Japanese Fishing Tackle Brands: Comparison and Buying Guide
How Do You Choose a Japanese Fishing Tackle Brand?
The best-known all-round Japanese tackle brands are Shimano (founded in 1921 in Sakai, Osaka) and Daiwa (a brand of GLOBERIDE, a company established in Tokyo in 1958). The lure makers Megabass, Jackson and DUO are three separate, independent companies in Shizuoka Prefecture. Among the 25 model-year (2025 model) large spinning reels, the Stella SW 14000XG has a Japanese official base price of JPY 160,000 and the Saltiga 14000-P/XH JPY 155,000 (both excluding tax). Fishing rods and reels imported into Taiwan carry a 5% import duty (lures generally fall under the same heading), plus a 5% business tax. Online orders shipped abroad do not qualify for Japan's tax-free shop system, so there is no "10% tax refund" to apply for.
好運器 only offers China→Taiwan consolidated shipping, with only a Shenzhen warehouse and a Taoyuan warehouse. It does not offer Japan-to-Taiwan or US-to-Taiwan shipping, and it does not act as a purchasing agent for any brand. Prices and specifications are subject to each brand's official website.
Which Companies Are Behind the Japanese, European and American Tackle Brands?
The table below summarizes the original text of each brand's official company page; "Founded" follows what the official website states, and fields that could not be found are left blank.
| Brand | Company | Founded | Headquarters | Official website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimano | Shimano Inc. | Founded 1921; fishing tackle division established 1970 | Sakai, Osaka | fish.shimano.com |
| Daiwa | GLOBERIDE (GLOBERIDE, Inc.) | Established 1958; DAIWA brand created 1965 | Higashikurume, Tokyo | daiwa.com/jp |
| Megabass | Megabass Inc. | 1986 (per the US group website) | Hamamatsu, Shizuoka | megabass.co.jp |
| Jackson | Jackson Inc. | 1975 | Shizuoka City, Shizuoka | jackson.jp |
| DUO | DUO Inc. | 1995 | Yaizu, Shizuoka | duo-inc.co.jp |
| PENN | A Pure Fishing brand | 1932 (Philadelphia) | — | pennfishing.com |
| Abu Garcia | A Pure Fishing brand | 1921 (predecessor AB Urfabriken, Svängsta, Sweden) | — | abugarcia.com |
Daiwa Is a GLOBERIDE Brand
GLOBERIDE's predecessor was Daiwa Seiko, established in 1958, which was renamed GLOBERIDE in October 2009 (2009-10). DAIWA is its fishing tackle brand, created in 1965.
Megabass, Jackson and DUO Are Not One Group
All three are in Shizuoka Prefecture, but each is an independent company; Jackson's official website is jackson.jp.
PENN and Abu Garcia Both Belong to Pure Fishing
Both official websites identify them as brands of Pure Fishing, Inc.; PENN originated in Philadelphia, USA, and Abu Garcia in Sweden.
How Do the Stella SW and Saltiga Differ, and What Do They Cost in Japan?
Below are the Japanese official website data for two 25 model-year flagship large spinning reels. Prices are the Japanese official base prices (excluding tax), checked on 2026-09-27; Taiwan retail prices are set by distributors and shops, and this page does not convert them into New Taiwan dollars.
| Item | Shimano 25 Stella SW 14000XG | Daiwa 25 Saltiga 14000-P/14000-XH |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese official base price (excl. tax) | JPY 160,000 | JPY 155,000 |
| Key technologies on the official website | XX Tough Drag, InfinityLoop, InfinityXross | Power Drive Design, Monocoque Body |
| Waterproofing / dustproofing | X-Protect (IPX8 for the body and anti-reverse unit) | Magsealed (three rotating areas) |
Japanese Official Prices of Other Models
Shimano Stella 4000XG JPY 95,000, Twin Power XD 4000XG JPY 62,800, Daiwa 26 Certate SW 14000-P/XH JPY 93,100 (all excluding tax, per the Japanese official websites).
Check the Model Year and Suffix
On the Japanese official spec tables for the 25 model-year Saltiga and the 26 model-year Certate SW, size 14000 comes only in -P and -XH; there is no "14000-H". Before buying, match the model year (e.g. 25, 26) and the full suffix against the official spec table.
