2nd day with Jackoi

I spent another day with the guys for Jackoi today, you can read about yesterday here - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/749.

First appointment of the day was with Hosokai so we headed up into the mountain village of Wakatochi to the main facility.  The brief visit revealed nothing of interest so we headed back to Ojiya for what was my first visit to their other Koi house, despite the fact it's situated about 400 metres from my apartment.

It was known in advance that there were some Koi here that may be of interest, one of which is the Tancho Goshiki below that took Best 40bu Tancho at the 41st All Japan Koi Show in February.  The Koi was duly purchased.

The nisai Koi below were purchased by Ornafish for 'stock'.  (edit:  received a message from Gary at Gatwick Koi - www.gatwickkoi.com - advising that the Showa and Kohaku will be heading there)

From Ojiya we headed up to Yamogihira home of, among others, Marusyo Koi Farm, a member of the NND group with Fujio Oomo and Kaneko.  I think I've only visited this farm once or maybe twice.  On our way from Ojiya the weather had turned from grey and overcast to very warm and pleasant.

One of the Koi houses here contained some excellent examples of some unusual varieties just as Kikokiryu, Ginrin Matsukawabake and a Kumonryu I recognised immediately as being a Kaneko fish that won best Kumonryu at the 2008 Niigata Nogyosai.  Upon arrival Makoto Tanaka advised these were all oyagoi and therefore not for sale.

Unfortunately most of what was enquired about was not available, save from some tosai Rob purchased.

From Marusyo we headed back to Kaneko Koi Farm, some nice Shiro Utsuri available but not what the guys were after.

I mentioned yesterday how much the snow was melting.  The pictures below show the river running past Kaneko Koi Farm and how fast and brown it is running as the snow makes it's way into it.  In the first picture you can see a tunnnel entrance, soon that will open and take you straight to Yamogihira avoiding a sometimes tricky little tight bit of road alongside the river.

Next a stop was made at Yamazaki.  I've posted pictures of the tosai here previously - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/716 - whenever you entered the Koi house they swarmed towards you on mass.  Not today, the tosai house is virtually empty having all been sold!  Some nisai were purchased.  Manabu advised that some nisai have been overwintered in mud ponds and will soon be harvested.

After lunch next stop was Otsuka, really nothing left there at all.

From there it was to Marusaka, nothing purchased there.  However we did learn of the construction of a new Koi house adjacent to the main existing property, you can see below the base marked out, it's a pretty large house it seems.  Will follow progress over the next few weeks and months.

Another short journey was made from Marusaka to Miyatora where the following bowl of Koi was bought, Kin Ki Utsuri of course being one of Miyatora's specialities.  The Beni Kikikiryu was also quite striking.

Miyatora san suggested a 'new' breeder worthy of a visit and escorted us there.  He was right, some more Koi purchased.

Final visit of the day, with the sun and blue sky long since hidden by rain clouds, was Kawakami in Uragara.  For all the time I've spent in Uragara at Torazo not a breeder i've ever visited to be honest.  As so common right now, not a whole lot available to purchase.

With that another interesting day drew to a close.