Page 39 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 64
P. 39

Day 2
                             We woke at 6am after another three hours of sleep to a
                             rainy autumn day. After our Japanese Breakfast we set
                             off to the mountains to visit Shinoda and Hiroi Conias,
                             both breeders had new harvests the previous day. We
                             felt the majority of Koi available did not warrant the
                             prices requested and decided we would visit both farms
                             later in the week to see the new harvests as they arrive.
                             We then moved on to visit Maruboshi, a very famous
                             Kohaku only breeder. Sadly, the second Maruboshi
       Andrew, Maruboshi san and
       Ben at Maruboshi Koi Farm,   brother is retiring at the end of this year, so the farm is
       sadly this was our last trip   closing, so it was our last opportunity to purchase their
       here as the farm is closing   stunning Kohaku. Hopefully another breeder will
       at the end of the year.
                             purchase his parent Koi and continue the bloodline.

                                                                                           Left:
                                                                                           44cm Tategoi Maruboshi
                                                                                           Kohaku, Jumbo bodyshape
                                                                                           with excellent Beni plate.
                                                                                           Right:
                                                                                           39cm Maruboshi Kohaku
                                                                                           with an interesting pattern.


                                                                                                                 We spoke in detail about his Koi before selecting from
                                                                                                                 his Tategoi (Koi with high potential) pond – absolutely
                                                                                                                 stunning! We then moved onto his Sansai (3-year-old)
                                                                                                                 pond and selected 2 beautiful Kohaku before saying
                                                                                                                 goodbye. It’s always sad when a Koi Master retires.
                                                                                           EVEN GOOD             We left Maruboshi then drove back up the mountain to
                                                                                                                 see Tanaka Kazehiro. Tanaka san is a really nice guy
                                                                                           EXAMPLES OF           and is known for his Shusui and Yuki (snow) Asagi.
                                                                                           THE POPULAR           Then we popped back into Hirashin to discuss the
                                                                                                                 harvest schedules before moving onto another Kohaku
                                                                                           VARIETIES ARE         breeder – Kansuke whose Kohaku are deep red.

                                                                                           VERY SCARCE           Often our customers imagine that it must be easy for us
                                                                                                                 to collect high quality Kohaku! This isn’t the case, high
                                                                                                                 quality Koi are very difficult to find, even good examples
                                                                                                                 of the popular varieties are very scarce.
                                                                                                                 Our last appointment for the day was at Seijuro Koi
                                                                                                                 Farm to see a small Nisai (2-year-old) harvest of Showa
                                                                                                                 and Sanke. We arrived early, and around 30 minutes


                                          38                                                                                  39
   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44