Ichiban Eight Group (Fishing Eight Co., Ltd.) held the “2nd Bass Fishing Tournament Kato City Cup 2026 in Tojo Lake” on May 10, 2026, at Tojo Lake in Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture.
This tournament was implemented as a collaborative project between Kato City, Imakatsu Co., Ltd., and Ichiban Eight Group, and is a regional revitalization project aimed at creating more people to interact with the local community through fishing, promoting tourism, and revitalizing the local economy.
Last year’s inaugural event received a great response, and this second event attracted more applications than the number of available spots, drawing attention as a new community event centered around Lake Tojo.
Anglers gathered from all over the country.
Promoting the charm of Lake Tojo
The weather was calm all day, and 54 anglers from all over the country participated, with 33 boats setting sail.
Participants ranged widely in age from teenagers to those in their 60s, with many families and couples attending. The event also attracted many visitors from outside the prefecture, and is expected to have a positive ripple effect on the local economy, including accommodation, dining, and tourism.
Furthermore, the initiative attracted attention as a community collaboration, with coverage from multiple media outlets, including the fishing magazine “Basser,” the Kobe Shimbun newspaper, and Kato City Cable Television.
A team competition against top professional anglers.
The tournament featured a team competition with four popular professional anglers serving as team leaders, dividing the participants into four teams.
Each team took on the competition while receiving direct advice from professional anglers on how to tackle Lake Tojo and how to select lures. There was also lively interaction among the participants, and the venue was buzzing with excitement throughout the day.
The competition involved teams vying for the longest total length of their five fish, employing a “digital weighing system” utilizing a dedicated system. Participants registered their catches via smartphone and enjoyed the competition.
After the 8:00 AM start, fishing reports poured in one after another, and the competition for rankings heated up. The event remained exciting until the very end, right up to the return time of 2:30 PM.
A legend in the Japanese bass fishing world – Special talk show by Katsutaka Imaeda
A special talk show by Katsutaka Imaie, CEO of Imakatsu Co., Ltd., was also held at the tournament venue.
The event featured valuable insights for attendees, including bass fishing theories cultivated through years of competitive experience, behind-the-scenes stories of lure development, and perspectives on interacting with nature.
The importance of passing on fishing culture to the next generation was also discussed, and many participants were seen listening attentively.
We also promote local specialties and culture.
A new form of “fishing + tourism + regional PR”
At the awards ceremony, Fujikawa Pro’s team won the championship.
The winning team received “Dennosuke Udon,” a local specialty from the Kato City Tourism Association, and a luxurious lure set from Imakatsu Co., Ltd.
In addition, the Big Fish Award, given to general participants, included a special Kato City prize: a one-of-a-kind artwork by chainsaw artist Mr. Kido.
By integrating local specialties and culture with the tournament, it received high praise as a new regional revitalization event that combines fishing, tourism, and regional PR.
Furthermore, towards the end of the tournament, a raffle was held with two fishing rods specially provided by Katsutaka Imaie as prizes, bringing the excitement in the venue to its peak.
Government, businesses, and local communities collaborate
A regional co-creation model originating from Lake Tojo
The closing ceremony was attended by Mayor Tadashi Iwane of Kato City, as well as Mr. Hisayuki Fujii, a member of the House of Representatives and Secretary-General of the Angling Parliamentary League.
From Mayor Iwane:
“We want to utilize the wonderful local resource of Lake Tojo to expand the number of visitors and promote tourism through fishing.”
We received this greeting.
Mr. Fujii also delivered a powerful message about the ripple effect of fishing culture on the local economy and the significance of collaboration between government, businesses, and local communities.
This tournament served as an opportunity to demonstrate the potential of a new regional co-creation model, in which government, businesses, and local communities collaborate, aiming to promote the appeal of local resources and create more visitors through sport fishing.
Participant feedback
In the post-tournament survey,
– “The team competition was fresh and fun.”
– “It was a valuable experience to interact with professional anglers.”
– “I would definitely like to participate again next year.”
– “The event gave me a chance to learn about the charms of Kato City.”
Many positive comments were received, such as those mentioned above.
Future developments
This tournament is an event created through the combined efforts of local government officials, manufacturers, retailers, community stakeholders, and fishing enthusiasts from all over the country.
At Ichiban Eight Group, we not only sell fishing tackle, but also consider promoting fishing culture and collaborating with local communities as important themes.
We will continue to work in cooperation with Kato City, Imakatsu Co., Ltd., and other relevant parties to build a sustainable regional development model utilizing fishing and to promote the development of fishing culture.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who participated, everyone involved, and everyone who cooperated in running the tournament.
Stay tuned for the third event in 2027!
About Ichiban Eight Group
The Ichiban Eight Group operates fishing tackle specialty stores mainly in the Kansai region, and its philosophy is based on “the development of fishing culture” and “co-creation with local communities.”
In addition to our sales business, we are also actively involved in social contribution activities through fishing, such as planning and managing fishing events, environmental conservation activities, and training the next generation of anglers.
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