Where Can You View the Daiwa 2026 Catalogs and Each Brand's Official Website?
DAIWA offers 2026 digital catalogs on its Japanese website: the 2026 General Catalog and the 2026 SALTIGA Catalog, accessible from the catalog page.
Megabass Official Website
The Japanese official website is megabass.co.jp, and the headquarters is in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka.
Shimano Fishing Official Website
Shimano fishing products are at fish.shimano.com; the Traditional Chinese version of the official regional website covers only bicycles, not fishing tackle.
The DAIWA catalog page states that printed catalogs are not shipped to areas outside Japan; in Taiwan, please use the digital version.
Buying Shimano or Daiwa in Taiwan: Who Handles Repairs?
The two major brands have different official presences in Taiwan:
Daiwa: Daiwa FT Enterprise Co., Ltd. (Houli, Taichung)
In 2002, GLOBERIDE established Daiwa FT Enterprise Co., Ltd. in Taiwan to handle DAIWA sales and repairs; official website: daiwa.com/tw.
Shimano: Shimano (Taiwan) Co., Ltd. Serves the Bicycle Industry
Shimano (Taiwan) Co., Ltd. was established in Taichung in 2002, and Shimano officially states that it serves bicycle manufacturers using Shimano components. For fishing tackle, a Taichung company describes itself as the general distributor for Taiwan, but no statement of such authorization could be found on Shimano's official website; before buying, confirm the warranty and repair channels with the shop.
For reels you buy yourself from abroad, whether a Taiwan location accepts warranty claims or repairs depends on that location's own rules; this page did not find any uniform rule.
How Should Taiwanese Anglers Choose Specifications?
Two Taiwanese theses do not directly measure reel specifications, but they can serve as a reference when choosing:
- A doctoral dissertation from National Cheng Kung University estimates the annual sea-angling catch of Taiwan's recreational fishing boats at about 5,121 tonnes in 2017 and about 5,972 tonnes in 2018, with hairtail (genus Trichiurus), squid and spotted mackerel the most common; it covers boat fishing only, not shore or rock fishing.
- A master's thesis from St. John's University used an AHP questionnaire to survey anglers at Shen'ao Fishing Harbor and found that "operational performance" matters most when choosing a boat rod; among appearance factors, guide-ring material mattered most, which the thesis links to Taiwan's humid island climate. There were only 28 valid samples, and only boat rods were surveyed.
- First decide on your fishing method and target species, then check the official spec tables for size, gear ratio and line capacity; this is more practical than looking at the brand alone.
Can You Get a 10% Tax Refund When Buying Tackle from Japanese Websites?
Generally, no. Japan's tax-free shop (export goods sales site) system applies only to short-term foreign visitors and similar persons who buy in person in the store, presenting a passport, and carry the goods out of Japan themselves; online orders shipped abroad are outside this system.
- When the seller itself exports the goods abroad, this is an "export exemption" on the seller's side. Whether to sell at the pre-tax price is the seller's decision, and the seller must provide the proof; the buyer has no tax refund to apply for.
- Shipping to a domestic address in Japan (such as a forwarding company) is a domestic sale in Japan and is generally priced including tax.
- Japan's standard consumption tax rate is 10%; even if you buy at the pre-tax price, what you save is 1/11 of the tax-inclusive price (about 9.09%), not 10%.
- From 2026-11-01, Japanese tax-free shops will switch to a system where goods are bought including tax and refunded after Customs confirmation on departure.
The Naturum delivery page checked for this article lists only domestic delivery within Japan; no information on overseas direct shipping or tax-free sales could be found.
How Much Import Duty Is Payable on Fishing Tackle Imported into Taiwan?
According to the tariff open data of the Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance (server file time 2025-04-24; the Customs Import Tariff was amended on 2026-01-28, so please confirm again with the Customs Administration's tariff search before importing), fishing tackle under heading 9507 is as follows, and the Column 1 rates apply whether imported from Japan or mainland China:
| CCC code | Description | Column 1 rate | Import regulations |
|---|---|---|---|
9507.10.00.00-8 | Fishing rods | 5% | Blank |
9507.20.00.00-6 | Fish-hooks | 5% | Blank |
9507.30.00.00-4 | Fishing reels | 5% | Blank |
9507.90.00.00-1 | Other fishing tackle; landing nets, etc. (lures generally classified here) | 5% | Blank |
How Are Duties and Taxes Calculated?
