Nissin Zerosum Oni 345 Tenkara Rod Review

We live in amazing times. If you’ve been a practitioner of tenkara for more than ten years, you know that finding quality Japanese tenkara rods was at times challenging. TenkaraBum was the go to supplier for most tenkara practitioners in the US, but with retirement, TenkaraBum stopped importing rods excepting the excellent Suntech TenkaraBum line. But recently others have adopted the import niche and they are bringing in some really great rods. One of these companies is Tenkara Adventure Outfitters and one of the rods is the Nissin Zerosum Oni 345 Tenkara rod.

As most are aware, Uzaki Nissin has developed a collaboration with Masami Sakakibara AKA “Tenkara no Oni”. Previously released and universally acclaimed honryu rods, the Honryu 395 and 450, have taken the tenkara world by storm. And rightly so, as they excel in balance, action and overall performance. They are among the favorite rods of many a tenkara angler. But one thing they lack is the ability to fish smaller streams, as they are long rods. Many have wished that shorter versions would be made available, but up until now those wishes were only elusive dreams.

Description

I purchase the Nissin Zerosum Oni 345 Tenkara rod from TAO. Purchasing the rod was as easy as click the link and pay the money. It arrived well boxed and protected.

Unlike the Honryu 395 and 450, the 345 comes in a triangular shaped rod tube that can carry three rods comfortably. It appears well made and is a welcome addition to the rod.

On the surface, the Oni 345 looks quite similar to the Honryu 395 and 450 (and yes, the parts are interchangeable). Yet, there are differences. Because the 345 is a shorter rod, it appears less beefy than its longer siblings. Also, while the overall finish is the same, there are differences in the cosmetics, with the 345 having deep red accent bands near the handle and on the tip of the handle section. The rod designation has “Zerosum” and “345”, as well as the same hanko and katakana script, but 7:3 has been added.

The handle is high quality cork, and while its shape is similar to the Honryu 395 and 450, it is more refined. It’s also shorter at 25 cm (9.8 in.).

The tip plug is black nylon plastic and fits tightly without slipping. The butt cap is also black plastic and is rounded for comfort when palming the butt of the handle. There is a silver accent band, and a rubber bumper but no air hole. The butt cap is slightly knurled to aid in its removal.

The lilian is classic red and is attached to the tip with a perfectly executed glue joint. There is no micro-swivel on this rod, and that should tell you something about Oni’s take on swivel attachments. In fact, none of Oni’s rods have micro-swivels.

Once, when meeting Sakakibara-san, he gestured to me to hand him the rod I was casting. Upon taking it, he cast it a few times, then tapped his index finger against the rod in the “Pon Pon” maneuver. This produced an audible clicking sound. He shook his head and said something in Japanese while pointing to the swivel. I’m not sure what he said, but the feeling I got was that he did not prefer swivels for lilian attachment. Since that time (and after having some swivels break while fighting fish) I’ve not been a fan of them either. BTW, the tip section can be withdrawn through the second section for complete rod disassembly for cleaning and drying.

Measurements

Characteristic	Measurement
Sections	7
Nested (w/ tip plug)	63.5 cm (25 in.)
Extended	345 cm (11ft., 3.8 in.)
Weight (w/o tip plug)	64.1 g (2.3 oz.)
Handle Length	25 cm (9.8 in.)
CCS	15.5 pennies
RFI	4.5 /  Moderately Fast, Upper Mid Flex

Performance

The Oni 345 casts wonderfully. It takes a little more effort to cast a #3 fluorocarbon level line than does the Oni Itoshiro 340, but that should be obvious as demonstrated by the 10 Penny Bend Profile. Although the Itoshiro is a 7:3 by bend profile, it has an RFI in the 5:5 range. This is due to its very flexible T1 & 2 sections, which skew the numbers. It also has more flexible T3 & 4 sections. Because of this design, a light level line is easily propelled forward with little expenditure of energy (just like the Type-1, which shares the same sections). The T1 & 2 sections of the Zerosum Oni 345 are also flexible but the T3 & 4 sections are quite a bit stiffer. It still throws a light level line well, but it just takes a little more energy to do so. It however, has more “power” and backbone than does the Itoshiro allowing it to set the hook faster and gain control of the fish sooner.

To quote Discover Tenkara, “there is no single “perfect” tenkara rod – but there are individual rods that come pretty close to perfection for a specific application. Each application, will inevitably come with its own set of specific compromises. Strength versus weight, casting versus fish-playing and length versus balance are all examples of the trade-offs every rod must choose between. And don’t forget that all those trade-offs will also interact with each other.” The differences between the Oni 345 and the Itoshiro point out this often overlooked concept.

I used my standard #3 fluorocarbon level line when fishing with the Oni 345. Balance is excellent, but its a short rod, so this a almost a given. Tip recovery is quick. Casting accuracy is high and you can send the fly to its target with just a quick flick of the wrist. Hook sets are positive and fish fighting is very good. All in all, the Oni 345 is a pleasure to use.

The only issue I had was when I hooked a 15-16 inch brown in a small stream with a tight overhead canopy. The fish was able to get free when it shot into the overhanging branches of the streamside vegetation. I don’t think the rod was at fault here. Rather, I couldn’t maneuver the rod as it kept hitting the tree branches over my head. If I had a stiffer rod, I might have been able to control the fish better, but then again, maybe not.

Conclusion

I like the Nissin Zerosum Oni 345 Tenkara rod. I like its action and tip response. I like its balance and quick recovery. Since its parts are interchangeable with the 395 and 450, it also makes a great rod to have on hand as backup parts for those rods. Personally, I like the Honryu 395 better than the Oni 345, as I feel it casts better, but this is a personal preference. Still, the Oni 345 a great rod and would be pleasure to have in anyone’s rod collection.

Disclaimer: From Discover Tenkara, “There is no single “perfect” tenkara rod… Each application will inevitably come with its own set of specific compromises.” 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 purchased the rod from Tenkara Adventure Outfitters. I have no formal affiliation with TAO and there was no expectation of a positive review.

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