Day with Elna Koi and Floor's Koi Shop - first stops Dainichi and Kase

Today was spent with Dirk of Elna Koi - http://www.elna-koi.be - and Floor of Floor's Koi Shop - http://www.floorskoishop.nl/.

This is actually their second visit to Niigata in a matter of weeks, both were here to visit the All Japan Show and, having been around a few breeders in Niigata, decided to come back for more!

First stop of the morning was Dainichi to look at a nisai Showa they'd looked at last time they were here and also to look at the tosai available.

The Showa was bowled again for inspection.  On looking in the bowl Shigeru remarked that this is an excellent Koi and most people don't understand Koi like this.  The Showa is of Gechapin bloodline and 61cm.  Shigeru stated this Koi has potential to get near 1m in length.  Dirk has an option on it.

Next it was to the tosai house where we'd been last week - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/708 - so Dirk and Floor could check out the tosai.  Hand picking tosai is generally a 2 stage process.  Most breeders are still feeding their better/larger tateshita quite heavily and in order to net the pond for hand selection feeding has to be ceased for a day before.  As such there is no point making an appointment to hand pick unless you know you want to buy.  Having seen the tosai an appointment has been made to return later in the week.

From Dainichi we headed across to Koshiji and a visit to Kase, primarily to look at tosai mixes that were available but also in case there were any nisai or older of interest.

The general tosai mix containing Goshiki and a range of metallic varieties.

I mentioned Jeroen purchasing some Gin Matsuba at Marudo a week or so ago - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/686 - the picture below shows tosai Gin Matsuba and Doitsu Gin Matsuba at Kase.  Seems they are very 'in vogue', these are now sold out.

The Pearl Gin Rin Ochiba and Ginrin Ginga we saw back in November at Kase - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/587.  Seems Kase san made a wise decision producing them as they've also proved rather popular.

With no older Koi of interest we headed off to make a previously unscheduled, but very interesting, visit to Aoki.