Can anyone shed some light on the Japanese belief that deer antler offers protection to anglers?
I have seen this mentioned a few times and am curious to know the basis of the idea.
I’ve asked this question a few times myself. I’ve even asked someone very close to Japanese fishing and still have not got an answer.
If you go to the Tenkara USA site there was a discussion on it.
It’s good for poking the guy that’s crowding you in the ribs.
Big site…do you know where the info is listed?
Look in the net building section, it was discussed as to why Dr. Ishaghi (sic) also had a net with deer antler handle.
Looked and found no “net building” thread. Can you post a link to the correct spot?
I’m tryin to get more information for you when I do I’ll pass on the info. Unless Tenkarabum posts as he is a gharu.
It is based on superstition and old ways. Besides, it gives the net a great look. Hint: Just don’t sit on it. 
http://www.tenkarausa.com/blog/?tag=fly-fishing-net
Larry —sagefisher—
Thanks for the link, Larry.
Let me take a different tack on this.
I am curious about the the the facts/story behind the “superstition”.
Mine revolves around a found abalone shell pendant naturally shaped like a whale. Given to me by my (then) three year old daughter…it never leaves my neck…especially around water. Works like a charm…no pun intended
If you now go back and look under Tenkara Nets there is a new posting on the possible origins of the superstition
Never take a banana on a salt water fishing excursion… or so I heard…
I think peaches do the same thing when walking in the rain…
Joe likely knows a bit more about the peaches as he lives in Washington and they get more rain then we do…
Hope this helps…
Here’s a bit on it–especially that link to tenkara:
Kirin - Japaneses diety that looks like s scaled deer with antlers,
Although it looks fearsome, the Qilin only punishes the wicked. It can walk on grass yet not trample the blades, and it can also walk on water. perhaps this has some bearing!
The Amamemasu—another diety - In one tale, the amemasu swallows a deer that has come down to the lake to drink, but the deer’s antler tears open the great fish’s belly and kills it.
Amemasu is also a fish!
is also a name given to the white-spotted [u]char[/u], Salvelinus leucomaenis leucomaenis. Some bearing, who knows?
God of water antler grip ---- most likely Kirin–here is a great link: [u]http://www.tenkarausa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=902[/u]
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Mizugamisama no Kadzuno gurippu , literally God of Water Deer Antler Grip. The poster was commenting that it would be a good net because it had the god of water deer antler grip.
I thought at first that it just meant the use of deer antler. After looking around a bit more there seems to be a bit more to it. It appears the handle only gets this name when you are using the fork in the antler to make the handle. This seems most pertinent!
Excellent job sleuthing the reseach files and coming up with this info for me (and everyone else interested).
Very interesting stuff, indeed.
Thanks to Narcodog and ChuckS, and please convey my gratitude to “dwalker” for his thread on TenkaraUSA.