Import duty = dutiable value (CIF, including freight and insurance) × 5%; business tax = (dutiable value + import duty) × 5%; trade promotion service fee = dutiable value × 0.04%, waived if NT$100 or less. Example: for a reel with a CIF value of NT$20,000, the import duty is NT$1,000 and the business tax NT$1,050, and the trade promotion fee is waived, for a total of about NT$2,050.
The NT$2,000 Duty-Free Threshold Has Conditions
A single shipment with a dutiable value of NT$2,000 or less is exempt from import duty and business tax; however, once the same taxpayer has had more than 6 releases under this low-value exemption within a half-year period (months 1–6 or 7–12), the exemption no longer applies. The threshold is based on the combined value of the same shipment.
Fishing Line Needs a Separate Classification Check
Plain fishing line is usually not classified under 9507: monofilament may fall under 5404 (4%), and braided line may fall under 5607 (6.8%). Classification depends on material and structure case by case; please rely on the official tariff search.
The import regulations column is blank for all four 9507 codes: there is no MW0 (restricted import of mainland Chinese goods) code and no inspection code.
Can the Lithium Battery of an Electric Reel Be Shipped? How Should Rods Be Packed?
Many electric reels use a detachable external lithium battery. Taking Japan Post international mail as an example, lithium batteries must be installed in the equipment, and lithium-ion battery packs must be 100Wh or less, with at most 2 per item; stand-alone batteries, or batteries that are not installed and merely packed in the same box, cannot be shipped. For other carriers' and airline rules, see the lithium battery and power bank shipping page.
Packing Tips for Rods and Reels (Editorial Notes)
Put multi-piece rods in a rigid tube, wrap reels in bubble wrap and secure them separately from the rod, and leave cushioning space in the outer box; size limits and fees for long items are subject to the carrier's rules.
Tariff Code for Electric Reels
The tariff code for reels is 9507.30; this page did not find any official classification guidance for electric reels. An external lithium battery declared separately falls under 8507.60.00.90-0 (other lithium-ion accumulators), with a Column 1 rate of 2.5% and import regulation C02 (subject to inspection).
How Many People Fish in Taiwan, and What Should Sea Anglers Watch Out For?
According to an Ocean Conservation Administration press release dated 2022-08-05, a survey in ROC year 110 (2021) put Taiwan's angling population at about 1,100,000 people, of whom about 600,000 fish at sea; after the Friendly Fishing Action Plan was introduced, the number of open fishing spots increased from 33 to 117.
- Whale sharks have been protected from capture since 2008 and were listed as a protected marine wildlife species in 2020; they may not be harassed, abused, hunted or killed. They are occasionally seen when sea fishing in the waters around Taiwan.
- Protected fish such as the humphead wrasse may not be caught, possessed or traded; please refer to the Ocean Affairs Council's announcements for the current list.
- A study in an international journal notes that sea angling in Taiwan has long lacked dedicated management, and that stakeholders value safety education and safe fishing spots most; check the rules of your fishing spot before heading out.
What Should You Check Before Buying Japanese-Brand Fishing Tackle?
1Confirm the model and model year
Match the model year and full suffix against the official spec table to avoid buying a model that does not exist or an old one.
2Confirm the seller and warranty
For Daiwa, contact Daiwa FT Enterprise Co., Ltd.; for other brands, first ask the shop about warranty and repair channels.
3Estimate duties and taxes
Heading 9507 carries a 5% import duty, and business tax is calculated as (dutiable value + import duty) × 5%; a single shipment of NT$2,000 or less is duty-free, but this no longer applies once more than 6 low-value exemption releases have been used within a half-year period.
4Check first whether the battery can be shipped
Japan Post international mail does not accept an electric reel's external lithium battery sent on its own, or not installed and merely packed in the same box; check the carrier's lithium battery rules before shipping. See the lithium battery and power bank shipping page for details.
