Micro fishing rod for ‘Tanago’, Bitterling: Tsuri Bunka Siryo-kan (Fishing Culture Museum) / タナゴ用極小釣り竿：釣り文化資料館

Tanago, or Bitterling in English (scientific name: Acheilognathus melanogaster), is a small fish that uses a tiny fishing rod. 

During the Edo era, Tanago fishing was regarded as the popular hobby for people in the high social position, lords or well off merchant, etc.

Those people in high status, seems to had spent their wealth for the expensive fishing gears and established a kind of ‘micro fishing gear culture by creating the 'proper manner' for Tanago fishing.

The shortest rod shown in the pictures was so small, may be 10 cm for the each connnecting shaft.

This is another good example of the ‘Kawaii’ , the Japanese value that loves small items.

Tsuri Bunka Siryo-kan, Shinjyuku Tokyo

http://www.tsurinews.co.jp/company/shiryokan.html

タナゴを釣るには小さな道具を使います。江戸には、タナゴ釣りは大名や大店の商人等の地位の高い人が好んで楽しんでいました。大枚をはたいて、釣り具を注文し、「小さい釣り具文化」を創りだしたのです。

この写真で一番短い釣り竿の連結式のシャフトは、10センチくらい短いものです。

これも日本の「カワイイ」文化の良い例なのかもしれませんね。

釣り文化資料館、東京都新宿区