November, 2009

......home from Mushigame.

As I mentioned the other day I've recently been trying to take a daily bicycle ride, much to the amazement of those around the area, in preparation for the winter.  This exercise has also been spurred on by the fact that at the Yamazaki harvest the other day - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/594 - my waders actually fitted properly for the first time, as opposed to how they fitted last year - http://yamakoshi.blogspot.com/2008/09/end.html.  Unfortunately a shoulder injury has hampered my cycling and, with the sun high in the sky, I therefore decided walking was the order of the day.  Not knowing I'd be sure to get a lift home, and certainly not wanting to walk both ways, I decided to arrange a lift to Mushigame and then walk home.

A quick e-mail confirmed my chosen chauffer was free and would happily drop me to Mushigame.  On arrival at the Shintaro tosai ponds I asked them to drop me off so I could take an updated Mushigame panorama.  'What time shall I come and get you?', they asked.  'I'm walking I insisted, that's the point!' 'Crazy!', was the reply.  Probably right but ho hum.

The light wasn't great for the panorama but I took it anyway and headed up the hill towards the village.  Just as I turned the corner at Yamamatsu Saito san drove past me, that was my first coffee stop scuppered!  Thankfully a minute later he'd rounded the block and arrived back at the house.

It's been about a week since we've last spoke and with the new issue of Gekkan Nishikigoi arrived some interesting conversation ensued before I headed off, before doing so popping in to see the tosai which it's been perhaps 3 or 4 weeks since I last looked at them.

The Showa appear even more interesting that last year, there seem a lot more kindai patterns than last year.  As with all the tosai in the Koi house they were as fit as a fiddle coming charging for food as soon as the door opened.

As I stood there watching them for 10 or 15 minutes it occured to me that I've never updated on the nisai Showa that were harvested in October despite covering them in such detail previously.  I'll update tomorrow.

From Shintaro I headed up past Kazuto and Marusada and headed for Maruju.  When I arrived without a truck everyone asked, 'jitensha?', meaning bicycle, they've known me cycle there before.  I explained I was walking again to cries of disbelief.  Everyone was working down at the bottom Koi house where the tategoi tosai are kept, along with some other nisai.  I mentioned earlier in the spring about Yasu's tosai Showa - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/334 - sadly I don't have any pictures of them then.

Yasu called me over and promptly netted the Koi below telling me this was the Koi that I'd highlighted as number 1 back in April.  I have to confess that I don't remember it particularly but it's progress will do for me.  It was, after all, only about 15cm when I picked it out.

The Showa below was Yasu's number 1 back in April and still remains his number 1 tategoi stating that in 2 or 3 years it will be the best Koi.  Time will tell, I sure hope he's right!

It had turned into a beautiful afternoon as I prepared to leave.  There is a guy that often helps out at Maruju, indeed you can see him in the pics here operating the concrete core cutter - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/526.  He called me over and told me he was going back to Ojiya soon so he'd drive me.  I insisted I was walking and bade them farewell.

First stop was the vending machine outside the convenience store in Mushigame for some liquid refreshment.  Just as I reached it a kei truck pulled up next me, it was Toshinori Ishihara of Yagenji.  Was everything OK, did I need a lift, where was I going, etc.  I explained I was going to Ojiya and walking, despite dogged persistence he finally drove on, probably doubting my sanity and his subsequent safety more than anything.

It was unbelievably warm as I walked down from Mushigame, stopping briefly to take another panorama as the light was infinitely better than earlier, I'll post it later.

As I wandered down through Yamanaka I couldn't help but think about all the stories that I'd heard of the early breeders, those that truly started our global industry, having to walk from Yamakoshi down what would have been little more than a dirt track to Ojiya Station with their Koi before loading them onto a train which would be the start of their journey around Japan.  Oh how we take modern luxuries for granted.

Along route 291 I was passed by numerous breeders who waved, thankfully I didn't have to justify my sanity as they were all passing the other way so didn't stop.  Just as I reached Sakazume there was a beep of a horn behind me.  It was the guy from Maruju all but begging me to get in the car so he could drive me the rest of the way.  I managed to persuade him that I really was OK walking.

By now the light was fading.  Earlier I'd received a message from Hiroshi asking if I was at home, i'd replied I was walking home from Mushigame.  'Does that mean you'd like a lift?', we asked.  'Nope, not at all', I replied.

As I passed under the Shinkansen tunnel by Miyaishi I could see the figure of Tsuyoshi san coming towards me to check and lock the Koi house.  As we got closer he had his usual look of amazement on his face at seeing me.  Before he said anything I stated, 'don't call me crazy!'.  'Where have you come from?', he asked.  'Maruju', I replied.  He just shook his head and said 'unbelievable'.  He knew already of my shoulder pain and then pointed out that tomorrow my legs would hurt, at which point they started to hurt.  I again turned down the offer of a lift before carrying on my way.

