Another advert Yuji-san showed me, was a general one that the farm had published in ‘Gekkan’ magazine. This Koi was one that we bought as Nisai, and then sold as Sansai. She is now Yonsai, and some 76cm. I have blocked out the owners name, as he doesn’t wish to become widely known in the UK.
On Sunday afternoon, I headed off to see Yamatoya. I went out with him that evening, and on the following morning went down to the farm to see how the Koi were looking, and to generally talk Koi.
Monday late morning, I drove to Omosako Koi Farm. Things there were looking good. Hiro-san showed me two Koi that he had hidden away as secret Tategoi, of which I was allowed to buy one. The Koi in question is one of the absolute top Tategoi from Zebra. They wouldn't sell me the Kashira, as they have left her in the mudpond over winter. But, he did say that the Kashira was some 57cm!
That said, Hiro-san always laughs and says that they have many Kashira! In effect, they have the Kashira from each harvest, each pond, etc. Then as they grow, they change a lot, so the Kashira status shifts around. He feels that with Kohaku, it's easy to say a Koi is the Kashira, but at Omosako, its a little tricker to say. Really, you have to ask if the Koi in question is the overall Kashira in their case, as he said that the one I am thinking of buying is a higher level than one they already said was the 'Kashira' from the general sales ponds.
This Koi has beautifully refined Sumi and Kiwa, with no stray small scattered Sumi, and is super high level with a rarely seen kind of body for growing Jumbo. I was hoping to buy her, but subsequent purchases have temporarily hampered things, for the moment... No pic, and she isn't ours... yet!