The 49th Niigata Nogyosai - let's get the show on the road

Having visited jumbo harvests at Ikarashi Kazuto, Torazo, Isa and Nogami over the past week or so, and seen some of the entrants to this weekend's show, I've gotta say I'm as excited as I've been about any show in Japan.  Five years since the Chuetsu earthquake - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/563, many of the competitors for the GC prize would have been just 1 or 2 years old at the time.

It never ceases to amaze me that the get the show set up and put down in such amazingly short time and with such efficiency.  As of 4pm this afternoon all vats were set up, having started this morning, filled with water and aeration running.  The blue sheet with the rectangular frames is for the smaller bagged Koi during judging.

Takehisa Takahashi filling a vat

Likewise Manabu Yamasaki.

The showground will be decorated with flags depicting all of the previous 48 Nogyosai Grand Champions, the one below being the 14th.

I understand that this is also the official launch of the 'Visit Niigata' Koi flags - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/542

Judging starts at 1pm tomorrow, benching from 8.30am - 11am.  I'll bring you more details of runners and riders as soon as I can.