5Declare item names truthfully
Write item names clearly, such as "fishing rod", "fishing reel" or "lure"; the dutiable value includes freight and insurance.
What Are Common Fishing Tackle Terms?
- Spinning reel
- A reel with a fixed spool that winds line on via a bail; called a supinningu rīru in Japanese.
- Model year
- The way Japanese brands mark the year of a model update; for example, 25 Stella SW means the 2025 model.
- Base price (excluding tax)
- The suggested retail price shown on Japanese official websites, excluding the 10% consumption tax.
- Lure
- An artificial bait; for tariff purposes it is generally classified under 9507.90 as other fishing tackle.
- CIF
- Cost, insurance and freight: the price of the goods plus freight and insurance, which is the dutiable value for Taiwan import duty.
What Are the Sources and the Scope of Verification?
The sources below were accessed on 2026-09-27; document dates and access dates are shown separately, and no date has been added where the update date is not stated.
Primary sources from government and official brand websites
- Customs Administration: Customs Import Tariff open data | Document date: not stated (server file time 2025-04-24; dataset updated 2026-03-11); 9507.10/.20/.30/.90 Column 1 rate 5%, import regulations blank; 5404 monofilament 4%, 5607 twine 6.8%.
- Laws & Regulations Database: Customs Import Tariff | Document date: amended 2026-01-28; the latest tariff amendment is later than the open data file time, so check the current rates again before importing.
- Customs Administration: What duties and fees are payable on imported goods? | Document date: 2026-07-13; import duty = dutiable value × duty rate; business tax = (dutiable value + import duty) × 5%; trade promotion service fee 0.04%, waived if NT$100 or less; the dutiable value is CIF.
- Customs Administration: Express consignments | Document date: 2026-07-08; a single shipment with a dutiable value of NT$2,000 or less is duty-free; this does not apply to a taxpayer who has had more than 6 releases under the low-value exemption within a half-year period.
- National Tax Agency (Japan): No.6559 Overview of the Export Goods Sales Site System | Document date: law as of 2026-04-01; the tax-free shop system applies to short-term foreign visitors and similar persons who buy in person, presenting a passport, and take the goods out of Japan.
- National Tax Agency (Japan): No.6551 Tax Exemption for Export Transactions | Document date: law as of 2026-04-01; the seller's export transactions are exempt from consumption tax, with the seller providing proof; it is not a tax refund claimed by the buyer.
- National Tax Agency (Japan): No.6303 Consumption Tax Rates | Document date: law as of 2026-04-01; standard rate 10% (consumption tax 7.8% + local consumption tax 2.2%).
- National Tax Agency (Japan): Revision of the Export Goods Sales Site System to a Refund Method | Document date: not stated (latest update on the page 2026-07-08); from 2026-11-01, tax-free shops will switch to purchasing including tax, with refunds after Customs confirmation on departure.
- Japan Post: Conditions for Sending Lithium Batteries by International Mail | Document date: 2023-01-17 (PDF modification date); lithium batteries in international mail must be installed in the equipment; lithium-ion battery packs 100Wh or less, at most 2 per item; stand-alone batteries or batteries packed together with equipment cannot be sent.
- Ocean Conservation Administration press release: Government and Anglers Together for a Better Fishing Environment | Document date: 2022-08-05; the ROC year 110 survey put Taiwan's angling population at about 1,100,000, of whom about 600,000 fish at sea; open fishing spots increased from 33 to 117.
- Ocean Conservation Administration: Whale Shark Conservation Section | Document date: 2025-08-27; whale sharks were listed as protected marine wildlife in 2020 and may not be harassed, hunted or killed.
- Shimano: Company Profile | Document date: not stated; founded 1921-02, headquartered in Sakai, Osaka.
- GLOBERIDE: Company Profile | Document date: not stated (employee count as of 2026-03-31); established 1958-07-29, renamed from Daiwa Seiko to GLOBERIDE in 2009-10, headquartered in Higashikurume, Tokyo.
- DAIWA Taiwan: About Daiwa FT Enterprise | Document date: not stated; GLOBERIDE established Daiwa FT Enterprise Co., Ltd. in Taiwan in 2002 (Houli District, Taichung City) to handle DAIWA sales and repairs; its own DAIWA brand was created in 1965.
