A visit to Kase - Koshiji Koi Farm

Got a call late yesterday evening from Rob at Ornafish asking if I was doing anything today and whether I wanted to join him visiting a few breeders, primarily Kase, somewhere I've only visited on one previous occasion a couple of years ago.

With nothing particular planned I agreed to go along.

The main reason for visiting Kase was because Rob wanted to photograph some sansai and yonsai he picked yesterday.

The last time I visited Kase-san was keen to show me his new Doitsu Goshiki, again this time he was keen to show me his latest creations, firstly Pearl Ginrin Ochiba Shigure.

Kase-san has been developing these for 6 years and these are the 3rd generation.  Originally he started with a Pearl Ginrin Shiro Muji from Sekiguchi crossed with one of his own Chagoi.  Selected offspring from that spawning were crossed again to produce the present crop of tosai.

The way the pearl ginrin sits on the Koi makes it very difficult to photograph with a single light as it is not always reflecting back.  The effect in real life is much more even over the whole body of the Koi.

Another new creation is Ginrin Ginga, I don't have any more details on these though.  The original Ginga was a cross between a Kujaku and Hajiro, what's added the 'ginrin' element I don't know.

As mentioned the main reason for Rob's visit was to photograph some larger Koi purchased yesterday, a mix of varieties including Doitsu Gosanke, Kikusui, Kikokiryu and Doitsu Yamatonishiki, a few examples below.

As the 61 Koi were swimming around the net in the pond one particular one kept catching my eye, the interesting contrast between the metallic grey on the back and sides with the bright platinum on the dorsal ridge and fins.

In the net I hadn't noticed the 'bronze' pattern near the tail and the patch mid body on the left as we look from the head. 

A very interesting and unique Koi for sure, Kase san classing it as Beni Kikokuryu.

With that taking up the morning it was over to Kawaguchi for lunch, a harder task then it would be imagined as everywhere seemed to be shut on Mondays, before a visit to Marusei where Rob had to select some more Koi.

Whilst there I took some pics of this very nice Shiro Utsuri which was purchased by Gatwick Koi last week.  The Koi is presently 55.5cm long and will be left with Marusei to grow for at least another year.  One to keep an eye out for in 2010 although I can't believe I'm talking about the 2010 harvests already, I've not recovered from the 2009 harvests yet!