Story by Pete Robbins

Easton, Connecticut – If you go to the website for the University of Arkansas Bass Team http://comp.uark.edu/~bassteam/, you'll notice a Jerid, a couple of Jareds and a smattering of All-American names like Matt, Chris and Turner. But one name stands out – that of Japanese native Kazuki Kitajima – and further inquiry into his story reveals that it's not just his name that sets him apart from his teammates.

For one thing, when the FLW Tour event on Beaver Lake kicks off this week, Kitajima will be behind the console of his Ranger Boat, ready to face off against many of his longtime heroes, including the legendary Larry Nixon. 

"When I graduated high school in Japan, I decided to go to America to pursue my dream of becoming a professional bass fisherman," he said. "I wanted to pursue my dream and also get my education. I looked at where most of the professional guys were coming from and it was places in the south like Arkansas, Texas, Alabama and Florida. I had opportunities to study in Arkansas, Alabama and Texas, but the biggest thing was that I liked Larry Nixon, so I decided to go to Arkansas."

It would be an understatement to say that the differences between his home in Gifu, Japan and Fayetteville, Arkansas were substantial:

"It was my first time in the United States, and when I got out at the airport, there was nothing around and I was kind of freaked out. But when I got into Fayetteville, it was a college town with a lot to do and the people were nice."

The Beginning
Like many Japanese pros including Takahiro Omori, Shinichi Fukae and Morizo Shimizu, Kitajima learned to fish in Japan, but early on he felt that he'd have to go to the United States to pursue a career as a tournament angler.

Coincidentally, Shinichi Fukae made the top 10, but spoke little to no English, so the folks at FLW called upon Kitajima to serve as a translator. Since that time, Fukae has served as an unofficial mentor. 

"He's a great role model. Just by taking to him and his wife Miyu, they've helped me to learn more about the business. They don't tell me what to do, but they give me a lot of good advice."

On the Water
Kitajima didn't know that the University of Arkansas had a bass team, so he set out on his own to conquer the local tournament scene as he pursued his studies. Success came quickly, as in his first year as a boater he earned a BFL Ozark Division victory on Grand Lake, fishing a jig on points.

While Grand is across the border in Oklahoma, he has developed a particular affection for the lakes of northwest Arkansas, for the very reasons that drew him to the region in the first place – they've forced him to become versatile.

"They're not necessarily all clear, but they're deep reservoirs so you have to learn how to fish shallow or deep," he said.

His recent decision to join the university bass team has also produced success, in the form of a Berkley Big Bag Award (with partner Calvin Vaughan) on March 29 at the Arkansas Tech Invitational. It took a 20 pound plus limit to earn that award and once again a jig was his tool of choice. But he's not a one trick pony.

"He's very versatile," said team President Jerid Jones. "He's good with both power and finesse and he's kicked out butts with jerkbaits, too."

The benefits of joining the team haven't just come on the water. While not all of his teammates plan to pursue careers as professional anglers, he's found comfort and advice in "talking to people in the same age range."

Jones noted that despite the cultural differences, Kitajima "gets along with everyone. There's not a large Japanese population here, but he's lived with a host family for five years and everyone really likes him."

Next Steps
He earned his bachelor's degree in marketing on Saturday, but his real final exams may come this week on the water. The BFL and college derbies are one thing, but the FLW Tour is a totally different animal. Is he ready to take on the big boys in a take-no-prisoners format?

He may have made his own bed when he attended a "Meet the Pros" session at a local Chevrolet dealer several years back. He came face-to-face with his idol Nixon and told him: "Remember my name. I'll be fishing against you in a few years." 

Asked how he'll feel if and when he ties his boat up next to someone like Nixon the first morning of the event, all he could say is that he's "trying not to think about it because it makes (him) nervous."

Unlike some of his Japanese predecessors, he has the full support of his parents and his father will stay in Arkansas this week to prefish with him. 

"Right now my parents are supporting me financially. After graduation, everything will be on my own. My parents really understand how important this is to me, and since they know it's what I really want to do, they support it."

But he thanked more than just his parents for whatever success he has achieved or will achieve. "I appreciate all of the people around me, my parents, my teammates, Jerid Jones. They've all supported me and I couldn't do it without them."

Regardless of how this tournament turns out, he would plans to work for several years after college to attain a degree of financial comfort before he hits the tour full time. Ideally, he'd like to work in the fishing industry, in a role where he can serve "as a bridge between the US and Japanese markets."

Miscellaneous
• While he likes Arkansas, he misses Japanese food. "There are some Japanese restaurants here, but I miss good sushi."
• Like most Japanese anglers, his preferred energy source in the boat is homemade rice balls with seaweed.
• He's sponsored by Gee Crack and Nishine Lure Works. The latter company contacted him after his BFL victory. He said that he continues to pursue additional sponsorship relationships.