Niigata Nishikigoi Digest
Welcome
Firstly let me start by welcoming you to
this, issue 1 of Niigata Nishikigoi Digest
and thank you for taking the time to
download it.
Like thousands of hobbyists around the
world are no doubt already familiar with
our website, Niigata-Nishikigoi.com.
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest has been
launched to complement the existing
site, some content may be duplicated
across both the site and the digest,
both will still continue to contain
original content.
In this issue we interview Hisashi
Hirasawa, President of Marudo Koi
Farm. He also gives us his interpretation
of the perfect Sanke, Showa and
Kohaku.
In ‘Lucky 13’ we join Devin Swanson as
he culls his Kohaku.
With harvest and show seasons just
around the corner many hobbyists will
be thinking about visiting Niigata, we
have a guide for the independent
traveller and also take a visit to
Nishikigoi no Sato and Sun Plaza.
Finally we round up with the first show
of the season, the Mushigame Ta Agari,
a show for Koi just a few months old.
I hope you enjoy the content.
Mark
Mark Gardner
Issue 1 — September 2009
Contents
Advertisers’ News………………..3
Interview with Marudo……….....4
My Perfect Kohaku……………….8
My Perfect Showa………………...9
My Perfect Sanke………………..10
Lucky 13………………………….11
Visiting Niigata………………….15
Nishikigoi no Sato……………...20
Mushigame Ta Agari…………...25
About
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest is an
electronic publication, published by
Just Koi Media on the 1st monthly.
Any enquiries regarding the
publication should be directed to Mark
Gardner, mark@justkoi.co.uk
Copyright
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest and all its
contents are protected by copyright.
Its contents cannot be reproduced in
part in any way.
The electronic document can be freely
distributed in its entirety but cannot
be edited in any way.
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Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

Advertisers’ News
New Shintaro shipment Gatwick Gary is
arrives at UKNishikigoi Niigata bound
We have just received the last Spring/Summer
shipment of fantastic tosai from Shintaro. Keep a
check on our website for pictures, they really do
need to be seen. For anyone with growing facilities
over winter, these are a must!
We will be in Japan in October/November for the
harvests as usual. It’s a very exciting time for us
and our customers who have Koi in the mud ponds
which will be harvested. We will also have Koi for
sale from Japan and if there is that ‘special’ Koi
you are looking for then email me,
tim@uknishikigoi.com, to be added to the ‘picture
receiver’ list. Visit www.UKNishikigoi.com for
further information of our Japan schedule.
On the 17th October Gary from Gatwick Koi
will be winging his way over to Niigata for
the Autumn harvest. This trip sees plans to
visit every major breeder in the area with a
view to increasing the level of higher grade
Koi stocked in the shop. If you would like to
join Gary, or ask him to select a special Koi
for you, please feel free to call the shop on
01293 851444, or even pop in for a chat to
discuss your requirements. If interested in
joining Gary then at the moment the cost
for the trip is around £1600 for everything
except the Koi!
Although only a small shop Gatwick Koi are
on the up and up, purchasing more and
more higher grade koi including many to be
left in Japan to be grown on by the
breeders. With a new quarantine facility
finally finished and in use these really are
times of change for the small family run
business so why not pop in and see what
you are missing…?

NVN success for Danny’s Koi Café

At last month’s Holland Koi Show Dream Fujiko, Mr M.'s Kohaku, won from
Diablo, Mr M.'s Sanke. There were 4 candidates for the Grand Champion and
Supreme Champion, 2 Sanke and 2 Kohaku.

In the first round our Kohaku won the Grand Champion title with 7 of the 11
votes in total.
In the second round Diablo won from 2 other jumbo koi the title of Supreme
Champion with 9 of the 11 votes in total!
Again Mr M. congratulations!

In addition we and our customers won many other prizes. Check our website,
www.dannyskoicafe.com, for full details.

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Niigata Nishikigoi Digest
Interview with Hisashi Hirasawa
President of Marudo Koi Farm
What are your earliest memories of
Nishikigoi?
As a child I was surrounded by Nishikigoi. My
father bred Nishikigoi on a part time basis.
What age were you when you joined
Dainichi Koi Farm?
I was 15 years old, I had just finished middle
school.
In those days Dainichi was a new farm as
well, when did Minoru Mano start the farm
and how did you come to work for them?
Yes, Dainichi had been established for around
11 or 12 years when I joined them. The Mano
family were friends with my family and needed
staff to work on the farm. Before that I had
never really thought about working in the
Nishikigoi industry.
You spent 18 years working at Dainichi, was
it a big decision to leave?
Yes, I was 33 when I left; this year is the 20th
anniversary of me leaving. I was around 25 or
26 years old when I first started to think about
having my own Nishikigoi farm. When I left I
knew that I had a big challenge ahead of me if
I was to produce high quality Nishikigoi from
which I could earn a living but, if I left it any
later than I did, then it would be even more
difficult.
Did you join the family business or was it a
completely new farm?
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Issue 1 — September 2009
I came and took over the family business from
my father. At the time the main variety being
produced was Taisho Sanke.
What were the most important lessons you
were able to learn and bring to your own
business from working at Dainichi?
The most important lesson was gaining an
understanding of the sense of beauty of
Nishikigoi and how to select those Koi which
would develop best. I also realised that their
size was an important aspect in their overall
beauty.
Did you change the way Marudo worked and
the varieties produced?
I continued to produce the Marudo Sanke that
my father had done before me but also started
to produce Kohaku and Showa as well.
Where were the oyagoi from?
The new oyagoi came from Dainichi.
Which do you consider the best
Koi you have produced and
why?
The best Koi is probably
the Sanke which
won the 25th
ZNA All Japan
Grand
Champion title
(pictured right).
This Koi was
produced from
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

