Ogata Koi Farm
Posted 31 Mar 2009 - 07:07 by Mark Gardner
Yesterday morning Gibbo had spare time before needing to head back to Narita for his flight for the UK and my schedule was flexible.
Ogata Koi Farm is located in Kurume, just a short distance from Tosu, so I made arrangements with Manabu Ogata to visit.
A few days ago I was reading a profile on Ogata Koi Farm in Nichirin magazine. As a teenager Manabu Ogata decided he wanted to be a Koi breeder and made the journey from Fukuoka to Niigata where he met Ichiro Mano, Senichi Mano's grandfather, who was so impressed by his efforts he offered him a job. Having learned much in his 6 years there he returned to Kurume to set up Ogata Koi Farm.
I would guess he is around the same age, maybe a little younger, than Senichi Mano who also started working at Izumiya straight after he left junior high school.
Having been at the Wakagoi Show all weekend Senichi Mano was also visiting Ogata Koi Farm yesterday before returning to Ojiya.
Sugiarto Budiono, Chairman of the Indonesian Nishikigoi Association, also turned up at the farm whilst we were there. He he is showing Senichi Mano the promotional brochure for the association.
A very enjoyable few hours, Manabu and Hiromi Ogata both speak excellent English, as does their daughter who has just returned from university in Coventry.
