Mark Gardner's blog

We headed off this morning, chilly and overcast following a day of glorious weather yesterday, first stop Kase with the hope of hand picking some tosai, despite the fact Kase san had advised that none were available, the tategoi house being 'snowbound'.

Despite our visit Kase san stood firm that no tategoi could be picked through and, with nothing else of interest at the level Jos was looking for we departed, next stop Yamazaki.

First we visited the tosai houses to have a look at the Koi available, Koi we've seen before on Niigata-Nishikigoi.com - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/716.

Jos enquired about whether he could handpick some tosai, Manabu declined and we headed across the road to the new Koi house to look at some nisai.

From left to right, Sandra (Jos's daughter), Jos, Bram Rohan, Marko and, grinning like a Cheshire cat in the background, Manabu san, another of Niigata's great characters amongst the breeder community.

The Koi in question were a bowl of Hariwake and Purachina.  Jos had stated to Manabu san that in his opinion and experience the Purachina from Yamazaki retained their quality longer in Europe than those of Choguro which he feels tend to go 'greyer'.  It was suggested that this is because those have been bred many times over to generate great luster as small Koi, something they cant' sustain.  Alas I've never owned a Purachina so have no experience to comment on personally.

The picture below shows the Koi which Jos decided to purchase, one of which was particularly interesting.

At first glance this may appear to be a little boring, a Koi of 2 halves.

However, on closer inspection you'll see the eyes have perfectly matching yellow rims around the top and it also has matching yellow lips, incredibly unusual.

What is becoming very apparent is that Jos can play a good game when it comes to purchasing Koi.

Having returned to the tosai house Manabu conceded and granted Jos permission to select 5 tosai from one of the ponds, a pond containing many unsorted tategoi.  These Koi would come from 1 single scoop of a net through the pond.

The Kujaku and Kawarigoi on the right hand side had earlier been picked out by Manabu san and were joined by a number of Beni Kumonryu in which Jos was particularly interested.

In the end Jos whittled it down to the following 5 Koi.

Beni Kumonryu are not a variety I'm overly fond of if truth be told, I've always been a fan of Kumonryu however, I long remember seeing my first example in a copy of Practical Fishkeeping magazine well over 20 years ago.  These however were certainly very clean pretty Koi with proper patterns, not the largely red with a few black patches often seen.  The one below was probably my favourite.

Manabu then surprisingly turned around, before the others were returned to the pond, and invited Jos to pick a 6th Koi.  The one at the front in the picture below is one that Jos had really liked apart from one factor, the beni in the pectoral fin.  Manabu explained that he'd rarely known a nisai or older Beni Kumonryu retain this in this manner, normally it shrinks back, as such Jos decided the other positive factors of the Koi made it worth taking a chance.

Jos proceeded to ask about Ochiba Shigure and Karashigoi and Manabu san surprisingly replied that Jos could pick some from another pond, again from a single scoop of the net.  There were some seriously nice Ochiba amongst the hundreds in the single scoop, the pictures below showing a few of I think 11 purchased.

Manabu san cited this Ginrin Ochiba Shigure as being particularly special.

A couple of Doitsu Karashigoi were duly added, along with another Beni Kumonryu, resulting in a box of 20 hand selected tosai, up from 5 that Manabu reluctantly agreed too in the first place.

It was heading well into the afternoon by this point and a quick stop was made at a ramen shop on Route 17 before heading back through Aikawa, the Utogi Tunnel and a stop at Hide Hirasawa's facility, an appointment postponed yesterday - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/728.  Whilst taking lunch it started to snow, real heavy snow, something I was sure was over for this winter.

Only a few nisai remain available, not enough for Jos to justify making up a box so it was then up to look at Hide's tosai.  Entirely my fault, unfortunately Hide's blog didn't continue past his first post last year.  You can see some of last year's tosai here - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/blog/115.

Jos selected 36 tosai from one of the 'for sale' tanks, unfortunately in the cramped Koi house I wasn't in a position to photograph them.

Hide then agreed that Jos could purchase some Koi from the tategoi ponds situated under the family home although it wouldn't be possible today as they Koi were being fed.  An appointment has been made to return on Thursday meaning we'll have Nogami and Hide, plus other visits no doubt.

From Hide's we headed to Marudo with the prime intention of making arrangements to select tosai later in the week, with those made, and the snow still falling heavily, we headed back home.

Tomorrow Jos has appointments at Oya Koi Farm and Matsunosuke.

I wasn't able to join up with Jos and the others from A & C until lunchtime due to other commitments this morning.

Having met at the Gusto restaurant we headed for an appointment at Nogami whose tosai we saw here a week or so ago - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/717. 

