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Gallery • Spring 2005 • Back
February 2005 proved to be a very difficult trip in terms of getting all of the koi we required and also in terms of getting to grips with the devastation caused by the earthquake in October 2004.

Our trip had begun with a meal with Fujio Oomo and Makoto Tanaka. Together they told us the story of their struggle to save as many of their koi as possible. I couldn’t quite believe it and it hurt me to think that these simple, hardworking people were having their livelihoods destroyed by the shaking ground.

As we journeyed around the area over the next few days we were hearing stories of breeders loosing between 20,000 and 60,000 Tosai as well as large extremely valuable koi and even Oyagoi (parent koi). We were unable to see all of the damage as it was covered in snow, but what we did see was shocking. The area had been badly hit but all of the breeders appeared to be getting back on track.

On a brighter note we had another amazing trip. Fujio was always adding humour wherever we went and we managed to buy some truly stunning koi including our best ever collection of Nissai (2 years old). Not only did we purchase some of our best ever koi, we managed to get some truly fantastic opportunities. We selected 40 very high grade Kumonryu from Ikarashi as well as selecting 100 of Miyatora’s highest grade Tosai. However the week was topped off when Ricky was able to select from Makoto Tanaka’s Nissai Tategoi and he even managed to purchase Makoto’s No.1 Gin Rin Sanke. It was a dream ending to a fantastic trip. That was it for another 6 months; we left the area with lots of mixed memories. Mainly goods ones but there were also those ones of the devastation the earthquake had caused the people of Japan and in particular the koi breeders who year upon year are becoming closer friends.

Please take the time to try and experience this trip with us by browsing through our photos.
Please click on the images below to view a larger image
Yozaemon had recently onstructed this koi house for Tosai.
Yozaemons Tategoi house which was hidden in all of the snow.
Ouch!!!
Kosugi main koi house was wrecked by the earthquake.
Another property in the same village destroyed.
This house hat been flattened in the same village. Now it was covered in snow.
Takahashi san and Fujio Oomo
Kase koi farm
Kase san spent ages trying to point out his new variety a metallic Gin Rin Ochiba.
An incredible Nissai Kohaku from Torazo brought back as a special order for a very good customer of ours.
The damage was so bad when one of Sakazumes mud ponds collapsed the governemnt had to tear down the whole banking.
Nissai Goromo purchased from Sakazume.
Nagaoka City
This man was clearing snow from his roof 200 feet up.
The world famous Marusyo koi farm.
Ricky and Makoto Tanaka at Marusyo koi farm.
We enjoyed Coffee in Makoto's fathers house.
9 Nissai Kujaku purchased from Marusyo koi farm.
8 Nissai purchased from Marusyo koi farm.
Yasuaki Kaneko and Ricky and plenty of snow.
Stunning Nissai purchased at Kaneko koi farm.
More Nissai purchased at Kaneko koi farm.
Fujio observing Kaneko's Nissai Tategoi.
2 very high quality Sansai Kohaku purchased from Kaneko.
Yasuaki Kaneko.
The area around Yamazaki Koi Farm is very quiet.
Ricky and Fujio share a joke whilst their picture was taken.
Thats how to stock a koi pond!
Manabu Yamazaki.
Nissai purchased from Marudoh.
More Nissai purchased from Marudoh.
Hisashi Hirasawa (aka Marudoh) and his wife.
Miyatora's main koi house.
Any guesses what this building at Miyatora's contained.
Fujio was selecting Tategoi Sanke at Miyatora for a fellow breeder.
These are the koi that Fujio selected. WOW!!!
Ikarashi koi farm.
Seki Ikarashi grading Tategoi and his son watching and learning.
Andy joins in to see what koi were selected to become Tategoi.
40 high grade Kumonryu selected at Ikarashi
Oomo koi farm looks very different at this time of year.
We only managed to select 23 high grade Oomo Showa (Tosai)
Earthquake damage to this house was covered by the heavy snow.
Hiroi koi farm owned by Kuniyasu Hiroi and sons.
Due to the earthquake some of Yozaemons ponds were out of action.
This whole row of ponds was out of use.
Yozaemons Nissai Tategoi. The best pond of koi i have ever seen!!!
Negotiations at Yozaemon are always a difficult task.
Some of the stunning Nissai we purchased from Yozaemon.
3 very high grade Goshiki purchased from Yozaemon.
MSK114
OTS106
TAZ100 (SOLD)

 
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