Welcome to my new blog

Hello, I am Tsuyoshi Kawakami the owner of Urakawa Koi Farm. Welcome to my new blog on Niigata-Nishikigoi.com.

During the year I will provide regular updates about what we are doing on the farm.  Today I would like to tell you some of our history.

Urakawa Koi Farm was started by my great grandfather, Chuzo Kawakami, at the start of the 20th century, we believe it was 1917.  It was then carried on by my grandfather Torakichi Kawakami.  It was my great grandfather's Sanke that became a very famous bloodline known as Torazo Sanke, ever since we have been most famously known as 'Torazo'.

I am the 5th generation of the Kawakami family.  The name 'Torazo' comes from my great great grandfather, the 1st generation, who was called Torazo Kawakami.  It has always been our house name and then it became our business brand name.

My father, Hiroshi Kawakami, took over the running of the farm in the 1950's just as Nishikigoi were starting to become very popular enabling our business to grow.

I have been running Urakawa Koi Farm of over 10 years now and it is my responsibility to uphold and build on the traditions of the Torazo name.

In 2008 we spawned 9 sets of parents:

• 3 Sanke
• 4 Kohaku
• 1 Showa
• 1 Goshiki

We will soon be adding photos of some of our Koi to Niigata-Nishikigoi.com for you to see, I hope you like them.

I also hope that one day you will visit Niigata and visit Urakawa Koi Farm, you are always welcome.