January 2009 (7)
Yesterday, we popped back to Dainichi to do some business, and had also planned to go to Hoshikin. But, the trip was so hectic that I didn't have time to call Hoshikin, and didn't know how long we would be back at Dainichi.
So, when I called Hoshino-san, he said he had many customers at the farm, and that the Sunday 8th was good, and to please come then. But, alas, the Sunday was the day we were all flying home, so it wasn't to be. So instead, we went up into the mountains of Niigata as Michael and Todd wanted general scenery pics.
Anyway, when flying into Paris (I flew Air France this time), I just had to get this picture... absolutely beautiful!
On the morning of the 5th, we went to Dainichi Koi Farm, where we spent the entire day with Shigeru-san and Futoshi-san, who looked after us extremely well indeed! A fantastic day!!!
We were also taken up into the mountains, to see one of the other Koi houses, as well as the site where Mano-san's house used to be.
{gallery}jan09/5th:::0:1{/gallery}
Today proved to be an equally enjoyable day to yesterday! We went to Yamamatsu Koi Farm, and got loads of material for Michael Cox (Koi Nations Mag). Then, we went out for lunch with Sakai-san. This proved to be particularly interesting!! Michael asked me a whole load of really in depth questions that I then had to translate and ask Sakai-san. Needless to say,
I jokingly threatened Michael with 'pay-back' for putting me on the spot so much. However, after spending much time in the restaurant discussing/translating many things, I left feeling incredibly pleased with myself, having not failed once during what was the most difficult translation ever!
I think Michael and crew were also suitably impressed. A fantastic time, and incredibly interesting!!!
Pictured, is Yamamatsu's 'Kashira' Nisai Sanke of 55cm that we sold last November. This is the nicest Sanke I have seen in a long long time!
Later in the afternoon, we went off to see Murata, a breeder I had been intending to visit for quite some time! Time wasn't really on our side though, as we had to be back at the hotel for 6pm.
A few of these are pretty good. Murata-san surprised me, as he had at least two other secret facilities where he is hiding Koi away. Two of these (one at another location, and one at yet another) Sansai were extremely good. One had a flowery pattern, and the other was a Sandan. He said it was a toss up between the two as his Kashira. However, although he was happy to sell me these Koi, he requested me not to photograph them, as he doesn't want to arouse interest in them from third parties. Shame, as I would have liked to have shared the pics with viewers of this blog.
On the morning of the 4th, we went to Omosako Koi Farm. I bought and promptly sold three good cheaper Shiro Utsuris, but also managed to get hold of this beautiful one (on the left below) that they were keeping as Tategoi. This Koi was the number 1 Nisai from the 'Ebisu' parent set. She is 50cm, and simply stunning!
{gallery}jan09/0402:150:300::2:{/gallery}
At Omosako, I also managed to get this lovely Utsuri (on the right above) that was hidden away as their Tategoi. Hiro-san's Father gave me a price on this. Hiro-san then asked me not to buy buy it, as it was his favourite of all their Tategoi. But, I simply had to have this Koi, as this is one that I wish to grow here to 80cm+ in the next few years. If you saw what was going on lower down the sides of the Koi, you would understand why, I'm sure. You see, a few years ago, I bought a Nisai for this same purpose, but going back about 18 months ago, her mouth locked open (not mechanically) following an M&F treatment. This Koi is still growing well despite this problem, and if this problem hadn't occurred, I am confident that this Koi would have been the best Shiro Utsuri in existence in the UK :-(
After returning the rentacar on the afternoon of the 4th, we took the Shinkansen and travelled up to Niigata.
On the afternoon of the 2nd, we left Yamatoya Koi Farm, and went to Takigawa Koi Farm. I have to say, that Takigawa-san has the most picturesque mud ponds in all of Japan!!! He is rightly extremely proud of them!
Takigawa-san's mud ponds are decorated with huge stunning granite statues such as this frog shown below.
{gallery}jan09/0202::::1{/gallery}
On the 3rd, we attended Momotaro's auction. Sorry, it is inappropriate to take photos of the auction, but I am pleased to say, that we managed to get a number of the very best Bentley Kohaku Tosai! I also tried to get the best Nisai Sanke, but due to not having a buyer for her, I stopped bidding at 2.3 million, and she eventually sold for more than double that!!!
Yes, it's that time of year again! Today, we stayed in downtown Hiroshima, as it was my good friend Ueshima-san's birthday (tanjobi). Each year, it is customary for Hiro-san and myself to go out on Ueshima-san's birthday, and also on my birthday in October. This was the strangest of restaurants! It kinda had the feel of a TGI Friday's, but was owned and centred around a wrestler. This restaurant was very noisy, with crazy goings on, for example... if you ordered their special salad, you then had a screaming/chanting affair when it arrived, wereby the waiter would scream out across the restaurant about the virtues of salad for strength, health, etc, and you had to scream a reply to each part whilst punching into the air!
