PURPOSE AND HISTORY

Promote enjoying not only the thrill of fishing for the fishes in their natural environment, but also as a sport and not worry about how many fishes one can catch.

And, to leave a mark of recognition as proof of the thrill that you have experienced after landing a super game-fish.

JGFA is a non-profit organization established by fishermen, for fishermen and consists of every type of amateur fisherman possessed with the desire to perform together regardless of age, sex and nationalities. JGFA is an abbreviation of " Japan Game Fish Association".

JGFA is an international organization promoting and operating under the international fishing rules established by the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA). Our association and IGFA are two separate organizations, but we have a close working relationship and JGFA functions as the "Window" for IGFA in Japan.

Growth and Memories of JGFA

Japan Game Fish Association is now in the 23rd year since its inception in 1979 At that time, there were Japanese anglers who independently participated in the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament(HIBT) conducted by the Hawaiian International Billfish Association ( HIBA ), which was being held in Kailua-Kona in Hawaii.

At the invitation of HIBA's founder, Mr. Peter S. Fithian and Mr. Stanley Hara who was then a member of the US Congress, a number of Japanese sport anglers, including the late Chairman of JGFA, Mr. Onishi, Chairman Okada, and late Vice-Chairman Nishikawa, got together and formed the present association.

There were only about 10 members when the association was organized, but as of 2002, the membership has grown in excess of 5,200, and has become one of the leading fishing organizations in the world.