2009 in pictures - April
Posted 28 Dec 2009 - 22:48 by Mark Gardner
On returning home from the Wakagoi Show in Kyushu spring had truly arrived in Yamakoshi, almost all the snow had gone, the roads were clear, and people could start working on the land again.
The first picture below was taken on 5th April just outside Mushigame.
The picture below was taken the following day from the road that leads to the top of Kanagura Yama from Mushigame.
Another shot taken later that day from Takezawa as the sun set.
This year's cherry blossom, or 'sakura' as it is known in Japan, was particularly spectacular in Ojiya, some shots taken along the Shinano River on 12th April.
On 22nd April the Niigata breeders staged an auction of Koi at Ojiya Gymnasium, results were mixed with some Koi going for bargain prices. I believe it will take place again this spring although I'm unsure of the date.
To the best of my knowledge Aoki was the first breeder to start spawning in 2009, these fry photographed on 24th April!
On 27th April Nishikigoi no Sato, the 'Koi museum' in Ojiya City, celebrated it's 20th anniversary with a sale of Koi being put on by a number of breeders.
April finished on a real high as I joined Tsuyoshi Kawakami (Torazo) as he released his nisai to their summer mud ponds, an afternoon which also delivered some of my favourite pictures I've taken.
