A day with Kolle Zoo - 1st stop Marusei Koi Farm

Today was my first day with the guys from Kolle Zoo - www.koelle-zoo.de.  I'll be spending 3 days with them over the course of the coming week.

At 8.30am we headed out from the hotel for the first appointment of the day, Marusei Koi Farm.

A sight many will have seen before, this building used to be a sports centre, indeed  you can still see the court markings on the floor, the ponds built above ground.  It is said that when Hirasawa san started his business he set out to be able to supply every variety of every grade.  This place is jam packed with all sorts of Koi and an ideal starting point for Kolle Zoo as they need Koi of all varities and grades to fill their various stores.

Seitaro Hirasawa explaining what's available.

Having ordered a number of boxes of mixed tosai Hirasawa san suggested that we make a visit to one of their other facilities in Ojiya, situated on the route from Ojiya to Yamakoshi.  Prior to the earthquake this facility belonged to another breeder but is now part of Marusei's extensive set up.

As is so common the pond literally erupted when a little food was offered.

A sample of this nisai mix was bowled up for Kolle Zoo's approval and again a number of boxes were ordered.

Some of the larger sansai and yonsai, this Koi house is again wall to wall with Koi of all manner of varieties.

This is Hironori Hirasawa, a real character but probably the craziest of all the breeders I know!

Back in November/December I posted about some of Marusei's jumbo Koi going to Kolle Zoo - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/595 and  http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/600.  These Koi are housed at another Marusei facility out in Urasa, about 40 minutes away, arrangements have been made to visit later in the week, certainly one to look forward to.

With business concluded, the second lot of coffee drunk, it was time time to move on to the next destination.