featuring Mr. Nakayama of Ogawa Koi Farm, was hosted last Saturday by Ken Tran, its gracious owner. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say the event was both enjoyable and informative.
Masayoshi Nakayama-san is the Director of Ogawa Koi Farm, where he's worked for 35 years; the Farm has been in operation for 51 years. Ogawa is famous for breeding Ruran (or Rurun), the only 2 time winner of the AJCKS (Shinkokai). Ruran, named after a mythical Chinese city (think King Arthur's Camelot or the Vikings' Valhalla), was unable to be bred successfully since she won her titles so late in life (I think he said her second title was at age 16?). Nakayama-san is no stranger to the USA and has judged here before. In the last AJCKS, he judged the 70 bu Class teamed with Tom Lai (of Champion Koi) and Kunizo Narita (Head Judge at our last ZNA SoCal show).
A buffet luncheon (it was excellent, by the way) preceded Nakayama-san's presentation, which covered equal parts Ogawa Koi Farm operations and 'How to Choose Quality Tosai.' Included were a judging contest of 4 live Ogawa kohaku (winner had choice of koi!) and a rather lengthy Q & A session (wherein Nancy M. mightily stirred the pot and Yours Truly stayed mum).
Afterwards, Nakayama-san (via his interpreter, Toru Inouye-san -- Ken's broker), was available to comment on various koi for prospective buyers -- and in fact did so, even though the koi he sexed and critiqued for us were not his.
On Sunday, Nakayama-san and Inouye-san (driven by Allen from EnKoi and accompanied by Joe Co, a top local hobbyist) toured some SoCal ponds -- and were gracious enough to honor us with a visit. A truly memorable day for Brenda and I.
L to R: Nancy M., Ken Tran, Toru Inouye, Masayoshi Nakayama; (seated) Jed Bolding (
jbolding) and daughters.
L to R: Ken Tran, Toru Inouye, Masayoshi Nakayama; Jed Bolding
Toru and Masayoshi
Jane Morrison (
janemm), Erwin Santos (
Erwinsan) and Mark Whalen (
111whalen)
Kelvin Tran (
k. tran) and Lamson Bui Tran (
ockoi1)
My wife, Brenda, & I
Searching for the correct words
Nancy M., stirring the pot during Q & A (
actually, some very good questions Nancy)