As mentioned previously the breeders generally like to stop feeding before netting a pond however a sample was netted out and arrangements made to return to Nogami later in the week so Jos could hand select some of the tosai available.

A 4pm appoitment had been made to visit Hide Hirasawa to look at his Doitsu, for which we were early, a number of other breeders are already scheduled for the rest of the week, and Jos asked where else was worth a look.  Somewhere not on the scheduled list was Shintaro and having an idea of the sort of thing that Jos was after suggested it worth a quick pop up to Mushigame to take a look although to be honest I wasn't sure whether these tosai would currently be offered for sale.

Jos liked what he saw and was interested in picking some to which Saito san agreed.  I'd forgotten it was Saito san's birthday, he was clearly in the birthday spirit.

The pond was netted and Jos and Marco started selecting through, finally settling on 20 Gosanke, Jos delighted with what he saw.

This was perhaps my personal number 1 from those selected.

In the adjacent pond Jos spotted a couple more Tancho Showa and enquired if they were available.  Again Saito san agreed to net the pond so Jos could take a closer look at them and again they were to his liking and duly purchased.  The 4pm appointment with Hide was looking in doubt.

Moving along to pond number 2 containing mainly Sanke and some of the larger tosai Jos again asked if he could pick some from that pond.  I was sure that Jos was pushing his luck now but Saito san agreed that he could pick out 2 Koi.  Jos picked out 3 and couldn't decide on which 2, Saito san agreed to let him have all 3, he really was in the birthday spirit!

Unfortunately a tinge in the water combined with these light coloured bowls which are horrible for photographing Koi means the pictures do the Koi no justice.

Pond number 1 contained 2 Tancho Sanke and Jos enquired if they were available.  Saito san mulled on it for a few minutes and again agreed to net the pond so Jos could take a closer look at them.  Whilst he decided against the Tancho's I netted out a couple of Sanke that me and Jos had been discussing.  I was sure there was no way Saito san would sell these and he'd be cursing me for netting them out.

Jos asked the price on one and much to my amazement Saito san quoted one and the deal was done to purchase this Sanke below, again the water and bowl do it no justice.

Jos wanted to briefly interview Saito san about the bloodlines of the Koi so we took coffee.  On departure Jos very happy with his purchases stated that whilst it was Saito san's birthday he felt like he was the one that had got the presents, Jos happy to have some jumbo tosai in the bag.

I'm unsure where we are off to tomorrow but be sure to check back.

An interesting couple of weeks ahead on Niigata-Nishikigoi.com.

Yesterday evening Jos Aben of A & C in the Netherlands arrived in Ojiya, you may recall I spent some time with them last year:

http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/304

http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/305 

http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/306

I'll be spending some time with them again during the course of the week and documenting their trip here so be sure to check back regularly.

Next weekend Tony Pitham of Koi Water Barn - http://www.koiwaterbarn.com/ - and FP Soo of Yamakoshi Mura Malaysia - http://www.yamakoshi.biz/ - both arrive in Ojiya, first to attend the Niigata Breeders Auction - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/726 - and then to visit breeders.  I'll be scheduling time with both so what with that and the auction some interesting stuff to come over the next 10 days.

I provided a link to the Niigata Shinkokai website the other day with the pictures of lots at the auction which takes place on 15th March - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/723.  Unfortunately the likes of Google translate it rather horribly so I've recreated the page below in English.

The links below will take you straight to that farm's Koi, click on any thumbnail to open a larger copy of the picture.

| Dainichi Koi Farm | Torazo | Isa Koi Farm | Izumiya | Hiroi Koi Farm |
| Koshiji Koi Farm | Hoshikin | Hosokai | Marusei | Marudo |
| Suzusei | マル坂養鯉場 | Shinoda | Oya Koi Farm | Kaneko Koi Farm |
| Nogami | Yamamatsu | Maruju Koi Farm | Nagashima Koi Farm | Igarashi Koi Farm |
| Tanaka Koi Farm | Koda Koi Farm | Miyatora | Yamasan | Takahashi Koi Farm |
| Tazawa | Irasawa Koi Farm | 坂牧養魚場 | AO Aoki | Teradomari Koi Farm |
| Otsuka | Yamada Kiyomi | Yamada Yasumasa | Murata |
 

