You ask in jest, Bobbyg, but your question is a good one. For me, a tenkara rod is nothing more than a fishing pole that is long enough and limber enough that you can cast it by attaching a fishing line onto the skinny end of the pole and tying a fly onto the other end of the line. Traditionalists may have additional requirements that narrow the definition, but that is mine. I think of it as Pole Fishing with a Fly. Did I mention that playing around with one these rigs can be a helluva lot of fun?