Gyotaku Brook Trout Print

Posted by Jason Klass on Sep 12, 2012 in Tenkara Art | 15 comments

Today, I received my long awaited gyotaku print!  In Japanese, “gyo” means “fish” and “taku” roughly translates to “rubbing”, so “gyotaku” could be translated as “fish rubbing”.  Basically, the process involves painting a fish (literally), then laying a piece of washi paper over it, rubbing it to transfer the ink (or paint) to the paper, and finally touching it up (painting in the eye, adding a hanko, etc.).  In the early-to-mid 19th century, gyotaku was a merely a method for recording the size of fish caught by commercial fishermen.  It has since evolved into an art form and what I got today is truly a piece of art…

Framed Tenkara Flies

Posted by Jason Klass on Aug 20, 2012 in Tenkara Art | 3 comments

I recently wrote about some of the flies I got from the Tenkara Summit.  Two of them were very special to me since they were from Dr. Ishigaki.  I was tempted to fish with them but decided to have them framed instead.  I figured I’d get more joy by hanging them on my gear room wall than catching an 8″ brook trout with them.  That way, I can look at them from time to time and remember how great it was to meet Dr. Ishigaki and the other Japanese anglers at the Summit.  Now, I just have to decide where to hang it.