- Shimano: Shimano (Taiwan) Co., Ltd. | Document date: not stated; Shimano (Taiwan) Co., Ltd. was established in Taichung in 2002 and serves bicycle manufacturers using Shimano components.
- Shimano: 25 Stella SW | Document date: not stated; 14000XG base price JPY 160,000 (excluding tax); XX Tough Drag, InfinityLoop, InfinityXross, X-Protect.
- DAIWA: 25 Saltiga | Document date: not stated; 14000-P/14000-XH suggested base price JPY 155,000 (excluding tax); Power Drive Design, Monocoque Body, Magsealed.
- DAIWA: 2026 General Catalog and SALTIGA Catalog | Document date: not stated; the 2026 General Catalog and SALTIGA Catalog are available in digital form; printed catalogs are not shipped outside Japan.
- Megabass: Company Profile | Document date: not stated; Megabass Inc. is headquartered in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, with Yuki Ito as representative; the US group website states it was founded in 1986.
- Jackson: Company Profile | Document date: not stated; Jackson Inc. was established in 1975 in Shizuoka City.
- DUO: Company Profile | Document date: not stated; DUO Inc. was established in 1995-08, headquartered in Yaizu, Shizuoka.
- PENN: About | Document date: ©2026; founded by Otto Henze in Philadelphia in 1932; now a brand of Pure Fishing, Inc.
- Abu Garcia: About Us | Document date: ©2026; founded in 1921 in Svängsta, Sweden; launched the Ambassadeur in 1952; now a brand of Pure Fishing, Inc.
- Shimano: History | Document date: not stated; fishing tackle division established in 1970; the DUX spinning reel was introduced in 1971.
- Shimano: Stella (general-purpose) | Document date: not stated; 4000XG base price JPY 95,000 (excluding tax).
- Shimano: Twin Power XD | Document date: not stated; 4000XG base price JPY 62,800 (excluding tax).
- DAIWA: 26 Certate SW | Document date: not stated; 14000-P/14000-XH suggested base price JPY 93,100 (excluding tax).
- Megabass of America: About Us | Document date: not stated; states that Megabass was founded by Yuki Ito in 1986.
- Naturum: About Delivery | Document date: not stated; the delivery page lists only delivery areas and shipping fees within Japan; no information on overseas direct shipping could be found.
Research literature
A Study of Purchase Factors for Handheld Boat Fishing Rods
The AHP questionnaire found that anglers value operational performance most when choosing a boat rod, and among appearance factors care most about guide-ring material; with only 28 valid samples and a survey limited to Shen'ao Fishing Harbor, the results cannot be generalized to all anglers.
A Study of Management Strategies for Sea Angling and Boat Fishing Catch in Taiwan
Estimates the annual sea-angling catch of recreational fishing boats at about 5,121 tonnes in 2017 and about 5,972 tonnes in 2018, with hairtail (genus Trichiurus), squid and spotted mackerel as common catches; excludes shore and rock fishing.
Ways of Moving from Laissez-Faire to Management: An Investigation of Potential Management Strategies for Recreational Sea Angling in Taiwan
Uses the Delphi method and fuzzy AHP to survey sea-angling management strategies in Taiwan; safety education and safe fishing spots ranked highest. It is a study of management preferences, not of consumer behavior.
This page does not list Taiwan retail prices or conversions into New Taiwan dollars; no official tariff classification was found for electric reels or PE braided line; no primary source was obtained for the effective date of the abolition of Japan's "separate shipment" (bessou) arrangement; no authorization of a Taiwan fishing tackle distributor for Shimano was found on Shimano's official website; for the list of protected species, refer to the Ocean Affairs Council's current announcements.
What Are Common Questions About Buying Japanese Tackle Brands?
What are the Japanese fishing tackle brands?
What is Megabass's official website?
Which is more expensive, the Stella or the Saltiga?
Where can I view the Daiwa 2026 catalogs?
Is import duty payable on fishing tackle?
Can I get a tax refund when buying from Japanese websites?
Further reading
Ship Fishing Tackle Bought in China to Taiwan
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