Daiwa Mangetsu Baitcaster – Retro Vibes, Modern Features

Introduction: Daiwa and Tackle Warehouse have teamed up to release the Mangetsu baitcaster, a reel built on the classic Tatula 150 platform but styled with nods to vintage JDM classics. While it brings retro aesthetics, the Mangetsu is packed with modern performance upgrades, including Daiwa’s HyperDrive design, Magforce-Z braking, a longer handle with genuine cork knobs, and a more rigid aluminum frame for enhanced strength and precision.

Earlier this week Daiwa and Tackle Warehouse teased the Mangetsu launch

Classic made new: The Mangetsu is the result of a collaboration between Daiwa and Tackle Warehouse, a project that first took shape in 2020 and has been in development for the past two and a half years. While the reel is clearly rooted in the original Tatula platform, itself influenced by earlier JDM Zillion designs, the inspiration for this project surprisingly came not from a baitcaster, but from a spinning reel: the classic Certate 1503. This particular JDM model was first imported by Tackle Warehouse from Daiwa Japan back in 2007, and its classic design helped spark the vision for the Mangetsu.

The Mangetsu is more than just a re-branded Tatula. Daiwa reached back into the vault and elevated the classic Tatula platform with better aluminum and carbon fiber materials and modern technologies

Joey Reggio and the team at Tackle Warehouse and Marc Mills and the Daiwa engineering team believed that end-users would appreciate a classic-looking Tatula infused with JDM-inspired design cues and modern performance upgrades, and with that vision, the Mangetsu project was born.

The Mangetsu is an exclusive limited edition reel collaboration between Daiwa and Tackle Warehouse

Mangetsu means “full moon” in Japanese, a symbol of beauty, impermanence, and the cyclical, fleeting nature of life. It’s a fitting name for a reel, as the full moon often brings stronger tides, heightened fish activity, and the possibility of hooking into a giant after dark.
 

In essence, the Mangetsu is the familiar Tatula form factor, re-imagined with a retro-styled aluminum frame and equipped with Daiwa’s latest advancements in gearing, casting, and drag performance.

Retro vibes with a aluminum finish and real cork knobs

In many ways, the Mangetsu is like a restomod car, blending vintage design with modern technology to elevate performance and handling while preserving a classic aesthetic. Key upgrades include Daiwa’s latest T-Wing System and Magforce-Z casting brake, along with a lightweight 34mm A7075 drilled aluminum spool. The reel’s gearing has been refined with a more precisely cut aluminum drive gear, while overall rigidity has been improved thanks to an aluminum frame and inner sideplate.

The Mangetsu gets an aluminum frame, A7075 ported spool, and the Magforce Z casting brake system

One of the most noticeable ergonomic upgrades anglers will immediately feel on the Mangetsu is the inclusion of a longer 100mm handle paired with real cork knobs. These follow the elongated barrel shape seen on select Daiwa JDM reels, such as certain Zillion models. But instead of high-density EVA, the Mangetsu opts for genuine cork—offering a natural, tactile grip that not only looks and feels great out of the box, but also gains character with use over time, much like a well-worn cork-handled rod.

The new reel also benefits from Daiwa's Hyperdrive design and gets the latest UTD drag system

Continuing the performance upgrades, the drag system has been revamped with Daiwa’s latest Ultimate Tournament Drag (UTD). This advanced system combines carbon and alloy washers, aluminum drag plates, and a specially formulated grease to deliver smooth, refined drag performance with a greater range of adjustability and robust stopping power. Anglers can expect up to 13 pounds of drag pressure - right in line with Daiwa’s current Tatula 150 and 200 models using the same system.

The classic Tatula frame channels both retro JDM Tatula and Zillion design

The Mangetsu will be offered in a single gear ratio, 7.3:1, which is versatile enough to cover the majority of fishing techniques. It will be available in both right- and left-hand retrieve options. With a line capacity of 14/150 and 16/130 and a weight of 7.8 oz., it matches closely with modern Daiwa Tatula 150-class reels in terms of size and specs.

To further celebrate the collab anglers that buy the Mangetsu will also get a free co-branded hoodie

Our Quick Take: The Mangetsu retails for $299 and is shipping now, exclusively through Tackle Warehouse. It’s exciting to see Daiwa collaborate with a major e-tailer like Tackle Warehouse to release an exclusive reel—especially one that blends vintage-inspired aesthetics with the cutting-edge performance features found in Daiwa’s latest lineup. It’s clear Daiwa has been tapping into its roots lately, leaning into that JDM flair with reels like the enthusiast-grade Steez A, the Mangetsu, and even the more mainstream Kage SV 150. The Mangetsu delivers on its goal of channeling the essence of the original Tatula, while also capturing some of that old-school Zillion aura.

A classic made new. The Mangetsu is a great example of a retro-mod reel and we are here for it

While the new reel is welcome we would’ve loved to see them push the envelope even further with an even more throwback-inspired take - maybe a weathered patina finish like the classic Certate or Deps ZDV Zillion, along with limited-edition numbering. Still, the Mangetsu evokes serious Hyper Long Cast (HLC) vibes with its silver frame and cork knobs, and for longtime Daiwa fans or retro reel enthusiasts, it hits the mark. The fact that the reel has its own unique series name only adds to its collectability and overall fun factor. At $299, the Mangetsu lands right between the current Tatula and Zillion SV reels, both in terms of pricing and performance. Here’s hoping this retro-mod collaboration is just the beginning of what is to come, and we’d love to see more special variants with unique styling and upgraded features. A new Zillion Type R? Sign me up.