The next bit of news, is in relation to the Momotaro auction on May 27th. I had a long sneak preview of these Koi last Saturday, and they really are wonderful, especially the Sanke. I have to say, that they look nothing like the photos that Momotaro have emailed. Some are far superior to these photos, and unfortunately, some are not as good. But, all in all, these, I think, are Momotaro's best auction Koi to date. If you have any interest in these Koi, please don't hesitate to drop me a line. Our extensive knowledge of their bloodline is second to none, having imported many of them since 2000, and watching them grow to up to 90cm+ in the UK. A nominal commission fee of 10% applies, but for this, you get extensive guidance of the Koi in question, and if we don't like the Koi in the flesh, we don't buy it just to get your commission!

Sorry for the lack of updates! I have just returned from an incredibly hectic trip to Japan, so busy, that I had no chance for doing a 'blog' for this one.

 However, it isn't all bad news! We have managed to source a handful of extremely high-class Tosai! We are in a very fortunate position, that the amount of business we do with our chosen breeders, is such that they are happy to let us have just a few of their very top Tategoi. This time, we had freedom to have the choice of each and every one of Takeda Koi Farm's Tosai, something that we have somewhat 'inherited' since Takeda-san passed away in 2007. Only one Koi ever was offered up for sale by Takeda-san several years ago, to a Japanese hobbiest. The Takeda Kohaku this time, were by far the best I have ever seen there, and this bloodline is a very famous one!

At Takigawa Koi Farm, we were allowed just two Tosai this time. But, we got the 'Kashira' from one breeding, and a second Koi from another main parent set.

We have also sourced five Yamatoya Tosai, having the complete run through our choice of two of his three Tategoi ponds. 

At Okawa Koi Farm, we have managed to get 7 of their Tategoi, which were also destined for the mud pond. These are incredibly large, and very high quality.

We also have sourced a handful of very nice Omosako Tosai.

To summarise, the photo below, is of the 'highlight Koi' of the trip. These Koi are ones we have bought without even having regard for price... they are quite simply, the absolute best!

If you have any interest in these new Koi, please drop us a line.

I am in Japan as of yesterday, in search of very special Jumbo Tosai. The numbers will be very limited, as the breeders do not wish to sell these Koi at all, and will only let us have them because of the amount of business we do at other times of the year with them. Keep a look out for new Koi in our 'Fish' pages, and email newsletters (assuming you are subscribed to them).

 Many thanks, 

Mike.

 

It's that time of year already! If you purchased one of our '2008 Tategoi Challenge Tosai last Spring/Summer, this is a reminder to rush out and take a photo of the Koi, and send it to us with the size. The size generally of the competing Koi, is between 50 and 57cm, so the competition is stiff! Some of the best ones sold after the closing date, some didn't sell at all, with some of these beig the best of the lot (not the most expensive), as predicted in the Tategoi Challenge article in Koi Nations Magazine. On my return from Japan, I will endeavor to visit and personally photograph as many of your Koi as possible prior to going back to Japan in April, so that the breeders can cast their vote, and you can choose your prize! This challenge was intended as an excercise in 'enlightenment' for clients and hobbyists. However, due to the popularity of is, we will be hold a 2009 Tategoi Challenge this year too!

 

Hi,

 Just to let you know, that Elisa and I have just returned from being away the last two weeks, and on Friday 20th, I will be off to Japan in search of Tosai, and also new breeders. I will also be visiting the Momotaro auction on 31st of March, so if you have any interest in any of the Koi on their website, please contact me. As you are already no doubt aware, we have had many clients grow Momotaro Koi (and other breeders) to over 80cm from Tosai in the UK, and as such, our experience and knowledge of their bloodlines (since 2000) is absolutely second to none. Please keep your eyes on the 'Blog' pages for day to day news during the trip.

We also have a clients Koi attending the 'Wakagoi' Show, which we hope will fare well, so please wish us luck! :-)

 

Hi,

If you have found your way to the new Yume Koi website, may I first say a big Welcome!, and also a thank you for taking the time to browse here.

I sincerely hope that you will find the new website more 'user friendly', more content-rich, and simpler to navigate that the old one. 

