Spring 2024
F
rom the outside, Japan is a distant land with many
closely guarded traditions. It can be intimidating
and overwhelming to try and understand it, let alone understand the quirky nuances of bass fishing in this
country. Growing up in Hawaii, Matty Wong had Japanese
culture inherently around him as part of his island life.
“There’s a lot of Japanese culture in ‘local’ culture,
not to be mistaken with traditional Hawaiian culture,”
explained Matty. “I felt a connection to Japan since many
of my classmates were of Japanese descent and would still
practice traditional Japanese rituals such as mochi at New
Years and Sashimi and Kadomatsu (traditional bamboo
offering) for the incoming year”.
Stepping foot in Japan for the first time in 2008, Matty
still felt massive culture shock but appreciated the efficiency
of societal norms such as cleaning up after yourself, trains
always on-time, and a common respect for your fellow
countrymen.
VISITING JAPAN
Having then studied Japanese language for a few years in Hawaii, Matty was destined to return to Japan again someday. What wasn’t so obvious at the time, was his return in the winter of 2023 as a Bassmaster Elite Series pro, which opened a whole new world in Japan - bass fishing culture.
“I wanted to connect with the Japanese companies that support me along with having some fun adventures with
some of my friends who I’ve met on the Elite Series tour,” he shared. “My main mission was to catch at least one Japanese largemouth bass, eat copious amounts of Ramen, and to visit as many tackle shops as I could.”
For any normal visitor to Japan, a good bowl of ramen along with sightseeing trips to majestic temples and neon- lit cities is an easy task. But to really immerse yourself into the bass fishing culture of Japan, it requires strong relationships and mutual respect. That respect was gained while competing against some of the best Japanese anglers in the United States.
“I can’t imagine chasing my passion in a country where I can’t understand the language,” said Matty. “If I can speak even a little Japanese with them, I’d like to think it makes them feel more comfortable in a foreign setting. Besides the language and food, there’s a lot more similarities between both American and Japanese anglers than most would think.”
With that copious amount of ramen firmly in his stomach, Matty explained what he’s learned about Japanese bass anglers.
“The main differences between Japanese anglers and American anglers are the understanding of true finesse,” he stated. “Most Americans will look at 8-pounds and say wow that’s really light, whereas Japanese will say 2-pounds is really light.
“Japanese obsess over specific techniques and baits. If something isn’t feeling right or swimming absolutely perfect, they will find a way to modify the lure or make adjustments to it. Whether it’s melting a lure to get a certain color/look or
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Kenta Kimura
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