Image courtesy of YouTube
Outside of Japan, the Yo-Zuri brand is known for their lures. But in Japan itself, the company is DUEL, which is a Japanese fishing tackle manufacturer located in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City in Fukuoka Prefecture. They manufacture lures, squid jigs, fishing lines and other small fishing accessories.
The three brands that are part of DUEL. The first is DUEL (lures and fishing lines for the domestic market in Japan), the second is YO-ZURI (squid fishing products and lures for the overseas market) and the third is HARDCORE (fishing lines and lures).
Established in 1967 by Kitagawa Yasuhiro who founded a factory that manufactured artificial lures in Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, the company would establish themselves as Yo Fishing Tackle Manufacturing in 1970.
The company then renamed itself to Yo-cho Fishing Tackle Company in 1977 and by 1989, they changed their name to Yo-Zuri, and established Yo-Zuri Thailand., followed by Guam and Philippines not long after.
When Kitagawa’s son-in-law, Eric Choi became the president of the company in 1993, in 1995 he would establish the company duel which merged with Yo-Zuri and the company named changed to DUEL Co, ltd. By 2003, Yo-Zuri America, Inc. was established.
The majority has a huge reputation in Japan and overseas and while the focus on development and fishing line manufacturing is in Japan, production is in Philippines and Vietname. And all products are manufactured in-house.
DUEL has a long presences on YouTube, establishing the channel over 17 years ago and has over 117,000 subscribers.
For their latest video, gravure idol Asai Ami and DUEL Pro Staff Member, Kurosu-san take on bass fishing in Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture. The video is titled “A 60cm Bass Appears!! Spring Big Bass Game in Lake Biwa | Ami-chan Wants to Catch More Fish! Episode 303 (1681)”. Please support their video and check out their YouTube channel.
