2009 in pictures - August

August was dominated by festivals and ongoing culling of this year's fry.

The weather wasn't perhaps as glorious as 2008, the rain clouds made for some nice pictures though, the one below taken on 7th August.

The Maruju Goshiki continued to develop, these below photographed on 9th August.

On the 14th August I spent the day with Devin Swanson and encountered his Marudo Kohaku fry for the first time.  The picture below some of the keepers from the first cull when they were just 3 weeks or so old.

On the 16th August the Bon festival was held in Mushigame, a festival to honours the spirits of deceased ancestors.  Centrepiece of the festival is the Bon Odori dance pictured below.

On 17th August the Mushigame Rinyu Club held their Ta Agari Hinpyoukai, a show for this year's tosai, the Maruten Showa below, offspring of a Yamamatsu female and Yagenji male,  taking the Grand Champion prize.

On the 19th August the Tanaka family held their annual Bon Festival barbecue which included locally caught Ayu.

The 22nd - 24th August saw the 3 day Ojiya Matsuri take place, a very enjoyable weekend, some pictures of the action below.

The Koshi Hikari rice continued to grow, that below pictured at the end of August.

On 29th August the festival in the small village of Wakatochi, home to Hosokai Koi Farm, took place including an impressive fire dance display and firework display.