March 2010 (29)
Nothing to report today! Left Okawa at 10.30 this morning, and drove up to Okayama, as Darren travels home in the morning. We arrived in Okayama at 4pm, it was just under a 500km drive. I now have two magazine articles to write and finish by 12.00pm tomorrow, it's now 8.15pm here in Okayama... the pressure is ON!!! ;-)
Today, we went to Okawa Koi Farm. Darren got lucky, and has purchased a number of Jumbo Tosai. Unfortunately, for me this time, it is difficult to obtain the level of Koi I am looking for, as due to Asian demand, it seems to be the same story everywhere, that masses of Koi have been bought and sent to other Asian countries. I haven't given up hope yet though... two other breeders are going to let me have some of their Tategoi. It could be the case though that this year we will be short of high-level Jumbo Tosai?
In the pics below... the Okawa brothers do business in style! No messing around, just jump straight in the pond, and harvest it! Yoneichi-san is selecting fish out for Darren to choose from. Looking on of course, is Darren, with Nagoshi-san next to him in the first pic. Nagoshi-san is from Toyama prefecture. He did his apprenticeship at Okawa Koi Farm many years ago. Will update this later...
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Today was the day I could take a leisurely walk around the Show.
I didn't want to make a song and dance about before now, but we had four Koi at the Show. Two of these were clients Koi, and two were Koi that we haven't yet sold. The best prize we had, was a 'Jiseki prize' (2nd) with a clients Shiro Utsuri, and Kohaku that got a third. A Momotaro Sanke of ours also took a 3rd.
Pics now added today Tues 6th, but text to be added later...
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Well, today was an exciting one, and also hard work! My task, was one of a team of 5 judges responsible for picking all of the winners in the 23bu and 33bu class (up to 23cm, and up to 33cm). We also had to judge the Champions. The judging of the 23 and 33 classes was pretty tough going, as it was all carried out at great speed. We all had to look at the entrants in each variety, and pick out a certain number (up to 20, dependent on number of entrants) that we considered to be the best. We then had to narrow the choices down, and vote on the winners, and runners up. Yamamatsu (Sakai-san) was the head judge, with Kondo and two other breeders also taking part. It proved to be very interesting. I also had to choose the most unique Koi in 23 and 33bu by myself. You can imagine how much of an anti-climax this was for me, as I am someone who only likes Go-Sanke, Shiro Utsuri, and Kujaku!!! Anyway, in 23Bu, I chose a very unusual Beni Kumonryu, and in 33Bu, I chose a really odd looking creature that remsembled one of somewhat unpopular Cha-Utsuris, but with some yellow colour patterning on, like an Ochiba. Perhaps it was a Ochiba Cha-Utsuri, I don't know, but it looked unique, no doubt about that!!! Other judges chose unique Koi in other sizes, but for some odd reason I think misunderstood the judging criteria of 'most unique Koi', as they picked things like Sanke, and Goshiki. I could understand it if the Koi were unusual examples ;-)
Last night, we attended the dinner party, and then went off to an 'after party' party with Takahiro Omosako, Iitsuka-san (Matsue), Tanaka-san (Okawa), and Nagoshi-san... it was a great night!
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This morning, we drove from Muikaichi (Yamatoya) down to Kyushu, where the Wakagoi Show is taking place this weekend. There weren't many fish at the show when we were there, so I grabbed a a few people shots.
I am very excited about tomorrow, as I will be judging at this Show. I have had to bring a suit with me to Japan this time, so that I look respectable during the course of tomorrow...
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There was no internet connection yesterday, so hence, no updates. However, we went to Takigawa Koi Farm in the morning to show Steve Gibbins his farm. Aside from taking a look around all of the various Koi houses, we also took a look at some of the mudponds, including one of the biggest ones (24,000 sq metres), which will be home to around 500 tosai this coming Summer, to grow through to Nisai. I neglected to take a picture of this pond for some reason, so have added a few pics of this mud pond being harvested in 2007 so that you can appreciate the sheer scale of it! Whilst there, I also did some translation for Steve, the fruits of which I can't disclose... you'll have to grill him for info on this one ;-)
In the afternoon, we went to Yamatoya Koi Farm, again so that Steve could see how Shiraishi-san is doing things.
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This afternoon, we headed off to Sakai. I was surprised that Kentaro-san was able to take care of us this afternoon, as I figured he would be tied up with customers since the Wakagoi Show is this coming weekend. Anyway, Kentaro-san was his usual pleasant self, and helped Steve out with some information that he was hoping to obtain.
