A&C 2009 koitrip to Japan
Part 1 -
Part 2 -
Part 3 -
Part 4 -
Part 5 -
Part 6 -
Part 7 -
Part 8
After a good nights sleep and full of fresh courage we go towards our second appointment with Choguro. As mentioned earlier Choguro grow other varieties, one of these is Beni Kikokuryu. For this variety his name gets slowly but surely the same publicity as for the Platinum Ogon.
And also the Beni Kikokuryu receive increasingly prices at Koishows . For this reason I asked a couple days ago if I was allowed to select some of these. His first words then were: "if there are not too many." Despite knowing better I hope he has forgotten these words.
But unfortunately, this was immediately obvious when I started to select. After the third fish, I already had two of these Beni Kikokuryu selected when I heard a disgruntled noise on the part of Choguro. I looked at him and nodded yes. Next I selected almost two thirds Platinum Ogon and then again a Kikusui or Kikokuryu and occasionally a Beni Kikokuryu again. This proved to be working and we could therefore with his permission go on with the selection.
For smaller fish this is normally done in the following manner. The breeder (in this case Choguro) prepares two containers ready, of one is completely filled with water.
The other bowl contains significantly less water and a few breathing stones. This is for the final selected the fish. Then with a net some fish are scoop from the pond and with fish the fish still in the net, the whole is placed on the water-filled container.
By this the fish are still in the net, but still under water. This lets you easily see what is in the net and you can select the fish that you like.
Of course by doing so you select more fish than you ultimately want to keep. Once you have netted the complete pond the resulting fish are examined. So in this case I selected 40 fish and asked about the price. You must know that different rules apply for selecting fish that are normally not sold.
Because the ponds contain fish that can rather vary in price, the price of fish can only be determined retrospectively. So back to the usual practice. Choguro is requesting a good (high) solid price and I ask him about the reason after which the words "Tategoi other price" are returned and some fish are pointed out.
In other words, there were some fish the considerable raises the price level of the others. Because I did not want to obtain all 40 fish, but only the best 10 to 15, I asked him to select these. Choguro thought that I did not want these and took a small bowl and scooped this number of fish from the previous selected container.
He estimated then that I really wanted to know a price for the remaining fish, but I had something different in mind. Nobody can select fish better than the breeder himself. Especially when he thinks he should get the best out as they are increasing the price too much.
So he looked pretty surprised when I asked him about the price of the fish that he just had selected out. He looked at me first as if he had not understood and so I asked rephrased my question. Then a smile appeared on his face and he said in a few brief words that nothing like this even happened to him. He was, however, apparently enjoyed so much that he, still smiling, agreed.
In other words, some very high quality small Ogon Platinum and Beni Kikokuryu changed owners and will move in April to Grubbenvorst.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Choguro |
Choguro Beni Kikokuryu 2 |
Choguro Beni Kikokuryu 3 |
Choguro Beni en Platinum mix. |
After drinking a quick cup of coffee, we are then left to a small restaurant in the mountains for some food. A took a quick bite, because time is money and also takes just too long. After half an hour we were already on the way to the next appointment. This was Hirasawa and his son Maruhiro.
A few days ago we had agreed that they would select something special for us and that we also are allowed to select some fish from their Nisai Tategoi. As always a chat is for Hirasawa just as more important as doing business. So a cup of coffee and the lost of kindness was part of the visit.
After a short half an hour and much laughter it was time to examine the fish selected by Maruhiro. He brought some 20 very special quality Tosai. And if Maruhiro says he selects quality than that is what he brings. So it was a real feast to look at a small number of his fish of the highest quality class.
Since, on the first days a was already blown away by his Ginrin Shiro Utsuri he brought one fish which he said was equal in quality. I can at least say that this was the first fish in my wish bowl. The second was a rare beautiful Tancho Ochiba. The third was a Shiro Utsuri and the fourth was a ... But see by yourself what rare beautiful fish we will bring to Grubbenvorst.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Hirasawa Ginrin Kohaku |
Hirasawa Sanke 1 |
Hirasawa Sanke 2 |
Hirasawa Kohaku 1 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Hirasawa Shiro Utsuri 1 |
Hirasawa Shiro Utsuri 2 |
Hirasawa Ginrin Tancho Ochiba |
Hirasawa Ginrin Shiro Utsuri |
At Maruhiro's we also saw some late-breed fish from 2007. From these we bowled four of which two will go to Leo and the Ginrin Maruten Sanke and the Ginrin Showa will come to Grubbenvorst.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Hirasawa Ginrin Maruten Sanke |
Hirasawa Ginrin Showa |
Hirasawa Showa |
Hirasawa Kohaku 2 |
After this it was time to look at Hirasawa's top Nisai. Hirasawa asked us "which Koi did draw your attention", and after looking in the pond I said, laughing, in all ... He also laughed at his famous way and his son started to fill a bowl with water.
While I was peaking in the tank I saw a four-step Kohaku which I immediately pointed out. A hmmmm sound passed travelled through the air and in my ears. This is something what Hirasawa does when it becomes somewhat more difficult. However, the fish was bowled and examined by me to see if there are no damages or any other disturbing elements that often you can not see when there are several hundred fish swimming together. No, this one superb and a jewel which I already knew what it would cost. But if you would like this kind of quality fish you do not nag.
So next again looking in the tank and already the next Kohaku came up. Now a
two-steps with a great head and body. Again, also this fish left nothing
to complain, therefore, number two was found. Next I a Sanke having a very
fine quality skin and print caught my eyes. I know it's boring to hear
and also to
say and write, but what else should we expect from the top Nisai of a
breeder like Hirasawa. The fourth Sanke followed soon for which I don
not say to much but I think the picture tell their story.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Hirasawa Kohaku 3 |
Hirasawa Kohaku 4 |
Hirasawa Sanke 3 |
Hirasawa Sanke 4 |
After this there was some time left to travel back to Yagenji. Yesterday I had little for this visit, but now a eagerly would like to add some top Koi to my list.
Now I can write another piece for this but here we have a birthday to celebrate tonight and therefore we will have a small party where also some breeders will be present.
So I rest my case today and leave you with the words: "look and judge by yourself".
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Yagenji Kohaku 1 |
Yagenji Kohaku 2 |
Yagenji Kohaku 3 |
Yagenji Kohaku 4 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Yagenji Kohaku 5 |
Yagenji Kohaku 6 |
Yagenji Showa |
Yagenji Tancho Showa |
The image below is something that we do not see often. What you see here are some parent fish of Yagenji and I can truly say that this sight will stay with me for a long time. For the people of the Challenge, tomorrow's probably there will be some news.
