The morning with Koelle Zoo - Satoshi Tanaka and Marusei Jumbo holding facility

Catching up on blog posts now, this details yesterday morning with Koelle Zoo - http://www.koelle-zoo.de/ - as they visited Satoshi Tanaka and Marusei's holding facility for their jumbo Koi.

I've written several other posts regarding Satoshi Tanaka - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/699 and http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/682 - and that was to be the first stop of the day.

As is quite clear from the pictures of Satoshi san's facility it is small and space is restricted, there isn't a whole lot of room to move fish around and as such sold fish remain in the 'for sale' tanks, in fact there were 21 Koi in the pond the guys are looking in above that were sold.  Something many a hobbyist will be familiar with is the frustration of visiting a dealer and every Koi that they picked out transpired to be sold.  Sadly this was largely the case today for the Koelle Zoo guys.  They did however select the bowl of Koi below which included a Shusui that Satoshi san described both today, and on my previous visit with 't Vingerling as being a 'show quality' Shusui.

As I mentioned quickly yesterday - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/705 - far too quickly to do the visit justice, we then travelled south along Route 17 to Urasa where the holding facility for the many jumbo Koi that Marusei produce is situated.  I've mentioned previously that Seitaro Hirasawa set out to create a business that could supply every greade of Koi in all varieties.  One of the things he has become particularly famous for is his jumbo Koi.  You may recall I visit Yoshiteru Shimizu back in July - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/464.  Shimizu san is the owner of at least 2 huge Marusei Koi, a Hi Utsuri verging on 1m, a large painting of which is on the wall of the Marusei 'office', and a 110cm+ Mukashi Ogon, the Koi which took best Hikarimono at this year's All Japan Show - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/680.

It was a glorious day with regards the weather, as can clearly be seen from the pictures.

The pipe you can see above and below carries hot spring water of around 25 degrees C to the ponds.

Below you can see the steam rising from the water's surface.

It seems apparent that the demand for these jumbo Kawarigoi is ever increasing, something bourne out by comments of Hisashi Hirasawa the other day - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/686.  Whilst it may look full of Koi below Florian of Koelle Zoo stated that the ponds were far fuller of very large Koi back in October when they visited and purchased the Koi you can see being shipped here - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/595

The picture below shows the Benigoi that Yoshiyaki san can be seen lifting on the earlier blog post - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/705.  This 93cm (i think) Koi was the first purchase of the day. I tried desperately to block out the bright sun with my body, some light came between my legs, hence the light patch on the left side of the Koi.  It's beni was perfectly even.

Below Yoshiyaku add's the Ochiba Shigure you can see alone here - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/705 - to the bowl.

180cm of jumbo Koi in a 1m bowl!  Both Koi will be flying to Germany at the end of March.

This awesome 90cm+ Chagoi was bowled up next.  The colouration, scalation, body, everything, all perfect.  This was kind of reflected in the price.  Note - the colour change on the head is the sunlight, the red on the left pec is a little blood being emitted from the gills.  The Chagoi wasn't purchased.

Next up this Kigoi was bowled, it's a 1m bowl!

Yoshiyuki san guiding it from the 1m bowl to the 1m measuring tank to confirm it's size.  Before he'd netted it he'd stated that this Koi was 'takai', expensive, and possibly now 1m in length.

It turned out to be around 97cm, it's not the sort of Koi anyone would want to manhandle just to confirm an exact size.

Florian became besotted by her but the call below was to break his heart!

Yoshiyuki san is on the phone to his father discussing the Koi.  After a lengthly conversation Yoshikai san advised, 'sorry not for sale', his father stating he wanted to use as oyagoi this summer.  In conversation today Seitaro Hirasawa advised that Koelle Zoo may have the option to purchase the Koi in October.

Another 75cm+ Chagoi, this Kogane Ochiba and the Ginrin Ochiba here - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/705 - were also purchased.

Below the guys from Koelle Zoo.

Some awesome big Koi here, a jaw dropping experience to visit for the first time.