Page 33 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 5

at the Niigata Nishikigoi Show. He is now very pleased
he went into the Koi business. It has allowed him to
travel extensively around the world and has visited the
USA, Holland, China, South Korea, Philippines,
Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. He throughly still
enjoys seeing foreigners at his farm. A family man he
has three daughters who at the moment are not
interested in following on in the Koi business so
Kawakami san says “he will work for as long as he can
with Koi.”
I always ask each breeder what advice they would give
to Koi hobbyists around the world. Kawakami san gave
this advice, “Too many people buy Koi just for shows
and to win prizes, soon they become bored with this
and stop keeping Koi. People should learn to
appreciate Koi and buy them to keep and watch
develop and enjoy for a long time.”
Kawakami san received
this award for a stunning Very wise words from a very wise man and something I
Sanke.
agree with totally. This is the third time I have
interviewed him over the last 30 years. I remember very
well when I asked him once, “Why do you use so very
few Koi to breed?”, his reply was “I am lazy,” and on
this interview he said “I am Niigata’s most stupid
breeder,” both said with a smile and a laugh, well having
the pleasure of knowing him for the last 30 years and
knowing that his family business was 100-years-old
in 2017 then I and everyone knows neither of these
are true.

If you wonder where the name ‘Torazo’ comes from, it’s
from the first generation, his Great, Great Grandfather
was called Kawakami Torazo. How proud of Kawakami
san they would be today knowing from those early days
that the name Torazo and Urakawa Koi Farm was as
strong and well respected around the world as it is
today. Congratulations on 100 years in the Koi world
and here’s to the next 100 years.

For more information on Martin Symonds, Rene Villela
and Japan Koi Export go to www.japankoiexport.com or
www.exclusivejapanesekoi.com or
email info@japankoiexport.com and you can
also follow them on Facebook
www.facebook.com/japankoiexport

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