforts to understand and honor the traditions behind Tenkara and the Japanese and Chinese cultures as they relate to your products and their manufacturing.
Your efforts to continually communicate with your customers through your website. You’ve created a sense of community and partnership with your customers.
Your extra effort through travel to promote and further develop Tenkara USA products and the Art of Tenkara outside of Japan.
The service you provide by making all of the equipment, technical and strategical resources I need to get started in, learn and fully enjoy Tenkara, all in one place. It saves me many many hours of my own time.
Lastly, and maybe most importantly, your diligent efforts to provide fresh and valuable information in your website blogs and forums. You open a window into not just the world of Tenkara but a small glimpse of Japanese culture too.
Although new to the world of Tenkara, you’ve earned my trust and my future Tenkara business.
Wow. Thank you so much for your very kind words of appreciation. It is truly already made my day, and I just barely woke up!
Thank you so very much.
Daniel
Daniel,
Just a note of thanks and envy! I have followed your reports day by day, wish I was there! And Margaret, she is so cute, your lucky dude! (hey, Im 61, no worries : ) Next time you need someone to carry your luggage, I VOLUNTEER! Thanks man!
I think I don’t know anything and ask my cat if he knows anything and he shakes his his head and lays back down
Tim, thank you and will certainly consider that as my suitcase seems to get heavier with gifts on every trip!
Darcy, not sure what to think of your comment, but my wife had a good laugh. I see I approved a comment from you sometime ago so I know it may not be a spam message.
Great information and your willingness to share the inside information most would try to keep secret. Have to say you have a top notch company and your staff is right on par with you. Enjoy your trip and have safe travels.
Daniel its your passion and dedication to innovate that makes Tenkarausa stand out and always will stand out amongst the growing list of tenkara offerings. as long as you continue to dote on your customers the way you do, you will have my business for a good long time. cheers
Your commitment to guality and thorough vetting of the manufacturing process are the reasons I have and will continue to support Tenkara USA. By the way, TJ is doing a great job as customer service dude.
Good stuff Daniel. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness in all that you do. I do love your products. (I am still hoping to replace my lost Ito as soon as posssible!)
Thank you Mike. Indeed TJ is the reason I can be here doing this.
Thank you Steve!
Reads like a press release to me.
I wonder Daniel, are you conflicted with the business side of things vs your love of fishing and passion for tenkara?
Keep up the hard work Daniel. There are very few people out there who can say that they have put in the time and effort to learn an age old method and improve on design while still keeping with tradition. The respect that you have shown for the sport and earned from masters tells me your product is not replicable.
Rosie, it’s very interesting to be in a business that mixes something I love. I did study business, and grew up amidst businesses, but was lucky to have found something I could devote my heart and soul to.
Every post comes out when I sit on the keyboard with inspiration to write about something. Most inspiration I get is from trips, and nowadays my trips consist of business/pleasure combined. Going to Japan gave me good inspiration to see what else I could find out about tenkara. The China leg of the trip is more focused on the business side of Tenkara USA so I ended up talking more about the business aspect of it. I have noticed more people getting on the tenkara “bandwagon”. Obviously that means it looks like we’re doing well and tenkara is causing some ripples. But, I also felt important to get the loudspeakers for once and talk about how I’m on this because I love it and I have come to spend time with our factories to make our products better and so they will stand above the rest. Luckily I think there does not need to be a conflict between the business side and my passion for tenkara; I seek to learn more about tenkara as well as to learn more how to run a good business. My love of fishing and passion for tenkara provide the foundation for the business side of things.
Thank you Corbin. Really appreciate the vote of confidence. Tenkara has become my life, and I really feel I couldn’t have chosen a better match, so I’ll continue putting the time. I want to make sure the sport stays alive and our products stand up with it.
Just the act of you actually going to oversee production at the factory speaks highly of TUSA! Awesome that you can get so hands on to make sure your products come out meeting exactly what you wanted. Thanks for the behind the scenes look at TUSA