Lightweight, smooth, solid construction, for people who like fishing with nice things
This is not my first time buying a JDM fishing reel, but it is my first time buying a made-in-Japan reel. This thing is unbelievable. This is the only low profile baitcaster I have ever used that doesn't have that in-and-out side-play in the reel handle. Retrieve is super smooth, this thing casts phenomenally well no matter what you are trying to do. The SV induction brake is really special. It is a better solution than Shimano's DC system. On distance casting there is no difference, but the Daiwa system is better for trick casts like skipping. Even with the brakes pretty loose, if you do mess up, the resulting backlash is just not that bad.
That this is so much cheaper than a Metanium makes it a no-brainer even if you buy the USDM one. The JDM reel is lighter (thanks to an aluminum main gear as opposed to brass), and comes in the lower 5.5:1 gear ratio. Something you just can't get here in the US officially. Further, the USDM version of the Zillion SV TW is Thai-made. This isn't inherently an issue. I have a number of Tatulas and they are fine reels. I'm not sure why the JDM version and the USDM versions are made in different locations, but if you care about having a Japanese-made reel, this one is an incredible value compared to the much more expensive Steez and better than its closest competitors the Bantam and Metanium from Shimano. It even has a clicky drag.
This reel is a dedicated jig fishing reel for me. It's almost the only thing I use it for, and I've never had a better reel for the job than this one. The low gear ratio is the main reason I went with the JDM version. Almost all anglers underestimate how much they are moving a bait when casually reeling. Lower gear ratios force me to slow down, and I think it makes me present jigs more naturally and catch more fish. I know they are out of fashion for basically anything except crankbaits (and even in that role they are losing ground to fast reels), but I think most anglers should reconsider this if they aren't already.