Long-selling Model That Has Continued to Evolve with the Times

Shigure was developed as an ultra-lightweight rod for ayu (sweetfish) fishing in pursuit of easy handling. It became Shimano’s most lightweight rod for ayu fishing at that time (440 g). It did not cause fatigue after casting all day long and ensured firmness similar to that of a bamboo fishing rod. With these features earning high acclaim, Shigure enjoyed explosive popularity. The product revolutionized Shimano’s rods for ayu fishing. In 1975, Shimano released Polyblar Shigure, which was made from Polyblar material. Characterized by high strength and elasticity, this material was derived from composite processing of Kevlar® fiber and glass fiber. Shigure continued to evolve by incorporating cutting-edge technologies. In 1983, Hi-Power X Shigure was released. It featured Hi-Power X, a proprietary structure that achieved torsional rigidity far exceeding the level of conventional carbon rods. In 1987, Fine Ceramic Shigure, made from fine ceramics, was released. Shigure was supported by many ayu anglers because it continued to evolve while maintaining the proprietary traditional taper, which had been inherited from the first model.

STORY
SERIES

STORY

Shimano’s First Rod That Made a Big Hit

Until the 1970s, glass rods made from phenolic resin achieved widespread use for rods for ayu fishing in place of conventional bamboo fishing rods. However, glass rods had a disadvantage, which resulted in increased weight in the manufacturing process. Shimano sought a new material in place of glass. After trial and error, it decided to use polyester resin. In 1973, Shimano released the Shigure rod for ayu fishing made from polyester resin. Shimano was committed to both the material and the structure. Lightness and firmness were achieved by using a bamboo shoot design, whereby the length of each section was reduced from the bottom to the tip of the rod. Shigure was also characterized by the beautiful appearance achieved by polyester. This was Shimano’s first fishing tackle product for which a TV ad was aired. The ad helped Shigure be welcomed by ayu fishing fans with a frenzy. Shigure was the first Shimano rod to become a big hit.

In 1975, Shimano developed Polyblar material, produced by processing Kevlar® fiber, which was also used in space engineering, and glass fiber through composite technology. It released Polyblar Shigure characterized by lightness and high strength. It was evaluated as a reasonable and high-performance rod compared to carbon rods, which were expensive at that time. Subsequently, Shimano also released products featuring refined craft painting, such as Polyblar Urushi Shigure and New Shigure. It delivered products that were highly tasteful and met the needs of ayu anglers in addition to ensuring functionality. In 1976, Shimano developed the second-generation Polyblar, which combined Kevlar® fiber and glass fiber with carbon fiber. The addition of carbon fiber achieved a rod that featured properties close to those of a bamboo fishing rod, but was characterized by smoother bendability and higher firmness and resilience than a bamboo fishing rod.

Evolution of Rods for Ayu Fishing Achieved by the New Structure “X Line”

In the latter half of the 1970s, the mainstream rod material shifted from glass fiber to carbon fiber, which was characterized by lightness and strength. Shimano conducted research on a proprietary rod structure using carbon fiber. In 1981, it developed the X Line, which featured carbon tape wound in a cross shape on the outermost layer of the rod. In 1982, the name was changed from the X Line to the Hi-Power X, which was deployed as a series. In 1983, Shimano released Hi-Power X Shigure, a rod for ayu fishing that featured the Hi-Power X. The use of this technology achieved outstanding lightness and high operability and sensitivity. The X Structure became widely known as an icon of Shimano’s high-performance rods.

In 1987, Shimano released Fine Ceramic Shigure. High-performance ceramic fiber further improved the lightness, sensitivity and toughness of Shigure, which had already been highly evaluated. Shigure was recognized as a fishing rod series with high overall performance. Subsequently, Shigure continued to represent the endeavor to integrate tradition with technology for a long period by incorporating the latest functions, such as a zoom mechanism.

Shigure made Shimano rods well known in the industry and became a long-lasting hit due to its huge popularity. Shigure is a renowned fishing rod series that must be mentioned when discussing the history of rods for ayu fishing offered by Shimano, which has been committed to the evolution of technology.

SERIES

Some of series are listed.

1973

Shigure

Acclaimed as a masterpiece rod for ayu fishing at that time, Shigure became popular due to its lightness and firmness achieved through the use of polyester resin.

1975

Polyblar Shigure

Shimano developed and used Polyblar, a new material derived from processing based on composite technology. Specifically, Kevlar® fiber, characterized by lightness, high strength and durability, was sandwiched between two layers of glass fiber.

1976

Polyblar Urushi Shigure

This model used the karakusamon yogoshi finest urushi finish, a traditional 100%-purity urushi (lacquer) craft painting technique. The package included a wooden box and a cloth bag for storage as a token of refinement.

1983

Hi-Power X Shigure

The Hi-Power X structure achieved outstanding lightness to allow flexible control of a decoy ayu using one hand, high sensitivity to clearly feel the movement of a decoy ayu, and toughness. Hi-Power X Shigure became a hit on the market.

1987

Fine Ceramic Shigure

Shimano took on the challenge of applying composite materials, which were improving dramatically, to rods. Fine ceramic fiber, a new composite material which was used in space engineering and electronic engineering, was introduced to reduce weight and improve sensitivity and operability.

1992

Fine Carbon α Zoom Ayu EX Shigure

Shigure equipped with a zoom function was released as a sporty model focused on slenderness and light weight. The high-sensitivity grip with an integrated molded material achieved a smooth palm fit and improved sensitivity and operability.

2000

Ayu EX Shigure

Based on the “real power action” concept, which pursued an optimal rod balance, the total balance of the entire fishing rod was improved to attain both easy handling and power. The slow oscillation mechanism using ultra-low resin carbon and carbon slit tape further improved the response while taking advantage of Shigure’s unique characteristics. The lineup featured a high speed zoom model and an action zoom model.

2006

Shigure All Season ZX

Shigure All Season ZX was equipped with a zoom mechanism. Two tip sections and two tip-section-holding sections were included in the package, enabling anglers to use them depending on the situation. The specifications enabled anglers to enjoy various techniques from the beginning to the end of the season using a single rod. Muscle Carbon, which was designed to produce muscular materials, and the Muscle Loop structure helped improve the Shigure’s traditional taper.

2009

Shigure NZ

The non-zoom model achieved a lightweight body that enabled sharp rod movement. Muscle Carbon and the Muscle Loop structure further improved the basic performance.

2011

Shigure ZB

This model featured SPIRAL X, a new structure. Ultra-thin carbon tape was wound diagonally on the innermost and outmost layers of the rod material. Shigure ZB achieved weight reduction and ideal power while inheriting the traditional superb taper of Shigure.