There is a lady lives in the house next to the Torazo greenhouse and whenever I walk past she always says a very cheery, 'konnichiwa'. Today she asked why I was walking because every day I cycle past.  Whether she understood my explanation I've no idea.  Sometimes you are very conspicuous as a gaigin.

Despite the pain induced by Tsuyoshi san I carried on, spurred on by my continued thoughts of the Koi breeders over half a century before who'd trodden the same path to share their Koi with the rest of Japan and then the rest of the world.

Exactly 2 hours after taking the Mushigame panorama photos I passed this blue 'shelter' just a short distance past Isa Koi Farm.  You'll find similar shelters and signs all over the area.   Japan is of course legendary for it's vending machines from which you can allegedly purchase almost anything, although I'm sure much of this is an urban myth.  I recall on my first visit in 2001 there being many alcoholic drink vending machines on the streets, these are seemingly all now gone, I know of only one in the village of Muikimachi near Nogami's facility.  They still proliferate in hotels.  Cigarette vending machines are now strictly controlled by 'TASPO' cards issued to over 20's only.  Until a few months ago this shelter had a drinks vending machine next to it, I would happily stop and grab a soft drink on my way to the mountains.  One day my inquisitiveness got the better of me and I stuck my head in the shelter, 3 vending machines offering adult movie DVD's for just 1000yen each.  I never did use that drink vending machine again, my kei truck parked next to the adult movie shelter is hardly conspicuous!

Anyway, around 17KM from Maruju to home in around 2hours 30mins.  God I'm knackered!

I met up with Rob de Vos at 8.15 this morning to head over to the Yamazaki harvest, as we did so the mountains and the river valley were shrouded in mist, it was a great photo opportunity but sadly one we didn't have time to explore as the harvest beckoned.

The pond itself, situated just a short distance from the farm's Koi houses and the Yamazaki family home in Aikawa, Kawaguchi, was also in mist.

As the net drew in it was more akin to a fishermans trawler net as it bulged with fish, we were amazed to learn this pond had held 700 nisai through the summer.

Seiichi Yamazaki undertook the task of grading the Koi in pond, some being selected as tategoi, others being made available for sale.  In total around 200 Koi were selected as tategoi.  As I mentioned yesterday some tategoi stay in mud ponds all through the winter, that was to be the fate for these ones, they would go to a large pond out past Kashiwazaki on the Niigata coast where a number of breeders have mud ponds.

As you can see, in a short time the sun had burnt away the mist leaving a beautiful clear blue sky, it's hard to believe that it's almost the end of November from the weather today.

Manabu Yamazaki carrying one of the final bags of tategoi to the truck.

Seiichi Yamazaki explained that this mud pond had not been good for colour development, particularly sumi development.  The pond that they would be placed in over winter would  improve them because of the different quality of mud.  He also explained that even after 45 years breeding Koi there were Koi that he'd harvested today that he knows will make him really happy in 2 years time when they've further developed and that's when they'll be offered for sale.  Great to hear that even after so many years his enthusiasm continues and it's no wonder that Manabu also has such a passion for Koi.

He also told us that they presently have 90,000, yes ninety thousand, tosai growing on!  That's an incredible number for an operation run by so few.

I've mentioned previously that the view of the mountains as you leave Ojiya crossing the Shinano River towards the station is one I never tire of.

As I made that journey today I noticed for the first time that snow is again covering the peaks, sadly I only had my pocket compact with me and it was a little hazy.

A bicycle ride has become part of my daily routine of late, on Sunday I cycled from Ojiya to Mushigame and back! In truth I cycled as far as Yamanaka and pushed my bike the rest of the way uphill.

One of the reasons for this new found 'fitness campaign' is in preparation for the snows which are just around the corner and will soon be closing roads to vehicles meaning the only way to get to some of the most beautiful photo spots is on foot, as I found out last year, snow shoeing is very strenuous work, hopefully this year I'll be better prepared.

As I think I mentioned the other day one of my regular cycle stops is Torazo.  Yesterday I cycled there and it was raining, when I arrived Tsuyoshi-san stated, 'but it's raining, I don't believe it!', amazed that I'd cycled in such weather.

It has rained all day again today but looking out the window it appeared quite bright so again I decided to head for Torazo.  As I headed off it was a mere drizzle, by the time i'd reached the red Route 17 bridge across the Shinano the rain was driving down, the wind strong and biting cold.  I questioned my sanity and almost turned back home but decided against it.

To say I was grateful for reaching the relative warmth and comfort of Torazo's Koi house would be an understatement.  Today Tsuyoshi-san just looked at me in complete and utter disbelief.

Looking back at last year's blog the first snow fell on the 19th November - http://yamakoshi.blogspot.com/2008/11/yamakoshi-white-out.html, I think the year before it was around the 22nd November.

Whilst of course we've already had a little snow this year, it can't be far away now before it starts to fall again.