Ito's creative genius is recognized worldwide thanks to winning over 200 Good Design Awards from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (formerly the Ministry of International Trade and Industry), one of the most prestigious awards in the industry, but also for receiving several iF Design Awards and Red Dot Design Awards.
iF International Design (iFID), based in Hanover, Germany, is an independent design organization with the longest history in the world. Each year, iFID selects the best designs and awards the "iF DESIGN AWARD" to designers. The iF DESIGN AWARD has been recognized internationally as one of the most prestigious design awards for over 67 years. Additionally, the iF logo is widely recognized as a symbol of great design.
The Red Dot Design Award is a design prize awarded by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Germany, considered one of the three most important design awards in the world. The awards are divided into three categories: Product Design, Brand & Communication Design, and Concept Design. The jury is composed of leading design experts. Every year, around 20,000 entries are received from companies, organizations, and designers from over 60 countries worldwide.
2024 was a year full of awards for Yuki Ito and Megabass, with the winning of all three awards thanks to two revolutionary fishing rods:
A rod dedicated to the ika metal technique, vertical squid fishing. This series condenses a long list of elements that make it extremely comfortable and functional while enhancing its aesthetic side. ITO-HEAD LOCKING SYSTEM CAYEN SPEC (PAT.) reel seat locking screws, derived from those created for the Destroyer series.
The baitcasting model is equipped with the ITO FULL PALMING SEAT (D.PAT.P) which allows you to firmly grip the rod and reel without effort, improving sensitivity and stability during the action. Furthermore, the baitcasting models are equipped with the CAYEN SPIRAL GUIDE SYSTEM which drastically reduces line tangling in the rings and rod torsion. In combination with a special blank that considers the spine of the blank (the backbone of the rod), it distributes the load vertically in a spiral direction. The spiral direction of the guides is aligned according to the position of the handle, to further reduce blank torsion.
The spinning model features the MEGABASS BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION SEAT (D.PAT.) inspired by the Meganebashi Bridge, the oldest existing stone bridge in Nagasaki. This shape creates a perfect fit with the palm of the hand and leaving part of the blank exposed increases sensitivity.
Megabass and Ito engineering have initiated the development and production of sustainable fishing equipment. The material created is a composite derived from natural fibers of plant origin with a skeleton of cellulose microfibers. With these premises, Orochi X10 was born, and the name itself encapsulates the meaning of the series: the "X" is the characteristic suffix of the Orochi family, "1" indicates "the first", and "0" refers to the "O" of organic. The first composite rod made of organic fiber.
This true revolution in the world of sport fishing is further supported by other elements that have allowed this series to win three awards. The ITO TRIGGER SYSTEM ERGONOMIC CASTING SEAT (D.PAT.), which guarantees a firm and comfortable grip, fundamental for the most powerful techniques regardless of how the rod is held. For lighter casting models, the new ITO ENGINEERING AIRY-FIT ERGONOMIC SEAT (D.PAT.) has been used, with a very lightweight design and a divided reel seat that exposes the blank, combining sensitivity and comfort. Finally, the spinning models have the ITO ERGONOMIC-CONTACT SEAT (D.PAT.P), which guarantees a perfect palm grip that ensures comfort despite the continuous movements of a spinning rod, while at the same time increasing sensitivity by having direct contact with the exposed blank.
