Torazo nisai go to the mud pond - lots of pictures

It was a late night last night watching Arsenal playing Manchester United in the Champions League semi final which didn't kick off until 3.45am, as such I was enjoying a lay in today.

When I woke up, just after midday, I looked at my e-mails to see one from Tsuyoshi Kawakami advising me that he was putting his nisai to the mudponds this afternoon.

I hastily got showered, dressed, and gathered my camera gear together.  No time for a breakfast stop, I wasn't sure what time 'afternoon' was going to be.

When I arrived at 12.45 Toru Inoue of Far East Enterprises was there with a customer purchasing some tosai, I hadn't missed any of the nisai action.

First stop for the nisai was the Koi house below that is now used by Torazo.  Visitors prior to the earthquake may recognise this as the facility that used to be Kinsuien,Tomiei Suzuki.

This house contained some tategoi nisai Tancho Kohaku and Tancho Sanke.  Tsuyoshi-san stated that he wants to grow a stunning 80cm+ example of Tancho.

These Koi were transported just a short distance up the road to a mudpond situated right next to it.

11 females were released into the pond, 9 Tancho Kohaku, 2 Tancho Sanke.

We returned back under the Shinkansen tunnel to the Torazo greenhouse on the right hand side of the road where the best nisai are housed.

Tsuyoshi-san started netting and bowling these in small batches.  The first 6 below all customers Koi being left to grow on for the year.

Mrs Kawakami lending a helping hand.  That wall is far too narrow for my liking.

Tsuyoshi-san photographed each bowl to keep a record of which Koi have gone where.

With the tank on the truck loaded we headed off to the mountains, this pond is next to the one where the jumbo Koi were placed the the other day.  It's a beautiful location and I said to Tsuyoshi-san that I can see myself spending many days sitting out here during the summer watching the Koi.

The Koi were moved from the tank to a bowl on the back of the truck from where Tsuyoshi-san gave them a final check, and confirmation that they were female, before releasing them into the pond.

In total 49 nisai were released into the pond and it was amazing how quickly they all found each other.  Tsuyoshi-san stated that 49 is not a lucky number in Japan.  'Shi', which means 4, is also a word for 'death'.  This is the reason that gifts should not be sets of 4 items.  'Ku' meaning '9', is also the first syllable of a word related to unhappiness, I can't recall the word.  7 is a lucky number in Japan, I suggested that as 7 x 7 is 49 maybe that means it's going to be very lucky!

Within minutes of all the Koi being released into the pond they had schooled together and were circling the pond.  Tsuyoshi-san returned to the farm and I stayed watching them.  They showed no fear as they circled in a group, I could walk around the pond next to them and they showed no sign of spooking.

I was pretty chuffed with some of the pics I managed to get as I did so.