Dainichi Koi Farm
Kohaku Size:47cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Showa Size:47cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Kohaku Size:51cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Kohaku Size:63cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Showa Size:50cm Notes:Nisai・Female
Showa Size:55cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Showa Size:58cm Notes:Sansai・Female
Torazo
Sanke Size:28cm Notes:Tosai	Sanke Size:32cm Notes:Tosai・Male	Sanke Size:25cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Sanke Size:32cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Sanke Size:26cm Notes:Tosai
Sanke Size:22cm Notes:Tosai・Female
Isa Koi Farm
Showa Size:24cm Notes:Tosai	Showa Size:25cm Notes:Tosai	Showa Size:24cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Showa Size:62cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Showa Size:28cm Notes:Tosai
Showa Size:21cm Notes:Tosai	Doitsu Kohaku Size:17cm Notes:Tosai
Izumiya
Koromo Size:41cm Notes:Nisai・Male	Showa Size:39cm Notes:Nisai・Male	Tancho Size:34cm Notes:Nisai・Male	Yamabuki Ogon Size:41cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Purachina Size:37cm Notes:Nisai・Female
Yamabuki Ogon Size:42cm Notes:Nisai・Female
Hiroi
Goshiki Size:39cm Notes:Nisai・Male	Ginrin B Size:44cm Notes:Nisai・Male	Goshiki Size:55cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Koromo Size:61cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Goshiki Size:45cm Notes:Nisai・Male
Koshiji Koi Farm
Kawarigoi Size:17cm Notes:Tosai	Hikarimoyo Size:16cm Notes:Tosai	Hikarimoyo Size:17cm Notes:Tosai	Hikarimoyo Size:19.5cm Notes:Tosai	Kawarigoi Size:15cm Notes:Tosai
Kawarigoi Size:20cm Notes:Tosai
Hoshikin
Kohaku Size:28cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Kohaku Size:26cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Kohaku Size:27cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Kohaku Size:27cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Kohaku Size:26cm Notes:Tosai・Female
Kohaku Size:25cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Kohaku Size:26cm Notes:Tosai・Female
Hosokai
Kujaku Size:50cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Tancho Size:42cm Notes:Nisai・Male	Goshiki Size:51cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Goshiki Size:53cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Goshiki Size:43cm Notes:Nisai・Female
Goshiki Size:17.5cm Notes:Nisai
Marusei
Hikarimuji Size:49cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Shusui Size:52cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Kujaku Size:48cm Notes:Sansai・Female
Marudo
Sanke Size:53cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Kujaku Size:20cm Notes:Tosai	Kohaku Size:46cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Kohaku Size:23cm Notes:Tosai	Kujaku Size:25.5cm Notes:Tosai
Kohaku Size:27cm Notes:Tosai
Suzusei
Showa Size:34cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Showa Size:33cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Showa Size:34cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Kohaku Size:34cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Kohaku Size:30cm Notes:Tosai・Female
Kohaku Size:30cm Notes:Tosai
マル坂養鯉場
Hikariutsuri Size:41cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Kawarigoi Size:38cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Kawarigoi Size:40cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Hikariutsuri Size:37cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Kawarigoi Size:36cm Notes:Nisai・Female
Hikarimoyo Size:40cm Notes:Nisai・Female
Shinoda
Utsurimono Size:43cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Utsurimono Size:45cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Doitsu Size:16cm Notes:Tosai	Doitsu Size:16cm Notes:Tosai	Doitsu Size:16cm Notes:Tosai
Doitsu Size:16cm Notes:Tosai
Oya Koi Farm
Sanke Size:30cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Sanke Size:31cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Sanke Size:24cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Sanke Size:32cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Tancho Kujaku Size:20cm Notes:Tosai
Hikarimoyo Size:19cm Notes:Tosai	Kawarigoi Size:21cm Notes:Tosai
Kaneko
Sanke Size:43cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Kujaku Size:20cm Notes:Tosai	Sanke Size:45cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Showa Size:40cm Notes:Tosai・Male	Utsurimono Size:23.5cm Notes:Tosai
Utsurimono Size:20cm Notes:Tosai	Utsurimono Size:21.5cm Notes:Tosai
Nogami
