The development of Vickitan is intrinsically linked to the Kaeru lure, one of Tsunami Lures’ early flagship plugs. Kaeru was characterised by a lively slide and “spitting” action—a forward splash generated by the lure’s movement through water. Tsunami Lures explicitly identifies Kaeru as the prototype and origin point for the Vickitan series.2

The creation of Kaeru reflected the broader philosophy of Tsunami Lures founder and builder Motoki, who originally hand-carved the lure. Early versions were noted for resisting conventional action, embodying a design ethos that prioritised uniqueness over industry standards. Rather than conforming to established norms, Tsunami Lures embraced the concept that an unconventional lure could challenge anglers to discover new retrieval techniques. Vickitan evolved from this philosophy into a specialised surface-fishing “finesse” lure, translating the unusual surface action and character of earlier Tsunami plugs into a softer, hollow-bodied format.

Vickitan is designed with an action-first approach rather than focusing solely on visual imitation of prey. While often categorised alongside frog lures, its engineering prioritises functional versatility. The lure enables anglers to execute multiple presentation styles:

• Sliding and turning across the surface;
• Producing a broad splash when jerked;
• Remaining stationary while appendages continue to move;
• Covering vegetation and surface structure;
• Creating subtle disturbance compared to large hard-bodied alternatives.

Tsunami Lures positions Vickitan as a “finesse” tool for surface pluggers, particularly effective when conventional hard topwater lures fail to provoke strikes. This distinguishes it within the frog and topwater category, as its purpose is not merely to generate maximum noise but to allow precise manipulation of disturbance levels.

A defining technical characteristic of Vickitan is its soft, hollow body. The internal weighting provides sufficient casting distance while maintaining a surface-oriented posture. Tsunami Lures emphasises that the lure is engineered to be used without requiring additional tuning, which contributes significantly to its appeal among anglers.3

The deliberate softness of the body, combined with a proprietary hook design, enhances hooking performance. Key construction elements include:

1. Body softness facilitating hook penetration;
2. Specific body shape optimised for surface action;
3. Absence of unnecessary weight or accessories around the hook;
4. Original hook design matched to the body dimensions.

Additionally, the body is constructed to resist water penetration, preserving buoyancy and action consistency throughout use.

The reputation of Vickitan rests primarily on its versatile surface action.

Slide and turn

The standard skirt-equipped version can be manipulated to produce a sliding and turning motion across the water surface. This horizontal movement is particularly valuable when straight-line retrieves prove ineffective.

Spitting and splash

“Spitting” refers to the lure throwing water forward or outward during manipulation. A longer twitch or jerk generates a relatively broad splash across the front of the lure, mimicking distressed prey.

Pause

During pauses, the silicone skirt or leg appendages continue to move subtly in the water, creating attraction without forward travel. This combination of movement, splash and pause forms the core of the Vickitan presentation.4

The Vickitan family comprises several distinct variants rather than a single fixed model.

Vickitan

The original hollow-bodied surface lure measures approximately 70 mm in length and weighs between 17.5 g and 18.5 g depending on configuration. Retail listings identify both silicone-skirt and leg versions. Its compact dimensions and weight distribution provide substantial casting capability for its size.

Vickitan 2013

This variant introduced a soft-leg configuration. Unlike the skirt version, the legs produce additional movement during both retrieval and stationary pauses. Tsunami Lures notes that the legs create appealing action when stopped and enhanced attraction when retrieved over vegetation.

Key behavioural differences from the skirt version include:
* Greater resistance from the legs;
* Reduced tendency to slide or turn;
* Stronger straight-line presentation;
* More pronounced splashing;
* Continuous leg movement during pauses.

Vickitan Buzz

Listed alongside the standard Vickitan and Vickitan 2013 in the company archive, Vickitan Buzz expands the basic concept toward a more active surface presentation.5

Vickitan Horn

Vickitan Horn represents a popper-oriented evolution of the series. Designed to generate strong sound and splash through short-distance walking movements or jerks, it retains the transparent PVC legs or silicone skirt that continue moving during pauses.1

Specifications

• Length: 69 mm
• Weight: 18.5–20.5 g
• Hook: Original hook
• Accessories: Original silicone skirt and PVC legs
• Colours: Multiple frog, skull, skeleton and specialty patterns

This model functions as a hybrid, combining the soft hollow-body characteristics of Vickitan with explicit popping and splashing capabilities.

Understanding Vickitan requires contextualising it within Tsunami Lures’ broader design approach. The manufacturer frequently avoids conventional shapes and actions, describing this unconventionality as central to its identity. Vickitan embodies the philosophy of unusual shape, unconventional action, angler manipulation and individual character.

The connection to Kaeru is significant because it established a design language that persists throughout the Vickitan series. Vickitan is therefore not merely a frog-shaped lure but a continuation of Tsunami Lures’ distinctive topwater plug tradition.

Although sometimes misidentified as a standalone brand, Vickitan possesses a distinct identity defined by five key attributes:

1. Japanese niche tackle: It belongs to the cult/niche topwater lure tradition rather than mass-market fishing tackle.
2. Surface-fishing specialisation: Its identity is strongly associated with surface plugging, especially situations demanding subtlety or unconventional action.
3. Soft-body engineering: The hollow, flexible body is fundamental to its function rather than cosmetic.
4. Finesse approach: Despite its capacity for surface disturbance, it is positioned as a finesse tool.
5. Visual personality: Distinctive frog, skull, skeleton and glitter colour schemes provide collector appeal alongside practical utility.

Vickitan occupies a unique position in the Japanese lure market by bridging multiple categories. It functions simultaneously as a frog lure due to its hollow soft construction, a topwater plug due to its manipulable action, a finesse lure due to its subtle presentation options, and a collector item due to limited releases and strong maker identity.

This multifaceted nature explains its presence in specialist tackle shops and collections alongside other Tsunami Lures products. Retailers such as LureHaven in Singapore list Vickitan among manufacturer categories, while Japanese domestic shops continue to stock individual variants. Collectors are drawn to limited colours, unusual graphics and the reputation of Tsunami Lures as an unconventional builder, while anglers value its unique surface action and versatile presentation options. The cataloguing of multiple versions as a distinct series reinforces Vickitan’s status as an identifiable design family rather than a singular product.

1. Vickitan Horn | TSUNAMI LURES
2. ツナミルアー　ヴィキタン　 レッグver.　 TSUNAMI LURE　Vickitan – 〖バス・トラウト・ソルトのルアーフィッシング通販ショップ〗BackLash／バックラッシュ｜Japanese fishing tackle｜ルアー/釣具通販
3. ツナミルアー　ヴィキタン　 シリコンスカ―トver.　 TSUNAMI LURE　Vickitan – 〖バス・トラウト・ソルトのルアーフィッシング通販ショップ〗BackLash／バックラッシュ｜Japanese fishing tackle｜ルアー/釣具通販
4. #088 Vicki Tan: Ask Better Que… – MindHack – Apple Podcasts
5. vickitan – iStudio