Yamazaki nisai harvest

I met up with Rob de Vos at 8.15 this morning to head over to the Yamazaki harvest, as we did so the mountains and the river valley were shrouded in mist, it was a great photo opportunity but sadly one we didn't have time to explore as the harvest beckoned.

The pond itself, situated just a short distance from the farm's Koi houses and the Yamazaki family home in Aikawa, Kawaguchi, was also in mist.

As the net drew in it was more akin to a fishermans trawler net as it bulged with fish, we were amazed to learn this pond had held 700 nisai through the summer.

Seiichi Yamazaki undertook the task of grading the Koi in pond, some being selected as tategoi, others being made available for sale.  In total around 200 Koi were selected as tategoi.  As I mentioned yesterday some tategoi stay in mud ponds all through the winter, that was to be the fate for these ones, they would go to a large pond out past Kashiwazaki on the Niigata coast where a number of breeders have mud ponds.

As you can see, in a short time the sun had burnt away the mist leaving a beautiful clear blue sky, it's hard to believe that it's almost the end of November from the weather today.

Manabu Yamazaki carrying one of the final bags of tategoi to the truck.

Seiichi Yamazaki explained that this mud pond had not been good for colour development, particularly sumi development.  The pond that they would be placed in over winter would  improve them because of the different quality of mud.  He also explained that even after 45 years breeding Koi there were Koi that he'd harvested today that he knows will make him really happy in 2 years time when they've further developed and that's when they'll be offered for sale.  Great to hear that even after so many years his enthusiasm continues and it's no wonder that Manabu also has such a passion for Koi.

He also told us that they presently have 90,000, yes ninety thousand, tosai growing on!  That's an incredible number for an operation run by so few.