Edo Fishing Rods Bamboo Tochigi, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa Prefectures, and Metropolitan Tokyo Cooperative Union Tokyo Fishing Tackle Association 5-11-14, Minami-senju, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo tel 03-3803-1893 Background Edo fishing rods have always been made from natural culms (stems) of bamboo and were first made in Edo (Tokyo) in the middle of the Edo period (1600-1868). By the end of this era, they had taken on their present-day form and can truly be called works of art. With the sea on their doorstep and some beautiful rivers, too, these rods were a crystallization of research into the needs of those who lived in Edo and loved to fish. Practical in the extreme, each one is designed to fish a particular kind of fish under particular circumstances. Besides this everyone has their own likes and dislikes which can also be accommodated. Having made a rod to satisfy all these conditions, it is beautifully finished with a coat of natural lacquer. There are 44 people who are employed by the 38 firms sustaining this business.