Day with Elna Koi and Floors Koi Shop - visit to Aoki - Goshiki Paradise

On our return from Kase we stopped in at a breeder whom he works very closely with, Aoki.

I've written many times about my interest in Goshiki, a variety with ever increasing popularity and prominence on the show scene.  Aoki was one of the Niigata breeders who took a Sakura prize at the All Japan Show with a Goshiki in 40bu class - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/690.  I've also featured Aoki's Goshiki here previously - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/366.

For anyone with an interest in Goshiki today Aoki really was Goshiki paradise.

The visit started off with Aoki san netting out a small sample of the tosai Goshiki which were available for sale.  Dirk and Floor enquired whether it was possible to hand pick some of the tosai.  After some begging Aoki san reluctantly agreed on the basis that he could keep any that he deemed to be tategoi as there were still many in the pond.  A scoop of a net and 60 or so tosai Goshiki and Doitsu Goshiki were in a bowl.  Having picked through those Dirk and Floor were still short of the number they were after and asked whether it was possible to have a fresh sample.  Aoki san obliged.

In the end just under 40 Goshiki and Doitsu Goshiki were picked out, some really nice examples amongst them.

As mentioned, Aoki san agreed to the hand picking of the tosai on the basis that he could keep any that he thereafter deemed tategoi.  The picture belows show the 5 that he picked out of the ones chosen by Floor and Dirk.  As soon as the one on the far right was first placed in the bowl it screamed 'quality'.

Aoki san picked one of the above Koi and placed it in the bowl with the others selected and said 'service', meaning it was a gift.  I asked for the one below to be left in the bowl to photograph it whilst the other 3 were returned to the pond.

The more and more I looked at it the more and more I was falling for this Koi and I turned to Aoki san and asked the price, fully expecting him to say 'not for sale', but if something reasonable came back then maybe I'd buy it.  Aoki san did offer a price, needless to say many multiples more than the others, and Dirk immediately bit his hand off.  Thereafter Aoki san clearly stated that this was a excellent tategoi and would be an excellent Koi for shows.

A shot of some of the older examples of Goshiki, some for sale, some not for sale.

Floor asked for this one to be bowled and it was duly purchased.

In the adjacent Koi house another 4 examples were bowled and purchased by Floor.

Also in the same Koi house were several ponds containing mixed tosai available for purchase by the box.  This 'mix' also contained some very interesting looking Goshiki.

Whilst it was midday there was no time for lunch just yet, the unscheduled stop at Aoki had meant a midday appointment at Isa to hand pick tosai had been put back to 12.30.