In Japan again!!

[Deron Simons]

Well, finally got to a Hotel with internet that can actually connect!!

Just finished the first full day, after a half day yesterday at Takahashi and Takigawa. Managed to sneak out a few Jumbo Tosai that were what we wanted plus a few Karashigoi that I have bought in the past and grow to 80cm plus.


We have been around Hiroshima again today visiting Matsue and Takeda, the Takeda Kohaku are often over looked due to the fame the farm has for Showa so I thought a few would really be an eye opener. Very good deep Beni with some Dainichi origins, but now really regarded as Takeda's own.
I really like the style of these Koi.


Bowling something special





Its late here as we have not really stopped for 40 hours so really need to sleep! I will add some more details and photos tomorrow.

[Deron Simons]

Today was another day in the Hiroshima area, with visits to Uedera, Tamaura and Sakai Fish Farm.
The day was a great success with many Koi purchased, including a Koi of tremendous quality purchased by one of the hobbyists on the trip.

The beautiful Sanke from the famous Shining Rose bloodline being measured by Kentaro Sakai.



The Koi being discussed and admired.




The Koi, sorry not the best photo.

At Tamaura we purchased some quality Kohaku and Sanke including this Tancho Sanke for a customer order.



As ever with travelling all over Japan we tend to arrive late in the day at every destination, tonight was no exception. 9pm into Nagoya a drive to Toyota city and a meal with Mamoru fro Koi No Yohei.
I have finally finished talking to Mamoru about his Grand Champion at the Tokai Koi Show and also his Tosai quality for this year. The result is that the Tosai are excellent and I will be able see them all tomorrow including the GC and will hopefully get photos into this site.
Its now 2.45am and time to pass out!!!!!!

[Deron Simons]

Today was a full day in Toyota City with Koi No Yohei and Kondo, this trip was about coming to Koi No Yohei to select from his Tosai. Every year around this time they make their Tosai available and because of our agreement with them we are able to gain access to select through these Koi.
This year the Tosai are of a better overall level than last year. Every breeder of quality tries to improve his Koi each year and Koi No Yohei's Hybrid Koi are coming on at a very fast pace. The quality is constantly improving and this years are superb.
The white skin is still perfect but we now have a softer Beni in addition.
I am having terrible trouble with yet another camera, so I'm sorry about the photo quality, hopefully you can see enough!




The Koi are a mixture of july and August spawnings and are around 25-35cm, if any Koi in the photos are of interest please email me for further details.

This eveing we spent time with Mark Gardner and he will travelling with us fo the next two days and I can guarantee he will take better photographs than me! His pics will be posted on http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com.

[Deron Simons]

For the first time since we arrived I have time in the hotel to post todays events, but there is little point as Mark has done a great job on his Niigata Nishikigoi blog so here is the link below.

http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/

[Bern]

I'll got and read that next.

Can I say that it is nice to see Go-sanke with classic kutsubera head patterns and white noses.
So much better looking than those with varying degrees of menkabura that all too often appear.

rgds
Bern

[ogawa only]

dibs on the kohaku we emailed about


steve

[Deron Simons]

Finally got back to the UK late Friday after the longest journey I have aver done, in total 42 hours!

We left Nagaoka, Niigata on thursday afternoon and headed for Tokyo, on the way down we were informed about the volcano dust and thougt it was a 'wind up'. However once arriving at Narita Airport we realised it was a bit more serious.
Anyway our flight left on time for Paris, however during the flight we were diverted to Lyon in the South of France!

We arrived there hoping to jump on the TGV to Paris only to find the French train drivers were on strike!. We jumped on a coach bound for Paris, 9 HOURS later we arrived in Paris where we had phoned ahead and managed to get the last hire car. We then drove the 3 hours to Calais only to be greeted by a 3 hour queue to get a foot passenger ticket!!! with no guarantee they won't run out!!
Finally boarded the ferry with hundreds of travellers from different parts of the world, but we had come the farthest by far.
During the crossing we were informed that there were no trains or cabs at Dover. A call to my car hire company solved that as he would meet us in Dover.
Finally arrived home 11.30pm!!!

I will put a lot more details of the trip on here later.

Deron

[Greg]

LOL...... Deron that has got to be the most roundabout route i've heard of to get home from Japan.

I suspect there will be a few koi dealers stuck out in Japan for a few days yet. I can speak from first hand experience of the carnage this is causing as my wife works in Holland and back end of last week / today was not the simple 1hr flight it normally is. 10hrs worth of travel instead.

Next hurdle is getting the koi home and QT'd - many dealers will be missing the end of may bank Holiday release now for the summer season - but what can you do. Nothing really - Us hobbyists will have to wait till the koi are QT clear.

[tomc]

Lucky to get back really, Deron. I think another 12 hours later and you'd currently be spinning your wheels in Japan!

I have staff stuck in various locations with "return" dates of +7 days assumings that flights resume!

Stil with Mick as companion, he must have constantly given you the uplift (glass half full attitude) that you needed.

Tom

[Deron Simons]

Hi Tom,

Its only just beginning to become apparent how 'lucky' we were. Although my only motivation at the time to get home was Mick, take that how you think its meant!

Deron