When people ask about the origins of Proshop Otsuka, the story always comes back to one man: Shigeru Otsuka (大塚 茂). He is not only our company president, but also a professional bass angler with a long career in Japan’s competitive scene.

In 1995, Otsuka achieved a milestone that many anglers only dream of—he won the Classic, the largest bass tournament in Japan at the time. That victory gave him the confidence to take a bold step. Just a few years later, in 1998, he left his previous job and decided to turn his passion into a business. He opened a fishing tackle store called Proshop Otsuka, named after his own family name “Otsuka” (pronounced [oːtsɯka]).

The timing was unusual. In the mid-1990s, Japan was experiencing a huge bass fishing boom, and many tackle shops had already been established. Some thought it was too late to start. But Otsuka’s timing turned out to be perfect in another way: the launch of his store coincided with the early days of the internet. By quickly moving online, Proshop Otsuka became one of the very first fishing e-commerce sites in Japan, drawing nationwide attention from anglers.

The growth didn’t stop there. In 1999, the company launched a trout-focused e-commerce site to serve a different segment of the fishing community. Over the years, Proshop Otsuka expanded its physical presence as well, and today operates seven retail stores across Japan. What started as a small, angler-driven shop is now a trusted name for both bass and trout anglers, in Japan and overseas.

Meanwhile, Shigeru Otsuka never left his roots as a competitor. For more than 20 years, he fished in the JB Top 50 Series, the highest level of professional bass tournaments in Japan. Even after stepping back from the top circuit, he continues to fish actively, competing in local tournaments and inspiring a new generation of anglers.

The story of Shigeru Otsuka and Proshop Otsuka is one of passion, persistence, and evolution—from tournament champion to tackle shop pioneer. And it’s still being written today.