Day with Elna Koi and Floor's Koi Shop - final stops Marusei and Maruhiro

Having finished at Nogami we had time for one final stop, a drive to Marusei and next door Maruhiro.

A couple of weeks ago Dirk had seen a Purachina of around 65cm at Marusei but open enquiring it wasn't available.  Today the same Koi was still in the same pond and Dirk enquired again, today it was available.  It was duly purchased along with this interesting Shusui.

Next we went over to Maruhiro's Koi house to look at his tosai sample and then some of his other Koi.  He promptly bowled up these Koi below, Koi he declared as a 'Maruhiro Original', stating they were Ginrin Ochiba Utsuri.

I mentioned the other day a very nice Sanke that I saw at Maruhiro last spring - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/304.  Having reminded myself about it I kept an eye out for it today.  I have to say it looks very good, hopefully will get an updated picture in the next few days.

These tosai below probably inhabit the largest tosai pond in Niigata.

I've mentioned before that the large premises now occupied by Marusei used to be a sports hall - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/692.  If you look closely below you'll note that this pond used to be the swimming pool!

Did I mention what a character Maruhiro is?

More to come from Marusei tomorrow with a return visit to the jumbo holding facility seen last week - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/705 and http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/706 - as well as joining them as they pack Koi for the Ornafish shipment due to leave Niigata tomorrow evening.