A little while back, I was contacted by Tony Parmenter to see if I’d like to review the Seiyu Therapy 33 tenkara rod. After we discussed his expectations of a review, I agreed and he sent me the rod to test. I appreciated his open and honest approach to designing the rod, as well as his courage in seeking out independent reviews for his rod.
Of the Seiyu Therapy 33, Tony states, “The Seiyu Therapy 33 tenkara fishing rod is constructed from high quality carbon fiber, made in Japan. Being in nature allows for an abundance of exercise opportunities for physical and mental health, provided you have the right equipment. When it comes to fishing, the right components can either make or break your experience. The Seiyu Therapy 33 fishing rod (with specific adaptations to help manage cortisol output, and a clinical design to help facilitate bilateral stimulation), at 80 grams / 2.8 oz, weighs less than four AA batteries! It is a light weight, affordable, and high quality rod that anyone can use for personal wellness, in conjunction with nature-based psychotherapy, or just for fun. ” While I’m not set up to test his assertion on managing cortisol levels, I can evaluate the rod’s overall quality, weight and affordability.
Regarding the name, Tony states that the name Seiyu (pronounced “Say-you”) is based on the Kanji… makoto + aru (sincerity + have), or in other words, to have sincerity. “So, when I was naming my therapy company I felt that this not only was deeply personal to me… but it also resonated with my theory of trauma healing. When we heal from trauma, we form a deeper connection to our most authentic self.” For a deeper dive into Tony’s philosophy on healing from trauma, check out his guest appearance on the Tenkara Talk Podcast hosted by Jason Klass.
Overview
The Seiyu Therapy 33 comes in an aesthetically pleasing pearlescent white rod tube. Its small diameter and lighter weight, when compared to most tenkara rod tubes, is readily apparent. Also supplied is a neoprene rod sleeve. It fits the rod perfectly and might be the only protection the rod requires when in the woods and on the trail.
First impressions of the Seiyu 33 is that it is a very handsome rod. Its overall coloration is black with a glossy finish. The rod designation section is clean and tastefully done, and sports a crosshatch pattern, which appears to be a design feature rather than true carbon fiber weave. There are a few simple silver accent bands on the T8 (handle) section, but other than that there are no fancy colors or embellishments on this rod.
The handle section sports an integrated line winder. These are made of gold colored wire and are nicely done, with well executed wraps and finish.
The handle is very handsome. It sports a central cork body sandwiched between two black EVA foam rings. The handle has a classic double hump or hourglass shape which is not too extreme and is pleasing to hold.
The tip plug is a common plug found on many other company’s rods, being made of metal/glass marble with a plastic insertion post. It fits snugly into the handle section and is unlikely to easily fall out. The butt cap is gold anodized metal, is knurled and has a coin slot. It has a thread post which appears to be covered by Teflon-like tape. I’ve never seen this on a rod before, but I suspect it is there to discourage the butt cap from spontaneously loosening. It appears to be effective. The cap also sports a thick, soft rubber bumper which makes the nested sections absolutely silent. There’s no segment chattering here!
The lilian is red and is long enough to easily tie a terminal stop knot, if desired. It’s attached to the T1 (tip) section vis a micro-swivel. Unfortunately the glue joint is too large to allow the T1 section to be completely removed through the T2 section, thus the rod can’t be completely disassembled for cleaning and drying.
Measurements
| Characteristic | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Sections | 8 |
| Nested (w/tip plug) | 55.5 cm (21.8 inches) |
| Extended | 341.5 cm (11 ft. 2.4 inches) |
| Weight (w/o tip plug) | 75.5 g (2.7 ounces) |
| Handle Length | 28 cm (11 inches) |
| CCS | 19 pennies |
| RFI | 5.6/ Moderate Fast-Upper Mid Flex |
The 10 Penny Bend Profile shows the Seiyu 33’s arc to be smooth and flexion point free. It has a softer T1 section and stiffer T2 section than the DRAGONtail Mizuchi (a tenkara rod with a comparable length and RFI).
Performance
I cast the rod using a #3 fluorocarbon level line of approximately equal to the length of the rod. #3 level line was chosen as it’s a middle weight line for most tenkara rods. The rod cast the line very well. The loops were tight and there was no obvious end of cast oscillation. The rod doesn’t load easily like a softer rod, but it still imparts its energy to the line efficiently.
I fished the rod on a mountain stream filled with small, energetic rainbows. I found the handle to be comfortable, and the rod to have a quick hookset. Also, along with good line control required for a small stream, the rod has enough power to pull fish out of snags and other obstructions. This is always appreciated on a brushy creek or stream.
I found the line winder to work well and compliment the function of the rod as a creek or small stream rod. At first, I was concerned that the winder might get caught on branches or my clothes and be a hinderance, but it didn’t. It worked well and stayed out of the way of various obstructions.
Conclusion
I like the Seiyu Therapy 33 tenkara rod. Overall, I like the tight loops it generates when casting, its quick hookset, its power to quickly control the fish after the hookset, and its aesthetics. I also like the built in line winder.
I do wish the lilian was attached to the T1 segment without a micro-swivel, as I’m not a fan of these, and that the glue joint was small enough for the T1 segment to be able pass through the T2 segment so the entire rod could be disassembled for cleaning and drying. And one small thing, I wish the tip plug matched the rest of the rod. To me, it looks out of place and doesn’t match the well thought out design and aesthetics of the rest of the rod.
But all in all, I like this rod and compliment Tony on its design and function. I feel that it should be considered by those looking for a faster action, mid length, small stream tenkara rod to add to their quiver.
Disclaimer: My opinion regarding this rod is just that, my opinion. Your opinion may differ. Also, your rod may not have the same length, issues, or functionality as my rod. There are variations between rods, even in the same production run. No description can fully tell you how a rod feels or fishes. For this, you must personally hold, cast, and fish the rod then make up your own mind. I was sent the rod by the Seiyu Institute for Health & Training . I have no formal affiliation with Seiyu Institute for Health & Training and there was no expectation of a positive review.
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