Up early to catch trains to Isawa and visit the Sakuma brothers & family.
We checked out of our Hotel by 8.15 in order to get a bullet train to Tokyo. This was a very fast train travelling at 250 kmh. This took around 1hr 45mins, then onto a smaller train to Isawa .After the 4hr journey we arrived at Isawa station to be met by Sakuma and taken to his families koi farm.As always we were welcomed by his mother and brother with lots of snacks and drink after a long journey. We selected out a few boxes of mixed koi. There were also some very rare koi, Tancho Kujaku and Koromo Showa. I also brought a very special two year old 4-step Kujaku which had won its class at a local koi show. After 3 1/2 hours we then had to travel back to Tokyo (another 3 hr jouney catching two trains) to our last hotel near Narita airport, ready for our early fight of 12hrs back to the U.K.
A mild day,but rain increasing as we seach for more good quality koi.
After a nice rest we are out early to visit Hirasawa,this breeder has a very large building to house his koi ponds.The building was once a large sports hall.Here we brought two boxes of mixed koi. While we were bowling up more koi his workers brought in more newly netted koi from the mudponds. This meant we had the first pick of these new koi. After a coffee with Hirasawa we had our next appointment with Marasada. This breeder breeds good quality metalics. Since last year this breeder has a new koi house with eight ponds, a very clean koi house.After a quick lunch at a Seven/Eleven mini market,we set of to Takahashi. This breeder is about 45mins drive on a toll road.This breeder has high grade Showa and Shusui.I brought one box of Shusui,Showa,Gin Rin Platinums and Gin Rin Showa with outstanding white skin quality.Then onto Tanaka who is not far from Takahashi.This small breder had a nice mix but very high prices,i did not buy any koi here. We always check for hygiene when we visit these breeders, it is important nowadays to be more biosecure.Then back to Aoki again to see his Goshiki ,a few photos taken for future referance.By now it was getting dark but we then went back to see Kase for a look at his three year old koi.I bowled up three nice Yamtonishiki,again the cost to purchase these seemed to high. Then back to the hotel and get a meal.
