Planning a trip to Niigata

[Fishbreeder]

I planned a trip to Niigata, a very long time ago.

Hmmm....

I took $100,000 in cash, a letter (in Japanese) explaining who I was and what I was trying to accomplish, a picture book to go with the letter, and Bob Spindola.

There were a lot of details....

The letter had to be on one page, but contain my plan as well as who I was. I had to make Japanese business cards, English on front, Japanese on back with my photo on them.

The picture book, it had three pictures that absolutely enthralled every koi breeder I met...

A picture of a 13' long, three quarter ton, dead alligator hanging from a front loader.

A picture of a Romagnola bull.

A picture of me and Japanese Prince Akishino looking into a tank with a 90 pound blue catfish in it.

There were many other pictures, but those three had powerful impact.

So did the cash.

That was 16 years ago and at the time it was a novelty to have a white guy in the area, let alone one from Texas with a sack full of money. At the Kobe AJS, from the USA was me, Bob Spindola, Bob and Joan Finnegan, and that was it.

I was trained in Japan as a child. Trained how to sit, how to act, which shoes to wear where and when, etc. Trained like a Japanese boy, with a shinai. I seen the business end of the shinai many times, too. I lived in a Japanese home, in a Japanese community for four years. Another year on an Air Force Base in Japan. So, I took that training with me too.

I learned many things in about two weeks in Japan, 22 years after I'd left the first time.

One thing, the Japanese are very forgiving of American faux paxs. Fortunately I was able to avoid most such. The one I couldn;t avoid is told on my web site.

They really, really appreciated anything I did that was "Japanese". A few words, eating something no other gringo would touch, sitting on the floor "like a samurai." Simple things made a lot of hay. Presenting myself with Bob Spindola (back then he was the old guy, I was the young guy) in the Japanese fashion of business where a young man is paired with an older one, that went a very long way.

Bringing a few simple gifts, uniquely from Texas, and a few very special such, also uniquely Texan, tons and tons of mileage from that. Calendars with pictures of beautiful Texan landscapes, leather key rings, simple fossils gathered from Texan places, Texan petrified wood, etc.

I'm sure much has changed. More so in the last 16 years than in the previous 22. For one thing, many many Americans. Heck as many as 100 Texans show up for an AJS nowadays, 100's more from other states. At my first AJS in '67 or '68, I'm fairly sure my little sister and I were the only Americans.

So, take money, manners, simple gifts that are unique, and yourself.

If you want to buy fish, you will have to be associated with a dealer from somewhere.

Have fun, wish I was goin' maybe next year.

Brett

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fishbreeder I planned a trip to Niigata, a very long time ago. Hmmm.... I took $100,000 in cash, a letter (in Japanese) explaining who I was and what I was trying to accomplish, a picture book to go with the letter, and Bob Spindola. There were a lot of details.... The letter had to be on one page, but contain my plan as well as who I was. I had to make Japanese business cards, English on front, Japanese on back with my photo on them. The picture book, it had three pictures that absolutely enthralled every koi breeder I met... A picture of a 13' long, three quarter ton, dead alligator hanging from a front loader. A picture of a Romagnola bull. A picture of me and Japanese Prince Akishino looking into a tank with a 90 pound blue catfish in it. There were many other pictures, but those three had powerful impact. So did the cash. That was 16 years ago and at the time it was a novelty to have a white guy in the area, let alone one from Texas with a sack full of money. At the Kobe AJS, from the USA was me, Bob Spindola, Bob and Joan Finnegan, and that was it. I was trained in Japan as a child. Trained how to sit, how to act, which shoes to wear where and when, etc. Trained like a Japanese boy, with a shinai. I seen the business end of the shinai many times, too. I lived in a Japanese home, in a Japanese community for four years. Another year on an Air Force Base in Japan. So, I took that training with me too. I learned many things in about two weeks in Japan, 22 years after I'd left the first time. One thing, the Japanese are very forgiving of American faux paxs. Fortunately I was able to avoid most such. The one I couldn;t avoid is told on my web site. They really, really appreciated anything I did that was "Japanese". A few words, eating something no other gringo would touch, sitting on the floor "like a samurai." Simple things made a lot of hay. Presenting myself with Bob Spindola (back then he was the old guy, I was the young guy) in the Japanese fashion of business where a young man is paired with an older one, that went a very long way. Bringing a few simple gifts, uniquely from Texas, and a few very special such, also uniquely Texan, tons and tons of mileage from that. Calendars with pictures of beautiful Texan landscapes, leather key rings, simple fossils gathered from Texan places, Texan petrified wood, etc. I'm sure much has changed. More so in the last 16 years than in the previous 22. For one thing, many many Americans. Heck as many as 100 Texans show up for an AJS nowadays, 100's more from other states. At my first AJS in '67 or '68, I'm fairly sure my little sister and I were the only Americans. So, take money, manners, simple gifts that are unique, and yourself. If you want to buy fish, you will have to be associated with a dealer from somewhere. Have fun, wish I was goin' maybe next year. Brett

Hi Brett,

Very nice story. What do you think that $100,000 would cost you now?

