What was your first Japan experience like?

[aquitori]

What was you first Japan experience like? I know there were many first timers that went to Japan this year and I wanted to get a idea of how it went for you guys.

[keokoi]

Not my first trip to Niigata but we had a few first timers go with us. The look on their face when they see the size and colors of koi always reminds me of my first trip. The excitement they have is always welcomed. The end of the trip most newbies start to buy a little better koi in the end. Always worth the trip.

One thing is I always ask them is at the end of the trip what they have learned. Some replies is. The have a lot to learn and or the quality of stuff is no comparision..

Going to Japan is education in itslef even if you dont buy a koi. Just looking at koi is will raise your level of appreciation...

Joe

[gregbickal]

It was like nothing I could have ever imagined I left my wife and 2yo daughter at home and took my best friend Shane . He loved it there and said he would like to live there.

The koi were amazing, the Japanese people were amazing!!

[Bob Winkler]

1998......Addicting

[Chagoi]

Went in 1995 and it changed my life forever.

[dick benbow]

felt the same as Joe. Seeing what is really posible, not what you've seen locally
will place you on a different level of awareness. SEEING THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY SIDE IN WHICH THESE KOI ARE RAISED, ESPECIALLY DURING THE FALL COLORS! Meeting the names that seemed so impressive in the books and discovering they are just common folks more than ready to share a refreshing tea and light treat as if you were family. Should do this at least once in your life: WARNING: hard not to come back and immmediately NOT plan another trip
or keep asking yourself why you left in the first place! Addictive!!

[Nancy M.]

1st trip, was one of the best experiances of my life in the Koi hobby. The country, the breeders, and the awsome koi.. It is hard to explain the feelings I had the 1st time I seen koi, in the sizes and quality that were in Japan. The people of Japan are so friendly and live such simple lifes. The differance in cultures is so unbelievable. I would not trade these memories for anything.
Going this year, was different it showed how resiliant the people of Niigata really are.

[karipeters]

I learn more each time! I love it. Here picture from last week of the Hosokai family.

[dick benbow]

wOW! a PICTURE OF MY HERO! yOU DIDN'T HAPPEN TO GET ANY PHOTOGRAPHS OF HIS KOI WITH BLUE ON EM DID YA?

[keokoi]

http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/showth...6148#post36148