May, 2010

Following last week's spawning Sanke and Showa spawning at NND, see pics and videos at the following links - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/794 and http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/799 - it was time for the kuroko selection from the Showa to take place and release of the Sanke fry to the mud ponds.

Outside the house the used spawning ropes were drying having been cleaned and disinfected.

Under shelter of the storage area Makoto Tanaka, Fujio Oomo, Tamikazu Kobayashi and a member of staff were busy working their way through the tiny fry selecting only the kuroko, the black coloured fry, as only these are kept from Showa spawnings, as with other black based varieties such as Utsurimono and Kumonryu.

This is Makoto san's mother who also helped out with the selection.

The picture below, a random selection, shows 4 kuroko and 10 shirobo.

A tiny kuroko about to make its way up the siphon tube which has an internal diameter of 4mm.

Makoto Tanaka netting up some of the Sanke fry to transfer them to a mud pond situated in the mountains above the farm.

Makoto Tanaka holding a bag containing approximately 50,000 fry.  In total this Sanke spawning produced approximately 900,000 fry which have been released to the mud pond.

From this bag Oomo san suggested that come September when harvested would realise just 10 Sanke which were 'top of the top', 20 that were 'very high grade' and 30 that were 'high grade'.  I got the impression that Makoto Tanaka thought even those numbers a little optomistic.

Some video of the kuroko selection and fry release will be available over the next couple of days.

I got a mail from Ricky Stoddart of Walesby Aquatics in the UK, someone I've met a number of times whilst he's visited here in Japan, asking whether it would be possible to get some pics and video of Koi being shipped to him from NND.

Ricky is in the process of setting up a new facility which is due to open in July, exact date to be confirmed, and the Koi being shipped included some special Koi given by NND, with whom Ricky shares a special relationship, for the opening weekend event.

The first 2 pictures show the packing area situated at the front of the main Koi house at NND.  Bags and boxes being prepared.

Some of the special Koi waiting to be packed.

2 Sanke which come with certificates.

All hands on deck once packing begins.

A video will be available later today showing more of the Koi and packing activity.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Ricky's new facility and opening event should drop him a mail at info@koigrowers.co.uk.

Those that were visitors to Niigata-Nishikigoi.com around harvest time may recall a certain Goshiki in which I have a particular interest.

You can see pictures of her taken in October 2009, May 2009 and October 2008 when she was first purchased here - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/543.

Last October, just after the harvest, Shigeyoshi declared that the Koi was at that time their number 1 Goshiki tategoi and as such should stay in Japan another summer which Andrew agreed to.

Over winter the Koi has been housed in the concrete pond which Maruju renovated last September - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/522 and http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/526.

I received a call from Shigeyoshi last Friday to advise that the Koi will be going to the mud pond any day so I headed  up to get a picture of her before she does.

As you can see, the sumi has come back a little compared to when she was harvested, although nothing like as strong as it was this time last year.  What the sumi will do over the summer?  Who knows, only time will tell.

Yasu confirmed that the split in the pectoral fin is no problem and will heal perfectly in the mud pond.