How many times have you been to Japan for koi?

[koiczar]

Quote: Originally Posted by jnorth You know I have heard that over and over. You have to go to Japan for koi to really understand what high quality koi are all about. Having never been to Japan I still totally believe that to be true as I've yet to hear someone who has been to Japan say otherwise. Someday...soon I hope.

Jim

I hadn't been to Japan until 2001. Now, I go twice a year, same as JR does. Fall harvest and All Japan Show. You absolutely need to go to Japan to see the sheer numbers of high quality fish to be able to understand the quality level differences between what is available there versus what you can select from here. It's two different universes! Hope to see you make the trek some day soon!

Mike

[dick benbow]

for the all japan show and for the fall drainage. Never been in the spring tho...
The first All japan Show I went with Bill Blackburn as guests of Joel B and was overwhelmed by the koi I saw there. Had kept up with all the fish from Rinko and Nichirin and followed them year to year as they advanced. When I saw them in person it was SOOOOOOOOO different from the pictures.
The first drainage events I went to were with Peter and Dennis from Infil....It was something that gets in your blood.
When I was in the Armed Forces Radio and television service, I lived in Japan for 2 years and fell in love with the people, the culture, the gardens.

Going to Japan is the first chapter in the book of learning for koi kichi's...It's kinda like show koi. I told my spouse I just wanted to have one...LOL....I just wanted to go to japan just once to see it...Age and economics have slowed
my trips there but the urge is as strong as ever. One of the things that has helped me get by another fall season the last coupla years has been the drainage at Nisei koi farm and the generous pictures and travel commentation by Russ at Peters & Sons. I also enjoyed visiting with Toshio sakai at the seminar this February made available by Russ.

My friend kentaro Sakai was back in the states (2006) to Judge the show in Seattle and that was great to get caught up. He and I worked together at
Pan Intercorp and I credit that opportunity toward advancing my education.

Going to Japan the first time for a true koi kichi,( to borrow a song line from John Denver) , is like "going home to a place you've never been before".....
a definite Niigata Mountain High.....