The history of koi keeping in the USA.

[schildkoi]

I just read this about the Japanese Gardens in San Antonio:
Japanese Tea Garden History

At the end they mention adding "new koi" in 2007 and I know they were there in the mid 80s. They do not mention unfortunately when the original koi were added.


Still looking.

Steve

[moikoi]

JR,
My first exposure to Koi was through a PBS documentary in the mid 80s about a Japanese koi breeder in California. I was enthrawled. It wasn't until about 8-10 years later (1994ish) that while on business in Sacremento (and already in the hobby) that I remembered this documentary and had a recolection that the koi farm in question was somewhere in that area. I searched and found Golden State Fisheries outside of Sacremento (Flourin I think?) and began visiting there. I was a nobody to the owner until about the 5th trip (a year and a half later) that this Japanese gentleman actually started talking to me conversationally. Fred Tonai (sp?) was that same Japanses gentleman who was featured in that documentary some 10-12 years earlier that first inspired me about koi. I wonder how long Fred and his business existed prior to the mid 80s when I first saw that documentary?

Steve[/quote]
Steve
i live about 30 min drive from Fred's farm. the first time i went to his farm was like 1990. i always go to buy during his spring and fall sale. i think Fred been here since the early 70's. i didn't know there was a koi farm near by even though i live here since the mid 60's. i was buying koi from a local aquarium in the mid 70's.

[Nancy M.]

I spent the last hour talking to Joa Akiyama, there where 3 locations for Pacific Koi & Goldfish. 1st location was on westminster/edwards street, which is about 1 mile from the current location. His father Henry K Akiyama opened it in 1928. He was beeding koi at that facility, they where also importing from Japan, the fish where shipped over in wooden barrels. They usually lost half of the shippments before arriving here. Joe recalls one shippment when it arrived was completely frozen. Joe also recalls his father going out peddling his koi & goldfish in the back of his truck, he would drive up to LA, and go to all the fish and pets stores trying to sell his koi.

They moved to the Mall location in 1934 they where renting at that time, then the war hit and they where put into the internment camp in Poston Arizona which was an indian reservation. Joe then was drafted into the service for 2 years. When he returned from the war and his sister and parents where released form the camp. they went back to doing the koi bussines. In 1945 they purchased the land where the mall sits. In 197o they sold the land to Sears. Sears then built the mall and sold off portions of it, to the city.

In 1972 Joe purchased the land that is thecurrent location, and reopened Pacific Koi & Goldfish, in 1990 Joe retired and the store was closed for 5 years. In 1996 Ken reopened under the name of Eastern Nishikigoi.

[JasPR]

wow, fascinating story! Thanks, JR

[RayJordan]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nancy M. I spent the last hour talking to Joa Akiyama, there where 3 locations for Pacific Koi & Goldfish. 1st location was on westminster/edwards street, which is about 1 mile from the current location. His father Henry K Akiyama opened it in 1928. He was beeding koi at that facility, they where also importing from Japan, the fish where shipped over in wooden barrels. They usually lost half of the shippments before arriving here. Joe recalls one shippment when it arrived was completely frozen. Joe also recalls his father going out peddling his koi & goldfish in the back of his truck, he would drive up to LA, and go to all the fish and pets stores trying to sell his koi. They moved to the Mall location in 1934 they where renting at that time, then the war hit and they where put into the internment camp in Poston Arizona which was an indian reservation. Joe then was drafted into the service for 2 years. When he returned from the war and his sister and parents where released form the camp. they went back to doing the koi bussines. In 1945 they purchased the land where the mall sits. In 197o they sold the land to Sears. Sears then built the mall and sold off portions of it, to the city. In 1972 Joe purchased the land that is thecurrent location, and reopened Pacific Koi & Goldfish, in late 1990 Joe retired and the store was closed for 5 years. In 1996 Ken reopened under the name of Eastern Nishikigoi.

Nancy, thank you for asking and posting this very interesting information. Had no idea that koi were being sold commerically in the U.S. this long ago. I had heard about gifts or exchanges of koi from Japan to several Japanese Gardens like SanFrancisco. Maybe there really were koi in the San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden pond before WWII?

[MikeM]

Nancy: Any hope of photos from pre-WWII? The historical interest would be very high.

[Nancy M.]

Quote: Originally Posted by MikeM Nancy: Any hope of photos from pre-WWII? The historical interest would be very high.

Stupid me..

I fogot to ask Joe today, and it was on my list of questions for him..

Hopefully I will have time tomorrow to walk over to his house on my break at work.

If he has them I know he will let me borrow them to scan into my computer.

If anyone has any question for me to ask him, please post them, I will ask him and hopefully he will have answers for all of you.

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nancy M. Stupid me.. I fogot to ask Joe today, and it was on my list of questions for him.. Hopefully I will have time tomorrow to walk over to his house on my break at work. If he has them I know he will let me borrow them to scan into my computer. If anyone has any question for me to ask him, please post them, I will ask him and hopefully he will have answers for all of you.

Ask him how much koi were sold for back then...

and

What Japanese breeders was he buying from...

[Nancy M.]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori Ask him how much koi were sold for back then... and What Japanese breeders was he buying from...

Tonio
I will make sure to ask Joe.

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nancy M. Tonio I will make sure to ask Joe.

Man you should write an article for KoiUSA, before Koi Nations snags this interesting history lesson....