JAPAN LIVE

	*JAPAN HARVEST 2011* Day 1 Arrived at Narita Airport last night and met up with the cutomers this morning four of us and we all arrived on three different flights! After dropping off the bags in the hotel it was a short taxi ride to Tani Koi farm in Chiba. Tani Farm is one of the biggest dealerships in Japan and breeds Koi as well as dealing in them. After the long journey from the UK it is great to wander around the Koi houses to get the Koi ‘eye’ in. Being a dealership there are all different level of Koi here from beginners to AJKS level. Below are a few photos from this afternoon, we will be back in the morning to hopefully put as few in a bowl after a good nights sleep. Plus the fishing for Koi in tanks??? Not sure it'll catch on at home Day 2 After an eventful evening it was back over to Tani farm to look at a Sakai Sanke and some Koi that had just been brought down from Niigata. All these Koi are Japanese Show level Koi and a couple are right up there, two Koi in particular have been earmarked as future AJKS and AJYKS show winners, these Koi are as good as it gets! After that we made visits to Gonjiro and Takachio. After a full second day we are now on our way to Isawa Onsen to visit Isawa Nishikigoi Centre the home of Matsunosuke Koi. Sakai Sanke (sorry Koi would not play fair for a good photo) Oofuchi Doitsu Kujaku Yamamatsu Gin Rin Kohaku Sakai Showa Yamamtsu Gin Rin Showa Marudoh Sanke At the Gonjiro Farm At the Gonjiro fish house display ponds. Sakai Sanke from the Farm Day 3 Today was spent at Isawa Nishikigoi Centre one of the Mecca’s for Sanke lovers! There were many Koi here and here is a selection of what was bowled. As usual Toshio and his son Toshiyuki gave a master class in Sanke appreciation as we went along, always nice to be educated whilst purchasing. The Sanke here and Kohaku for that matter all have different, yet unique characteristics, for which the terminology used ranges from ‘pink’ Beni to ‘shiny’ Beni, but to be honest with the level of Koi bowled there was never a Koi that you could not class as shiny! INC is a big place and this was our only stop today. Matsunosuke Sanke at their finest! High class Nisai Sanke and Kohaku Very high class Nisai Sanke and Kohaku! Day 2 Update A better photo of this marudoh Sanke, destined for future gtreatness and just featured as the cover girl of Nishikigoi Monthly, Japan's No1 Koi mag. Day 4 Today was spent at the two Maruyama Koi farms in Yamanashi and Gifu prefectures. First stop was Maruyama of Kagura bloodline fame, harvesting was still being done and some Koi had only just arrived yesterday. The harvest schedule in Japan now starts in early October and stretches right through until December, so no breeder ever has everything in when you visit. Below are some of the Koi from today, more to follow as we have travelled around 250 miles today and dinner beckons! Maruyama Sansai 72cm Maruyama Kohaku Show Quality Maruyama Nisai Showa Maruyama Gifu All Japan Quality Kohaku Maruyama Gifu AJKS quality/Local Show Winner Day 5 Today was spent at Koi No Yohei, Kondo and Dainichi Nagoya, due to our travelling I have limited time so here are some photos of the day. I will add more detail tomorrow. Kondo Kohaku Yohei Sansai Yohei Sanke YouTube Video YouTube Video Dainichi Sanke Nisai Day 6 Today was spent at Ippinya a little know breeder outside Asia that is the creator of many individual Kawarigoi varieties, such as Koyo and Karashigoi to name a few, in addition to his high class Ochiba Shigure. YouTube Video Then it was onto a breif visit to Narita Koi farm, Japans biggest Koi dealer. 80cm Sakai Kohaku 66cm Sakai Sanke Pics from inside Narita YouTube Video Day 7 Took the long train ride up from Nagoya to Niigata and arrived late last night into Nagaoka Station and then a short drive onto Ojiya. Today was spent around the mountains in Yamakoshi and surrounding areas, with visits to many breeders. The results of these can be seen on the new Japan Koi Sales page. *Update on the customers Nisai at Koi No Yohei.* The video below has many of the Super Dragon Tosai sold a year ago, plus a few others with more still to be harvested. Yohei Nisai Finally Day 8! The last day of the trip was spent in Niigata and due to ZNA Koi show being held made getting appointments extremely difficult. Managed to get everything I wanted in the end so I have finished the trip happy! Todays Koi were purchased from Marudoh, Yamamatsu Sakai, Sakazume and Mano. The day was a constant battle with torrential rain and very low light, this meant we had to hang around until I could actually see thye Koi! There were a couple of Koi bowled today that were of All Japan Koi Show level and one Kohaku in particular that will take a prize, I have not seen a better one ever! A truly amazing Koi that I wish I could share but sadly a promise was made that this Koi must not be posted on the internet. This is not unusual nowadays and in some cases you are not even allowed to take a photograph of certain Koi. There are many top level high paying customers in the Koi world and not enough truly top level Koi to supply them all. The Koi from today are now on the Japan Koi Sales page. Inside Marudoh koi Farm