Is the Japan-market (JDM) model the same as the US model?
Short answer: often the same reel under a slightly different name, but the size range usually differs, and a few specs can differ too. Check the model page: where we have compared the maker’s Japan and US catalogs, it says exactly which sizes match.
What we found when we compared Daiwa’s Japan-market data with the Daiwa 2026–27 US catalog (printed):
- Same sizes, same specs. The Saltiga 300 is listed in the US in all 4 Japan-market sizes, with the same gear ratios, bearings, max drag and weight.
- Only some sizes are sold in the US. The Certate SW 4000/5000/6000 (2024) is in the US catalog in 3 of its 8 Japan-market sizes; the other five are Japan-only.
- Same name, different sizes. For the Certate (2024), none of the 6 US sizes (Certate LT G) matches a Japan-market size code.
- A spec differs. The Seaborg G1200M is listed in the US with a lower max drag: 33 kg (72.8 lb) versus 36 kg in the Japan-market data.
Every model page shows the maker’s Japan-market specs. Where we have the comparison, it is under Japan version vs export version on that page, with the catalog page number.
Related: How to buy · Daiwa model codes explained
Japan vs US version (JDM vs USDM)
Size-by-size comparisons of the Japan-market and US models, from the maker’s catalogs: Daiwa BG SW (2026) · Daiwa Certate (2024) · Daiwa Certate HD (2026) · Daiwa Certate SW 4000–6000 (2024) · Daiwa Certate SW 8000–20000 (2026) · Daiwa EXIST (2022) · Daiwa Luvias ST (2024) · Daiwa Saltiga (2025) · Daiwa Saltiga 300 (2025) · Daiwa Saltiga 4000–6000 (2023) · Daiwa Seaborg G1200M (2024) · Daiwa Seaborg G1800M-RJ · Daiwa Seaborg G800MJ (2024) · Daiwa Seapower 1200.