Was the 2009 Nogyosai Grand Champion harvested yesterday?

I think maybe, just maybe!

Earlier in the week myself and Andrew who's now here popped into Ikarashi Kazuto.  Whilst there Ikarashi-san advised that he'd be harvesting his jumbo Koi yesterday and would I like to take some pictures.  He expressed concerns that the pond was 1.5 hours away and whether my truck would make it.  Given that I knew some spectacular Koi would be coming out there was no way I'd be missing the opportunity, now matter how far away it was.

We met at Ikarashi Koi Farm in Mushigame at 7am and, following coffee, set off to the mud pond at 7.30am. 

The mud pond was one of the most beautiful I've seen, lined by trees in their autumnal colours, it would have been even more spectacular if the sky had been blue.

When you consider that the Koi are all in excess of 80cm, and there are just 19 of them, you can get a sense of how large the pond is.

Last year I made a prediction that a certain Kohaku at Ikarashi Kazuto would maybe win the Niigata Nogyosai - http://yamakoshi.blogspot.com/2008/10/its-show-time.html.  The Koi didn't actually go to the show in the end.

That same Koi can be seen swimming in the mudpond below. 

Ikarashi-san lifting her into the paddling pool.

I'm going to stick my neck out and suggest again that this year this beautiful Koi will be crowned the 2009 Niigata Nogyosai Grand Champion on 31st October.  Watch this space....