A&C 2008 koitrip to Japan
Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 - Day 5 - Day 6 - Day 7 - Day 8
The days here are be simply too crazily true. Sun, fish, sympathetic people and doing something where you heart and soul lie. Could you wish for anything else. Again we hit the road for our next appointment. Here I must generally leave without success, namely, at Sakazume. The Goromo breeder pre-eminently, but also very difficult to approach as soon as selection is brought into the discussion. As a rule of thumb I decide to leave after the 10th time "No Tategoi". My offer never seems to be good enough.
So you can image my stupefaction when gave me a hand with a big smile on his face and took along to some barges with its Tategoi Goromo. Just as lively he said that I could select 10 and no more... Wisely swallowing all my words I watched how Sakazumi San netting his pond using a trawl net to enable me to start my selection. However I did so, with the necessary nerves because the price still need to be agreed. Normally I always select more fish than the agreed number and also in this case, after 1 ½ to 2 hours a had 24 fishes in the bowl. Firstly I selected three that directly brought back in his pond. As soon as I noticed that Sakazume was standing next to me I asked him to help me with the selection of these last 21, because there is no one else that knows the Goromo as good as he does.
Then once we where sitting stooped over the bowl I asked one question after the other and also I brought my vision fearlessly in the discussion. After some Hm's and Hai's he stood and said that these 20 fish were a very good selection from the Goromo. He indicated two fish that possibly had to go to the young Koi show in Japan the next month.
I asked which and yes, exactly these fish I have selected as the 2nd and 4th or 5th. The No. 1 fish was put by me in the pond but it is how is the No. 2 will come to The Netherlands. Not only that, but also the other 19 will come. Thus not only 10 but 20 top quality small Goromo. The top from the specialist, something that I am very proud of.
After a warm farewell we left for Kase. Kase is just like our then
next appointment, at Aoki, a real Doitsu specialist. Someone whom I
already know for a long time and where I am always allowed to select.
And this time was also no exception. Theo was already ready, with
twinkles in his eyes, to help with the netting of the pond.
Some Doitsu Showa and Metallic Ochiba catches the eye immediately. I the
last years I had not seen such high grade metallic Ochiba. But now there
where 3 or 4 that I have selected to come to The Netherlands.
Also some Doitsu, Showa, Yamatonishiki and Doitsu Goshiki will be
there.
Then to further round off also Doitsu,
Kohaku, Doitsu Sanke and Kumonryu will complete the selection.
But judge by yourself and experience a part of Japanese culture that now will accompany me to The Netherlands.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Doitsu Goshiki 10 | Doitsu Goshiki 8 | Doitsu Kohaku 4 | Doitsu Kohaku 6 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Doitsu Sanke 2 | Doitsu Showa en Sanke | Kumonryu 2 | Yamato Nishiki 7 |
 |
 |
Finally we drove to Aoki where we selected 2 Matsu Kawabake. As you can see, these fish do not need a further introduction. Because Aoki already had fet his young fish we made a new appointment later during this week. I for this I certainly will be back. |
| Aoki Ginrin Matsu Kawabaka |
Aoki Matsu Kawabake |
To late to go to somewhere else we had some time left to do some shopping. Especially fruit in Japan is something to appreciate each year again. They have here a kind of apple in which they have succeed to combine the taste of apples and pears, delicious, more...