Aloha from Japan

[MikeM]

Great stuff. Please keep it up.

[Akai-San]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mike T Carl: Thanks for sharing, good stuff... however, could you please check your pics...1st one was only about twice the size of your thumbnail pic while the 3 was about 4-6 times as large... If all the pics were a little bigger than No. 3 then they would be clearer... Again, Mahalo, Mike T

Sorry Mike, I just scaled down the pics to save space. I didn't check to see what the displayed sizes would be. My bad. Will get straight the next time.

By the way, last night I had ANOTHER outing of sashimi tabe hodai - nomi hodai (All you can eat and drink). At 1500 yen, they lost a lot of money. We were there for four and a half hours. and put away a lot of platters and bottles. Maguro & Hamachi all night. Great time!

P.S. Still missing Hawaiian and Phillipino foods.

[Mike T]

Carl:

Glad to see you're fitting right in...You better watch out for the beeru or you're going to start looking like a sumotori like me...

BTW. Last night was stew and poi...broke the mout...

Aloha! Mike

[aquitori]

Need pics of koi.......

[Akai-San]

Aquitori,

I was afraid somebody would get here. Sorry, I don't have my Japan legs on just yet. Still got a lot to do to finally get settled into my new place. Still awaiting the arrival of all my stuff. Living out of suitcase right now, so a little stranded at the moment. The area where I am isn't real accessible to nishikigoi. In fact, everytime I start talking to the local Japanese about nishikigoi, most look at me funny. Koi? We eat koi...NO! NO! Nishikigoi.

There is only one person that I know of in our office of 120 that has any clue about nishikigoi...and thats only because he lives in the Niigata area on the weekends. When the japanese workers figure out what I'm showing them, most look at me and say takai; thats usually where the conversation ends. Don't worry, I'll get there soon and will be happy to share KOI stuff.

Maybe its just where I'm located, Kanagawa. Maybe its a generation gap. Who knows?

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by Akai-San Aquitori, I was afraid somebody would get here. Sorry, I don't have my Japan legs on just yet. Still got a lot to do to finally get settled into my new place. Still awaiting the arrival of all my stuff. Living out of suitcase right now, so a little stranded at the moment. The area where I am isn't real accessible to nishikigoi. In fact, everytime I start talking to the local Japanese about nishikigoi, most look at me funny. Koi? We eat koi...NO! NO! Nishikigoi. There is only one person that I know of in our office of 120 that has any clue about nishikigoi...and thats only because he lives in the Niigata area on the weekends. When the japanese workers figure out what I'm showing them, most look at me and say takai; thats usually where the conversation ends. Don't worry, I'll get there soon and will be happy to share KOI stuff. Maybe its just where I'm located, Kanagawa. Maybe its a generation gap. Who knows?

Cool, no problem...I'll give you 3 weeks for the pics ....hahahaha

[Akai-San]

Aquitori,

Since you are an experience Japan traveller and koi purchaser, when is the best time to make visits to Niigata and or Okayama or anywhere else? Is there any way to view or purchase koi before the major auctions? Just wondering, if I'm going to start planning buying trips, would like to know before setting plans in stone. Thanks.

Carl

[Akai-San]

Sorry, I haven't updated this post in a while. With my family FINALLY settling into their new surroundings these past 3-4 weeks, I'm looking forward to really getting out and about.

I have been driving around town a lot lately trying to get my other half comfortable with driving on her own. In the process, I have developed a good sense of the surrounding areas and main routes around town. Driving in and around Tokyo still remains a huge challenge for this Hawaiian. The trains are far too convenient. I have been charting routes to koi destinations but fall short on pin-pointing actual locations. Anyone have some good direction maps to their favorite breeders?

My thoughts:
I am really shocked to notice that they are not many water garden/pet shops in Japan. I guess with land being such a premium, keeping nishikigoi is really not a viable hobby for many Japanese, especially within city limits. When I first arrived in Japan, I honestly believed that koi and koi ponds would be everywhere. Oh boy was I ever wrong. I thought by being here in Japan, I would have an easier and cheaper time accessing and learning...clearly not the case. Close yet sooooo far. And still being here is absolutely PRICELESS!

[luke frisbee]

Nice tight post. i am appreciative of anyone that share an insight. Thank you

[Akai-San]

BooHoo...I just got turned down from housing dept. for building a water garden (hahaha) in my backyard. Housing said it was a hazard and because they don't allow tenants to fence in yard. No water gardens allowed.

Plan B:
I have an enclosed outdoor covered area adjacent our entry that will easily accommodate a small 4'x7' pond (Q-tank size). Is this adequate for learning water skills with a few small koi. I'm estimating approx. 500 gallons. What kind of small pump & filter is adequate for this size test pond? I'm also planning a home made filter tower with bacteria house media or K1 media. Its fall now so I don't think now will be the time to put this project together. Winter will be right around the corner. Snowboarding season!

Still awaiting on a response for the BIG POND on base.