[Brian]

Nico,

This is quite a subjective question, and I think that personal taste has as much to do with the answer as any other factor. Your favorites are always your favorites, regardless of popular opinion, etc. and I think that this is one thing that is somewhat unique about nishikigoi.

Some will seek out koi from the larger and more renowned breeders, while others tend to gravitate towards smallers regional ones close to home. May not make much difference around the world, but these are trends that exist in Japan.

So, to answer your question, I've compiled a list of peoples' favorites here in Japan. The list is divided up into northern and southern Japan.

In the north:

Niigata

Kohaku - Dainichi, Hoshikin, Hansuke, Torazo, Yamamatsu, Kansuke, Kurabe, Marudo, Yozen, etc.

Sanke - Yamatsu, Torazo, Marudo, Dainichi, Shintaro, Sanroku, etc.

Showa - Dainichi, Sekiguchi, Nagashima, Seijuro, Yamau, Marudo, etc.

Shiro utsuri - Nagashima, Kaneko, etc.

And favorites for some of everything - Miyaishi, Hosokai, Uragara, Kawakami YJ, etc.

Nagano

Showa - Nozawa

Shiro - Moriya

Chiba

Kohaku - Takachio, Horikoshi, Murata, Tani, Gontaro

Kanagawa

Kohaku, Sanke - Marumi

Showa - Ikuta

Yamanashi

Kohaku - Maruyama, Sakuma, Suien

Sanke - Isawa NC

Showa - Maruyama, Sakuma

Shizuoka

Shiro - Namiki


In the south:


Aichi

Kohaku - Koi no Yohei, Marutoshi

Sanke - Koi no Yohei

Okayama

Kohaku, Sanke, Showa, etc. - Momotaro

Hiroshima

Kohaku - Sakai, Konishi, Takeda, Takigawa, Wakabayashi, Fujikawa, Oyama, Tamaura

Sanke - Sakai, Konishi, Takeda, Takigawa, Wakabayashi, Oyama, Tamaura

Showa - Sakai, Takeda, Takigawa, Wakabayashi, Oyama, Tamaura

Shiro - Omosako, Takigawa, Tamaura, Konishi

Shimane

Kohaku - Matsue, Yamato-ya

Sanke - Yamato-ya

Fukuoka

Kohaku - Ogata, Maruchika, Ikenaga, Okawa NC, Kinsuien, Rikoen, Takeda

Sanke - Rikoen, Ogata, Ikenaga

Showa - Ogata, Okawa NC, Maruchika

Nagasaki

Kohaku, Sanke, Showa - Ogawa

Kumamoto

Showa - Ueno

Not a definitive list, but rather one that lists the breeders that seem to have their koi brought to shows often by hobbyists.