Blogs

Below are the major winners from the show, more details will be added when available.

Grand Champion

Bred by Dainichi

84cm

6 years old

Runner up

Owned by Felix Denanta (Indonesia)

Bred by Sakai

 Superior Champion

Superior Male Champion

Owned by Felix Denanta (Indonesia)

Mature Champion

Mature Male Champion

Adult Champion

Young Champion

Baby Champion

Jumbo Gosanke

Bred by Momotaro

1m+

This video shows my personal top 5 Koi at this year's All Japan Show.

I have to be honest that there are Koi that will perhaps go 'all the way' that are not in my top 5, they just aren't for me.

Whatever happens tomorrow, would you have bought this nisai?

Still very early at the Ryutsu Centre, Narita have brought their Koi, for me the 2 favourites from the pictures are the 2 favourites so far.

Just quick grab shots of the 2 of them.

Much more to follow including video of these Koi and other contenders.

When I say the stage is set, I mean literally, on Sunday someone will be presented with the coveted Grand Champion trophy on this very stage.

Next year the picture of that Koi will hang along with all the previous champions, the 2 furthest right of course double champions having taken the ZNA title later in the same year, 2010 and 2011 respectively.

As I stated earlier I left a very snowy and freezing cold Ojiya at 7.50am to head for Tokyo.  The road thermometers on route read as low as -8c.  At one point despite the windscreen blower being on full and high temperature the windscreen washer water would freeze on contact.

By 11am I was in Tokyo, 2 hours early for a meeting with the solictor handling my visa application.  Good job I was because it took the full 2 hours to acutally find her office, despite visiting previously, albeit by train.  Navigating Tokyo solo with printed maps is not recommended, the sat nav option in my car doesn't seem so expensive on hindsight.

I headed just a short distance to Shinagawa and found myself at the back of the Prince hotel with no problem, folks will be pleased to know TGI Friday appears to be open and I'm heading there soon.  I wrote the other day about the difficulty taxi drivers seem to have finding the Ryutsu Centre and suggested you print the map here - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/1484.  I did the same thing however, in my haste, didn't check the map.  Internet Explorer had not printed it all and left the all important Rytsu Centre off.

The Ryutsu Centre is in the port area of Tokyo and hence is a haven for HGV's and today it was absolute chaos.  After about an hour of driving round I found the Ryutsu Centre and then had to go around the block 3 times to find the right entrance, there are many buildings.

I eventually found it and the show hall where the final stages of preparation were underway, albeit no entry photos were on the vats yet.

A quick visit to my favourite shops in Shinjuku beckoned before returning to the Ryutsu Centre (location now firmly embedded in my mind) where a glimpse at the entries was possible.

Below the 90cm female Gosanke entries....

Of course, there has been much talk about another Koi, last year's Superior Champion.  Will this 6 year old Dainichi Showa be able to beat it's larger rivals.  I'd predicted this as a possible champ in 2013, can it really do it this year?  Will the Sanke posted first, last year's best in variety Sanke, a Koi I suggested a possible 2012 GC take it?  Until we see them in the flesh tomorrow far too early to call.

Below is a layout of the show hall, haven't counted the vats, seemed more than last year before splash screens went up, maybe not.  There are 2 new prize classes for non Gosanke alongside Sakura, it seems these Koi will not be promoted to the top end of the hall.

Just about to leave a bitterly cold Ojiya, absolutely freezing this morning, no sprinklers on and the whole place an ice rink.

Few hours drive to Tokyo where I'll be beginning this year's coverage of the All Japan Koi Show.

Should be at the Ryutsu Centre around 2.30/3pm.

Updates will follow soon after.

Let's hope it's a great show.