How many times have you been to Japan for koi?

[jnorth]

Ok every spring and fall we get a lot of posts about who is going to Japan etc but I was wondering how many times have you gone to Japan for koi? So I'd love to hear from Nancy, Russ, Joe, Dick, JR and others how many times you have been and roughly how long you stay for.

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by jnorth Ok every spring and fall we get a lot of posts about who is going to Japan etc but I was wondering how many times have you gone to Japan for koi? So I'd love to hear from Nancy, Russ, Joe, Dick, JR and others how many times you have been and roughly how long you stay for.

I haven't been as many times as I would like but I think it is a dozen or so. If I weren't so lazy I would get my passport and count.LOL We always go in October for 10 to 14 days. In January we usually go for 5 to 6 days. We have now started going in March/April as well for about a week.. We hope to increase the number of times we go each year as we take more customers.

[Nancy M.]

Quote: Originally Posted by jnorth Ok every spring and fall we get a lot of posts about who is going to Japan etc but I was wondering how many times have you gone to Japan for koi? So I'd love to hear from Nancy, Russ, Joe, Dick, JR and others how many times you have been and roughly how long you stay for.

Frank has been around 13 or 14 times, I have been 11 times I think. When we first started going it was strick;y for fish, now we combine fish and vacation. This trip we will do koi for 5 days, and the other 5 days will be sight seeing, and shopping. Our trips are ususally 7 to 10 days.

[JasPR]

Morning Jim!

I went to Japan the first time in 1990. It was to the All Japan show in Jan of that new year. And two things happened--

1) I heard a voice in my head say " THIS changes everything" !

2) I was about to begin a love affair with Japan!

All through the 1990s I would go to Japan in the Oct/Nov harvest period and again for the All Japan and then further exploring in other areas of Japan. ( hate that snow in Niigata in Jan.)
So I estimate I have taken 20 trips in the 1990s. And an additional 9 since Jan of 2000. I have not been to Japan in the last two years.

But here is the thing, and I'm sure Dick will back me up on this, once you have established relationships in Japan ( and much of that requires that you spend money while over there) the visits from Japanese breeders and even Japanese dealers to the United States tends to be 'like a trip to Japan' in that the conversations started in Japan, tend to continue with individuals no matter where you are.
So an hour chat with Sakai or Igarashi in Philadelphia is as valuable as a trip over to their place to chat.
Of course, for the excitement and the exposure to stock another year older from when you saw them last, is a graduate level learning experience and can only be had by getting on the plane and going to see them.
And no one should feel comfortable being a koi judge unless they have had intense and repeated exposure to large numbers of high class fish. And that can only happen by visiting the stocks of Japan. JR

[JasPR]

And by the way, as far as 'stay time' goes, you really need to stay at least 10 days. It really takes time to get places, get settled and shake off the effect of travel. And you do loose a day in the air.
It is different, I think, with dealers who can get in and out quickly as they are on a business schedule and not so much interesting in the 'experience' after a few dozen trips.
I have stayed as long as 21 days and as short as 7 days. 7 days is definitely too rushed. JR

[Bob Winkler]

This will be our 6th trip. Typically go for ~10 days, and this one will be 11. But have also been for just 4. That was a mistake...LOL

Always have about 4 "fish" days, but this trip that part is split into two sections of 2 days each. We always spend about 4 days or so doing sightseeing and cultural stuff. This time we are seeing things with Shila's mom (She is from Nara) and her friends. Haven't been since Fall of 2003, so very excited for this trip...

[schildkoi]

Quote: Originally Posted by JasPR Morning Jim! I went to Japan the first time in 1990. It was to the All Japan show in Jan of that new year. And two things happened-- 1) I heard a voice in my head say " THIS changes everything" ! 2) I was about to begin a love affair with Japan! All through the 1990s I would go to Japan in the Oct/Nov harvest period and again for the All Japan and then further exploring in other areas of Japan. ( hate that snow in Niigata in Jan.) So I estimate I have taken 20 trips in the 1990s. And an additional 9 since Jan of 2000. I have not been to Japan in the last two years. But here is the thing, and I'm sure Dick will back me up on this, once you have established relationships in Japan ( and much of that requires that you spend money while over there) the visits from Japanese breeders and even Japanese dealers to the United States tends to be 'like a trip to Japan' in that the conversations started in Japan, tend to continue with individuals no matter where you are. So an hour chat with Sakai or Igarashi in Philadelphia is as valuable as a trip over to their place to chat. Of course, for the excitement and the exposure to stock another year older from when you saw them last, is a graduate level learning experience and can only be had by getting on the plane and going to see them. And no one should feel comfortable being a koi judge unless they have had intense and repeated exposure to large numbers of high class fish. And that can only happen by visiting the stocks of Japan. JR

Yepper Jim, although I have only been to Japan once, we get annual trips from Tim (often times more than once a year) and Saito has stayed in our home on more than one occasion. Toshinori Ishihara (Yagenji) has as well. Then there are all of the other breeders I have had the pleasure of judging with and or conversing with at functions as well.

Still waiting to get back to Niigata though. Damn kids.....something called college keeps eating up my Japan trip money! LOL

Steve


Edit:

Quote: And no one should feel comfortable being a koi judge unless they have had intense and repeated exposure to large numbers of high class fish. And that can only happen by visiting the stocks of Japan. JR

Jim, although I agree with your thought, spending time in other locals (high end dealers such as Infiltration, high end hobbyists like D&G) can be the next best thing to keep the eye "tuned".

[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.

[aquitori]

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.

I think the experience will help with the learning curve, things that didnt make sense before will make sense.

[mstrseed]

Sniff............................................. ......................never ......................................yet