[The Pond Digger]

Fishbreeder,

Thank you for the wonderful reply to my thread! I am a better man because of your response!

Respectfully,

The Pond Digger

[Fishbreeder]

Quote: Originally Posted by Russell Peters Hi Brett, Very nice story. What do you think that $100,000 would cost you now?

Well...

I very seriously doubt what I did could be done again for any price. It was one of those "moments in time" where people, places, and things all come together.

The first koi purchased was a doitsu kujaku. Strangely, it belonged to Jinbei, a famous breeder of sanke. The koi had a name, "The Butterfly Kujaku" not a longfinned abomination, but a wonderul, huge, kujaku with a perfect butterfly right on its nose. Several breeders in Niigata had tried to buy the koi. Jinbei would not sell. The breeder I was with (Atsushi Suda) knew exactly what to say and do. The purchase of that koi and several others (sanke) was negotiated and accomplished. At the very next stop, Isa, the first thing said was, "He bought the butterfly kujaku from Jinbei, at a very good price."

Now, this was no longer a matter of just a fish sale, it was a matter of face. In Japan, face is everything. To save face, the next breeder had to come up with as good a specimen, one worthy of part of the group going to Texas, and it had to be within my budgetary constraints. Same at each breeder's farm.

By the first day the whole area was alive with stories about a "Wealthy Texan" (nothing could have been further from the truth) going around the mountains with a sack full of money. Now it was a matter of face to just be included, and everybody wanted in.

I purchased 47 great koi. Not collector's items, not show fish, but koi for the express purpose of breeding. Nowadays, some of those koi would bring $25,000 for just one.

I still have some of those fish, many have passed. I buy a new koi usually every year, sometimes more than one, but they have gotten a heckuva lot more costly over time.

I never made the big bucks, they aren't there, nobody beleives this except other breeders. I had one heckuva ride though. Bred millions of koi, many won prizes. I got trophies given me by my customers from all over the country and going back in time 15 years. A roomfull of them.

I've had to do some other things to stay afloat...work as a biological consultant, build filters for goldfish pools, work on fishing lakes and ponds, spray weeds, etc. But my farming operation is my heart and soul.

"What would the farmer do if he already had all the money in the world?"

Keep farming til the money ran out, of course!

Now I'm designing and building a few "proper koi ponds" which I do enjoy.

Someday soon, I intend to go back to Japan. Not just to Niigata, but to the places I spent my childhood. I want to see what is standing at "San ju ichi no san ju san, Ichi chome, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan.

Brett

[kntry]

Brett, as usual, a great story. You've lived a wonderful life that most of us could only dream about. I'm sure it's not easy but you're doing what you love and that means everything.

Digger, need a substitute wife for a week?

[The Pond Digger]

The wife wants me to drop her off in Hawaii and pick her up on the way home! Can you believe she wants to ditch me?

The Pond Digger

[The Pond Digger]

WHEN is the best time to go? I see Russell Peters schedules trips from October to March if I remember correctly. Any suggestions on WHEN is the down right coolest, most interesting time to be there?

I am sure there are equally cool reasons to go at different months that of course can't be experienced in the other months.

Has anyone here made the journey will Russell to the epicenter of Nishikigoi? If so, how about some feedback? How are his language skills? Can he handle his saki? Is he a good host? Is he gassey? Two and a half hours on a train with him, you know!

I have not inquired with Russell yet regarding his terms and conditions to make the trip to Japan. I believe I have secured a couple different "ins" into the epicenter but have yet to discuss the TERMS with anyone.

Can anyone give some personal experience here? I have heard stories that you need to have an serious budget to spend on fish to be welcomed with open arms.

So far, I have determined 5 grand would give you comfortable travel & lodge including saki & a DRAGON TAT. Is there a fee for a translator or is that dependant on your dealers connections?

Is there a fee for the dealer that provides you the "IN" or do they request a certain MINIMUM budget that will be spent on KOI that will be BROKERED through them in turn giving them a nice return on investment?

Stories please.............

Thanks,

The Pond Digger

[koiczar]

I doubt you'd find a better person to take you to koi mecca than Russ. I've been with him on 5 trips and every one of them has been nothing short of fabulous. He has some of the finest connections in Niigata for purchasing and shipping your fish back home.

As far as costs go, talk to Russ directly. He can give you the details about costs and how much to bring with you depending on what your goals for the trip are. Then you can decide how much you NEED to bring and how much you WANT to bring to spend on fish! I guarantee you won't be disappointed if you travel with him. BTW, he drives his own rental vehicle. His memory recall of breeder's locations and his driving is as though he lives there. It's uncanny!!

Mike

[markgardner]

If you want to see what Yamakoshi and the surrounding area is like right now then have a look here.

The Yamakoshi Year

The snow is beautiful of that there is no doubt, but it's like anywhere with lots of snow, cold and sometimes inconvenient to get around.

It has been snowing for the last couple of days almost constantly, I suspect getting into and around Mushigame may be tricky tomorrow unless the snow clearers have been there late today.

Mark

[koiczar]

Mark

Nice travelogue! Makes me homesick for the area, even though the snow does nothing for me!LOL

Mike