Tonight, we are in Kozan, next to Takigawa Koi Farm. We will be visiting there again in the morning...
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Last night, we went out with Takahiro Omosako, and then this morning went to the farm, and off to one of the mud ponds to watch some of the parent Koi being pulled up from having been over-wintered in the mud pond. In the pictures, will see Darren, Takahiro-san, and Steve Gibbins (Koi Media), whom has asked me to take him around a handful of Southern breeders so that he could see how things are done down in this area.
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Well, today was Mootaro's Jumbo Tosai auction. All of our client bid limits were exceeded, but we did manage to buy three female Jumbo Tosai consisting of one Showa, and two Sanke. The Sanke's have only very tiny Sumi, but given the lineage and kind of Sumi these two have, I think they will be very interesting to watch develop in the future.
Tomorrow, we will be back at Omosako to see their parent Koi being pulled up from the mud pond... can't wait to see that!...
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Today, went to Omosako. Managed to buy 5 of their female Tategoi tosai, and 4 cheaper female Tosai, though have had no time to get them all onto the site!
Later in the afternoon, went to see a breeder that I haven't visited before, and bought four female Tosai Kohaku. One of these will be staying with the breeder, as he hopes to take her to the All Japan when nisai. The others will be coming back soon...
Tomorrow is the Momotaro auction, so will have to see how that goes :-)
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More...
Today was spent at Yamatoya Koi Farm. As I expected, I have to go back later to get hold of good Tosai, after they have been selected, and the lesser ones weeded out. This is no problem though, as our March/April trip historically has never been the time when we have obtained the best Tosai. This time of year can be good for getting one or two Nisai though, although not in Yamatoya's case, as all of his good Koi are sold out.
It was still good to be here though, and Shiraishi-san wants to buy back the Maruten Kohaku that we bought in October 2008 as his Kashira. This isn't the ideal situation for such a Koi, as I would rather see her in a hobbyists pond. But, since he is happy to pay our asking price, I have a few days to decide.
Two other Koi that reside here, are ones that I am very proud of. One is a clients Koi, which is now for sale again (very cheaply), and the other is one that I personally like very much... This Kohaku is one I sold as Nisai, and bought back from the client when Sansai. She is now Yonsai and 71cm. Strangely, this Koi has had very little interest from hobbyists.
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Well, Saturday was an interesting one! I didn't get lucky with Tosai, but then didn't expect to on this trip, as Iitsuka-san had already told me to come later for the really special ones. But, nonetheless, it was still very interesting. I bought one Nisai Kohaku of 56cm, which I think was the best one of remaining in the highest priced pond. Of great interest to me though, was a Nisai that I bought in January, and sold to a client in China. I have posted a January photo of this Koi, and one taken now... the difference is incredible! Her skin condition in January was bad, but I was confident she would clean up, though not quite this quickly! Iitsuka-san said that if she knew she would be looking this good, he would have asked to take her to the Wakagoi Show next weekend! Hey ho... I
I also tried to get better photos of the Koi that I bought at the All Japan Show 'Yume-Ten' (Dream Koi) exhibition. I am surprised that I haven't yet sold this wonderful 62cm Nisai Kohaku!
Darren had a good day... he managed to find some Tosai that put a smile on his face. :-)
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Yesterday morning, we went to Takigawa Koi Farm, where Darren chose some Tosai. After lunch, we hit the road and headed off for Matsue. However, yesterday morning, it started snowing at Takigawa-san's as you can see from the first photo. Takigawa-san reckoned the drive to Matsue would be ok, but I guess he didn't realise what my favourite route would be for this journey ;-) What started out as a very nice drive, slowly turned into one that made me more and more nervous. Now, I love driving, and I love to take scenic routes, but what started out as a little snow on the road, quickly turned into a drive through the snow (without snow tyres) where there clearly hadn't been any other drivers since the snow started. Some of these roads are very twisty, with sheer drops on the side of the road! Anyway, arrived at Matsue for a brief look around, before heading off to the hotel, and then out for dinner with Iitsuka-san. Unfortunately, there was nothing for me at Takigawa this time, so will be going back there later on.
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It is now Saturday morning, and we are off down to Matsue Farm to see what they have. Watch this space...
Well, arrived in Japan at around 12.30pm today. The flight schedule has changed from the norm, so by the time we got down to Hiroshima, it left very little time for anything except picking up my hire car, and heading up to Takigawa Koi Farm. We had a quick look around before taking Takigawa-san out to dinner. Tomorrow is really when the trip officially starts, so watch this space...