Kohaku Size:23cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Showa Size:37cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Kohaku Size:21cm Notes:Tosai	Kohaku Size:29cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Tancho Size:25cm Notes:Tosai・Female
Kohaku Size:26cm Notes:Tosai・Female
Yamamatsu
Sanke Size:27cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Utsurimono Size:30cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Sanke Size:27cm Notes:Tosai	Sanke Size:23cm Notes:Tosai	Sanke Size:30cm Notes:Tosai・Female
Sanke Size:28cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Utsurimono Size:29cm Notes:Tosai・Female
Maruju
Koromo Size:16cm Notes:Tosai	Kohaku Size:14.5cm Notes:Tosai	Koromo Size:17cm Notes:Tosai	Koromo Size:17cm Notes:Tosai	Ginrin B Size:17cm Notes:Tosai
Kohaku Size:14.5cm Notes:Tosai	Kohaku Size:15cm Notes:Tosai
Nagashima
Showa Size:32cm Notes:Tosai	Showa Size:29cm Notes:Tosai	Showa Size:27cm Notes:Tosai	Showa Size:33cm Notes:Tosai	Showa Size:28cm Notes:Tosai
Showa Size:31cm Notes:Tosai
Igarashi Koi Farm
Showa Size:60cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Showa Size:55cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Sanke Size:63cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Showa Size:55cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Ginrin A Size:42cm Notes:Nisai・Female
Tanaka Koi Farm
Utsurimono Size:23cm Notes:Tosai	Tancho Size:18cm Notes:Tosai	Ginrin A Size:15cm Notes:Tosai	Kohaku Size:17cm Notes:Tosai	Kawarigoi Size:20cm Notes:Tosai
Shusui Size:18cm Notes:Tosai	Kawarigoi Size:22cm Notes:Tosai
Koda Koi Farm
Goshiki Size:32cm Notes:Nisai	Goshiki Size:35cm Notes:Nisai	Hikarimoyo Size:30cm Notes:Nisai	Hikarimoyo Size:37cm Notes:Nisai	Goshiki Size:34cm Notes:Nisai
Miyatora
Showa Size:20cm Notes:Tosai	Ginrin A Size:22cm Notes:Tosai	Sanke Size:22cm Notes:Tosai	Tancho Size:19cm Notes:Tosai	Doitsu Size:22cm Notes:Tosai
Ginrin B Size:21cm Notes:Tosai	Kohaku Size:23cm Notes:Tosai
Yamasan
Kawarigoi Size:15cm Notes:Tosai	Koromo Size:16cm Notes:Tosai	Koromo Size:13cm Notes:Tosai	Kawarigoi Size:15cm Notes:Tosai	Koromo Size:14cm Notes:Tosai
Kumonryu Size:16cm Notes:Tosai	Ginrin B Size:15cm Notes:Tosai
Takahashi Koi Farm
Shusui Size:40cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Shusui Size:38cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Showa Size:57cm Notes:Sansai・Female
Tazawa
Shusui Size:54.5cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Hikarimoyo Size:49cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Kawarigoi Size:50cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Ginrin B Size:20cm Notes:Tosai・Female	Kawarigoi Size:25cm Notes:Tosai
Irasawa
Showa Size:55cm Notes:４才・Female	Showa Size:59cm Notes:４才・Female	Utsurimono Size:54cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Showa Size:51cm Notes:Sansai・Male	Tancho Size:48cm Notes:Sansai・Male
Showa Size:60cm Notes:４才・Female	Utsurimono Size:53cm Notes:Sansai・Female
坂牧養魚場
Goshiki Size:40cm Notes:Nisai	Showa Size:39cm Notes:Nisai	Kohaku Size:35cm Notes:Nisai	Sanke Size:19.5cm Notes:Nisai	Ginrin B Size:33cm Notes:Nisai
AO Aoki
Doitsu Size:20cm Notes:Tosai	Doitsu Size:15cm Notes:Tosai	Doitsu Size:17cm Notes:Tosai	Doitsu Size:17cm Notes:Tosai	Tancho Size:14.5cm Notes:Tosai
Kawarigoi Size:15cm Notes:Tosai	Doitsu Size:20cm Notes:Tosai
Teradomari Koi Farm
Ginrin A Size:41cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Ginrin A Size:37cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Ginrin A Size:35cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Ginrin A Size:36.5cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Ginrin A Size:42cm Notes:Nisai・Female
Kohaku Size:57cm Notes:Sansai・Female
Otsuka Koi Farm
Asagi Size:43cm Notes:Nisai	Kawarigoi Size:60cm Notes:Sansai・Female	Goshiki Size:38cm Notes:Nisai・Female
Yamada Kiyomi
Hikariutsuri Size:33cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Hikariutsuri Size:30cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Hikarimoyo Size:34.5cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Tancho Size:14cm Notes:Tosai	Showa Size:21cm Notes:Tosai
Tancho Size:15cm Notes:Tosai
Yamada Yasumasa
Ginrin B Size:29cm Notes:Nisai	Kumonryu Size:35cm Notes:Nisai	Hikariutsuri Size:34cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Kawarigoi Size:30cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Hikariutsuri Size:24cm Notes:Nisai
Kawarigoi Size:34cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Hikariutsuri Size:27cm Notes:Nisai
Murata
Sanke Size:48cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Kohaku Size:51cm Notes:Nisai・Female	Kohaku Size:33cm Notes:Tosai	Showa Size:31cm Notes:Tosai	Kohaku Size:34cm Notes:Tosai
Kohaku Size:30cm Notes:Tosai	Tancho Size:30cm Notes:Tosai