THE Fishing: Bass Pro Toshinari Namiki Joins Ayu Inging! Explosive Fishing on the Nagara River – Airing July 18 (Sat)

From left: Toshinari Namiki, Tadasuke Arika, and Ayu ©TVO

[Program Title] "THE Fishing"

Bass pro Toshinari Namiki joins the cast!

Explosive fishing! Ayu Inging on the Nagara River

[Air Date & Time] Saturday, July 18, 2026, 5:30–6:00 PM

Produced by TV Osaka, broadcast nationwide on TV Tokyo Network (TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TV Setouchi, TV Hokkaido, TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting)

[Cast]

Toshinari Namiki (namiki toshinari)

Tadasuke Arika (arioka tadatsuke)

[Program Website] https://www.tv-osaka.co.jp/ip4/the_fishing/

Bass pro Toshinari Namiki joins! Explosive fishing! Ayu Inging on the Nagara River

This episode features "Ayu Inging"—a method of catching ayu (sweetfish) using lures.

Ayu ©TVO

Ayu are highly territorial and instinctively chase away intruders by ramming them. In Japan, this behavior has long been exploited in "tomozuri" (companion fishing), where live decoy ayu are used to attract and catch wild ones.

©TVO

In Ayu Inging, artificial lures replace live decoys. Thanks to its accessibility, this technique is rapidly gaining popularity.

The stage is the Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture, a renowned spot for ayu fishing. One of Japan’s three major clear streams and designated as one of the “100 Best Water Sources.”

From left: Arika, Namiki ©TVO

The angler is Tadasuke Arika, a veteran with 40 years of experience in tomozuri. He has won Japan’s largest ayu fishing tournament three years in a row, making him one of the most knowledgeable experts on ayu behavior.

Arika ©TVO

And joining as a special guest—the charismatic bass angler Toshinari Namiki, known for his success in professional bass fishing in the U.S., now taking on Ayu Inging!

Namiki ©TVO

Namiki, who is currently obsessed with Ayu Inging, fully demonstrates his bass-fishing-trained skills.

He targets ayu with his signature rapid-fire casting technique!

Namiki ©TVO

"Alright! The engine’s fired up!"

Meanwhile, Arika uses his deep knowledge from decades of tomozuri to steadily land ayu after ayu.

Arika and ayu ©TVO

Don’t miss this thrilling 30-minute showdown between two anglers with vastly different backgrounds—packed with the excitement and charm of Ayu Inging!