There are many more pages to be added over the next few weeks, and many more exciting features planned. So, please check back to see how the updates are coming on, and also let us know if there are any pages that you would like to see here?

 At Yume Koi, we now have 5 ponds, predominantly stocked with very high-end Koi. In fact, even if you are a Japan-trip veteran, you will be incredibly hard pushed to find as many Koi on your travels, as you would find right here in the UK, and if you are experienced, I think you will fully agree with this. But, in our quest to keep 'upping our game' we have inevitably grown on massive number of Koi, and are now in a situation, which we feel that you, the hobbyist, can benefit from... We are going to clear out a reasonable number of very good lower priced Koi over the next few weeks, mostly sub-£1000, and representing incredibly good value for money. So, please keep your eyes peeled for these Koi.

 I hope that this site proves to be everything you hoped it would.

 Best regards,

 Mike.

Good Morning,

Well, it is with great excitement that I bring you news of the 2009 All Japan Show Grand Champion!!! The winner is a Yamatoya bred Showa, of 92cm, owned my Fujiki-san of Saitama prefecture. Shiraishi-san (Yamatoya president) sold this Koi as Nisai, and raised her to Rokusai (6 years) in his mud ponds. After this, she went to the clients own pond. In 2007, she spent the Summer in a breeders mud pond in Niigata, and was one of the five nominated Koi for GC at the All Japan Show last year. (she was also in the running for GC in 2006) This Koi was bred from a Takeda female, and Takeda males. This Koi really does look as youthful as the picture suggests!The picture above was one we took last year. The Sumi had gone down a little since spending time in the mudpond during the previous Summer. The Sumi has now come up again! She is stunning!

I am especially excited, as we have been buying Koi from Yamatoya Koi Farm since April 2002, and he has become one of our mainstay breeders. Until 2006, we were the only dealer outside Japan to ever sell Yamatoya Koi, and nowadays specialise in only his very top level ones.

I hope that you will share the same excitement of this news, as I do.

Best regards,

Mike Snaden.

Yes, it's that time of year once again... The Tokyo All Japan Show!

This years trip is a little different to the norm, as Mike will be hooking up with Michael Cox of Koi Nations magazine (and his camera crew), and taking them to various breeders in the North and South of Japan, so that he can do translations for Michael Cox for future Koi Nations articles. This should be an exciting and interesting trip! To find out more about the international magazine 'Koi Nations, please visit www.koinations.com

We will also be visiting the Feb 3rd auction at Momotaro Koi Farm, where we have been buying Koi since 2000. Our long relationship with Momotaro, has given us considerable insight into their lineages and complicated development traits. Our understanding of those few Koi that will grow Jumbo, and turn out wonderful, speaks for itself, as many a Japanese breeder will attest to.

Please check out our 'Koi Gallery' pages, where you will get a brief idea of what 'Yume Koi' are all about. At present, we are only about a third of the way through this gallery portfolio, as we have many more Sanke, Showa, Shiro Utsuri, and some more Kohaku to add, with most of the Koi being bought as Tosai, and most now being up over 80cm, with many 85cm+.

If you are interested in any of the Koi on Momotaro's website www.momotaro-koi.org please contact us by email, or call Mike on 07909 916949 (Just dial the UK number, the Japan diversion is at our cost).

Also, if you would like to be kept more up date with 'inside' news at Yume Koi, please go to our 'Fish' pages and 'Create an account' (this is not actually a purchasing account, but is only used for our private/non-shared database, so completely confidential).

Best regards,

Mike & Elisa.

We have this evening sent out newsletter info of two of the very special Koi, as promised. Detailed info of these Koi will only be sent out in our newsletters, so if you wish to receive info on them, please click on 'Fish', and then on 'Create an account' near the top of that page. Don't worry, your details are NOT divulged to anyone, and you don't need to enter any credit card data... this is purely our own newsletter database.

Please hurry and register if you wish to receive info on these extremely exciting Koi, more of which will be sent out in tomorrows Newsletter. The Tancho pictured, is already resold. She was Nisai in 2007, and now Sansai (Sansai pic on right). The nisai pic of her was posted onto another dealer's forum, where the dealer speculated her as male for some reason. But, if there is one thing we understand well, it's body types, and how to grow Jumbo Koi! :-)