issei
イッセイ
issei is a Japanese lure brand founded around renowned lure designer Haruhiko Murakami, known for highly original bass lures and fishing techniques developed through observation, experimentation, and extensive time on the water.
Official website ↗- Japanese name
- イッセイ
- Country
- Japan
Founded in 2013 on the shores of Lake Biwa, issei is a Japanese fishing lure manufacturer built around the ideas and experience of renowned lure designer and professional angler Haruhiko Murakami.
Murakami has had a major influence on modern Japanese bass fishing, helping establish and popularize techniques such as the Neko Rig and Tsunekichi Rig. His approach to lure design is deeply rooted in observing fish, experimenting on the water, and turning discoveries made during actual fishing into new lures and presentations.
That philosophy remains central to issei. Rather than simply following trends or focusing on specifications, the brand develops products through repeated prototyping and field testing, paying close attention to how a lure moves underwater, how it responds to angler input, and how it feels to fish.
Its bass fishing lineup includes distinctive soft plastics and hard baits such as the Shizumushi, Spatula, G.C. WAKAPEN, and G.C. ZariVib. Many of these products reflect the combination of practical function, unconventional thinking, and playful experimentation that has long characterized Murakami's approach to fishing.
For anglers outside Japan, issei represents a particularly distinctive side of JDM bass fishing: lures and techniques that often begin with observations made on Japanese waters and evolve into entirely new ways of presenting a bait to bass.
issei lures7 lures
AK PUNCH
AKパンチ
A high-vibration Japanese soft plastic from issei built around a bulky tail that pulses vertically with strong water displacement. The AK PUNCH can be fished weightless or on several bottom-oriented rigs, and is especially useful for generating powerful action deep inside grass and cover.
G.C. Minnow 89 SR-SP
G.C.ミノー 89 SR-SP
A shallow-running Japanese minnow from issei designed to draw bass upward and trigger reaction bites. The G.C. Minnow 89 SR-SP combines a tight wobble-and-roll action with flashing to attract fish from below.
G.C. Zari Vibe
G.C.ザリバイブ
A crawfish-inspired vibration bait from issei featuring powerful high-pitch action, a complex multi-material rattle system, and a shimmying fall. Designed for both horizontal retrieves and bottom-oriented presentations, the G.C. Zari Vibe brings a distinctly Japanese approach to the lipless vibration category.
Hane Ebi 1.5
海太郎 ハネエビ 1.5
A compact 1.5-inch soft plastic from issei designed to produce sharp side-to-side darting action when paired with the Hane Ebi Head. Originally developed for Japanese light saltwater fishing, the Hane Ebi has also proven effective for bass through the reaction-oriented Micro Winding technique.
Shizumushi
沈み蟲
A high-density Japanese soft plastic from issei designed for long casting and a subtle falling action. The Shizumushi can be fished weightless for a near-horizontal fall or rigged with a nail weight for a backsliding presentation into cover.
Spatula
スパテラ
A classic Japanese finesse worm from issei featuring a small asymmetrical paddle tail. The Spatula combines a ribbed straight-worm body with subtle tail vibration, allowing it to swim, twitch, and respond to light rod movements without producing excessive action.
issei G.C. Maji I-ji Rareshi 60F
G.C.マジI字「ラレシ」60F
A 60 mm floating I-shaped hard bait from issei designed for stable straight-line retrieves, exceptional casting distance for its 3 g weight, and a natural head-up rise when paused.