{gallery}jan09/0302/birthday::::2{/gallery}
Though not a buying trip, I did spot the Nidan Kohaku below (the 2nd and 3rd steps are joined on the other side), and bought her. Very nice, and will look much better as she gets bigger!
I bought this Sanke (below) last October. Takigawa-san had her hidden away as his Sanke Kashira. I guess in this instance being the Kashira isn't such a big deal, as he didn't have many good Sanke this year, but this one will be pretty special in the future. Anyway, Takigawa-san is full of regret of selling this one. When I bought her, he didn't want to sell her. But, at that time there was no Sumi on the shoulder of the Koi. Now though, you can see three areas of Sumi coming up at the back of the head and shoulder area. When I bought her, I told Takigawa-san that because of the lineage and sumi traits, I thought it would get some in this area, but he disagreed. Anyway, now he just laughs, saying he made a big mistake this time! I am leaving out for growing, and don't hope to sell her. She isn't too refined right now in the Kiwa, but I think that if left in the mud pond, this will fill in. Watch this space...
{gallery}jan09/0302/koi:150:300::2{/gallery}
This Tancho (above) of ours is divine! This was Takigawa-san's best one last Autumn, and was being kept hidden away as his Tategoi. He would only let me have one of the three he had, but this is the best!
On the Sunday morning of the Show, I took the Koi Nations team off down to Hiroshima on the Shinkansen, and then picked up a rentacar, and headed out on the long trek to Shimane, to see Shiraishi-san. After a brief coffee, we went out for dinner at my favourite restaurant. Shiraishi-san, was quite rightly in high spirits after his All Japan triumph!
The interior of this restaurant is simply stunning! It used to be a temple for monks and has a fantatic dining area.
{gallery}jan09/0102:::0:1{/gallery}
After the restaurant, we headed back close to the hotel, and went to Muikaichi's only pub-bar. This is a tin bar owned and run by an extremely old couple, and is only ever frequented by locals, which always makes for an interesting evening. It is the norm in this bar to sing Karaoke. However, the Karaoke screen is usually set in a quite unorthodox way, as at the end of your song, you are scored by the computer for your efforts. The scoring is done in such a way that a series of squares on the screen covers the image of a nude model. The higher the score, the more squares are removed.
{gallery}jan09/0102/bar:::0:2{/gallery}
And here we have Chris's score! I have to say, that hers is probably the lowest score I have seen, but I have never seen any less than two squares remaining, whoever sings. It is my guess that the computer won't let anyone score higher than this, for reasons of indecency. It seems to make people try harder at the singing though! ;-)
Shiraishi-san returned a good score, with only three squares left on screen! 94%.
Michael very reluctantly sang at the end of the eve... and in all honesty was oustanding! Almost thought he was singing to me! ;-) He scored an extremely good 93%, with four boxes left.
Within a few minutes of arriving at the Koi Show on the Friday, the result for Grand Champion was announced!... Yamatoya! This was a triumphant result for Shiraishi-san, and also for myself, as Yamatoya has been one of our mainstay breeders since we first went there in April 2002! Further to this, up until 2006, we were the only non-Japanese breeder ever to buy Koi at Yamatoya Koi Farm.
This wonderful Kohaku took second in 70Bu. We sold her when Nisai of about 53cm, and she is now Sansai. A great result!
This wonderful customers Kohaku was also at the Show, and Sansai.
Takahiro Omosako, and Max Ng. I have been friends with both of these guys for several years, and both are top people in my estimation.
Who says the Japanese don't misbehave!? Hiro-san is pouring me a beer, and getting it as close to the brim as poss, overlooked by Kuroku-san. In from the right of the pic, comes Daisuke Maeda, like a greased lightning, who promptly pours more beer in, making for an ecological disaster all over the floor! ;-)
{gallery}jan09/30th::::1{/gallery}
After the banquet, Michael Cox (Koi Nations) and myself were invited out partying with Iitsuka-san (Matsue), and Hiro-san (Takahiro Omosako of Omosako Koi Farm, and staff).
Hiro-san making party plans...
At the end of the eve, Hiro-san jumped on Michael Cox's back. If you look back through old blogs, you will see a pattern emerging... it seems that Hiro-san just likes to be carried everywhere when he's been drinking!
Well, I arrived in Japan on the 29th, but had to wait in Narita Airport all day, until the American crew arrived at 6.30pm. This 'crew' consisted of Michael D Cox (not to be confused with Michael J Fox ;-)), camera man Todd Huffman, and his good lady Chris Huffman. This trip is largely to be centered around Koi Nations, so that I could take Michael to various Koi Farms and do translation for him.
The pic, is of the sign board outside the Koi Show.
From left to right... Michael D Cox (Koi Nations Magazine), Todd Huffman (magazine photographer), and Chris Huffman.
