Now in Ojiya City

[markgardner]

From Hiroshima I've now made my way to Ojiya City.

Quick drive out this afternoon, a cup of tea with Saito San (Shintaro) and chance to grab a quick picture.

[jnorth]

Beautiful

[JanT]

Wow! pic.

I sooooo wish I were going there.
Thanks for sharing.

[l113892]

Mark-

I'm following your travels over on koichat. Thanks for all the information and pictures. Maybe I'll run into you at the end of my week in Nagaoka- Oct. 22-28. I plan to inquire about the Nogyyosai Show. I don't know what is required for access. Thanks again.

[markgardner]

Mike

What do you mean by access?

Mark

[aquitori]

Hey Mark did you pick up anything at SFF Auction? Curious minds want to know...

[dick benbow]

Over the years I've never seen a poll done on the % of koi keepers as regards to ladies and gents but it seems to be equally divided. Some of the most active movers and shakers come from families where both are involved.
I've noticed the same sort of things with koi dealerships. Here in the seattle area they also seem equally divided. anybody else have any thoughts or comments. Now that I think about it there are some pretty neat couples that are also judges together that have made quite an impact. Is that unique to the USA?

[Bern]

Hi Dick,

If I look at the divide in my club it is slightly male oriented but not by much. The majority of memberships are family with both partners participating in the club. The few single memberships are all just the male, although this hasn't always been so, just a current trend for the last two years. The South East has benefited from several prominent female members. Val Frost one of our founder members and a founder member of the BKKS and its Judges Standards Committee, Lou Jackson a former BKKS National Show Chairman for 4 years plus several others that have taken committee positions within the club. Several neighbouring clubs show similar demographics. The South Hants has a female Show Chair that is second to our soon to stand doiwn Show Chair in length of service. The BKKS JSC has a long standing couple too. The female of this pair, Carol McCall loses out in seniority to Kate McGill by only a couple of years. The JSC seems to maintain a level of 20judges of which there has never been more than 4 females at any one time so far.

Bern

[l113892]

Mark-

I've never been to a koi show in Japan. The Nogyosai Show, is there a cost to go(have access), i.e. is it a totally open to the public show?

[dick benbow]

But for some reason I was thinking about japan, mark's travel etc and it dawned on me that we're pretty lucky here to have equal participation. Thanks Bern for your observations.....