After the establishment of the Fishing Operations Division in 1970, Shimano expanded its market in Japan and the U.S. In the latter half of the 1970s, it launched into the European market. While expanding its market in Germany, the U.K. and Italy, it also worked to develop products for the European market. In 1985, Shimano released the BAITRUNNER reel for spinning by focusing on carp fishing, which enjoyed enduring popularity in Europe. Equipped with the new spool-free mechanism, the BAITRUNNER was highly acclaimed by many top anglers. Subsequently, models in sizes for saltwater fishing were launched, and technologies were upgraded. More than 30 years after the release of the first model, BAITRUNNER is still popular around the world.