Dainichi/Sadazo bloodline. The Koi has a Can you tell us a little about this year’s
small amount of well placed and defined production? How many parent sets were
sumi. spawned of each variety?
Another Sanke I produced which took 2nd In total we’ve spawned around 30 sets of
place at the 34th ZNA All Japan Show Oyagoi of which 18 were Gosanke.
was also special. This Koi was Unfortunately the fry from a couple of sets were
nicknamed ‘Bulldog’ and 95cm in lost. Other varieties include Chagoi, Karashigoi,
length (pictured left). It had an Kujaku, Yamabuki and Gin Matsuba.
excellent body. We still use an
Which variety do you consider to be Marudo’s
offspring of this Sanke as an
main or best variety?
oyagoi today.
Taisho Sanke.
It’s now
approaching the What are some of the traits of your Sanke?
5 anniversary of
th
Our Sanke have thick deep colour, both the
the Chuetsu sumi and the beni.
earthquake, how did
this affect Marudo Marudo Gosanke were some of the best
specifically? Gosanke I saw harvested in 2008 and most
people around the world consider Marudo a
We lost most of our female high class Gosanke breeder, why breed the
oyagoi in the earthquake. Most of other varieties?
our mudponds in the Ojiya area were destroyed
and washed away in the landslides and 2/3rds Around the year 2000 the export business was
of our family home in Nigoro was destroyed. increasing and there was a demand for us to
produce more than just Gosanke varieties. The
How or from where were the female oyagoi Chagoi and Karashigoi are like a hobby of mine
replaced? Did you maintain the existing
bloodlines by buying back Marudo produced
females?
We were able to acquire female Koi that we had
previously produced back from customers in
order to use them as oyagoi. As our male
oyagoi survived we could continue to maintain
our bloodlines and also produce new female
oyagoi. We have also purchased oyagoi
produced at other farms to add new blood.

Is it correct to say that Marudo have fully

recovered from the effects of the
earthquake?
Yes, luckily we have now fully recovered.
Looking back, despite all the devastation that
was caused 5 years ago, is there anything
that you can say now that is a positive
outcome from that day?
No, not really however we are grateful for all
the support that we received and for all the
people that came to help us.
Hisashi-san in the search for a future champion

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Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

because I want to produce large Koi with big

bodies. I started to produce them about 5 or 6
years ago.

Ikeage is just around the corner; can you give

readers an idea of the numbers of each age
you’ll be harvesting this October?
We have around 700 nisai and 70 sansai
Gosanke to be harvested. We also have around
2000 nisai of other varieties to be harvested.
Last month I visited Shimizu San in Shiga New Koi house under construction Sept 2008
Prefecture. We discussed the All Japan Show
and I asked him which breeders in Niigata,
other than Dainichi, did he think were
capable of producing an All Japan Grand
Champion. One of the names he offered was
Marudo. Is that a dream you have, how much
does that motivate you and drive the things
you do?
Yes, absolutely, that is my dream and what one
day I hope I can achieve. At present though,
like most Niigata breeders, we sell our Koi when
Toshihiro Hirasawa holding a newly harvested Sanke
they are young so it is dealers who take care of
them. They have the skills, and the facilities, to
finish the Koi and prepare them for Koi shows.

Marudo is now probably in the top 3 farms in

Niigata in terms of volume of production,
and quality of production. Last year saw the
construction of new mud ponds and a new
Koi house, have you any plans for further
development that you can share?
Narita, Sakai Hiroshima and Momotaro all have
large concrete ponds in which they are able to
develop and finish Koi. I would like to have
similar facilities so that rather than selling Koi
to be finished elsewhere we can better develop
them here ourselves at Marudo.

In your career so far what do you consider

your greatest achievement?
I don’t know I have achieved anything so far, I
am always challenging myself to produce better
Koi.
Got a question for Hirasawa-san?
Did our interview trigger a question you’d like
to ask? If so mail it to digest@justkoi.co.uk Newly harvested high class Marudo nisai Sanke sold
within minutes of reaching Koi house - October 20th
and we’ll answer it in a future issue.
2008

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Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

Hisashi-san is Niigata regional director of the All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association
and therefore has a lead role in organising the 2010 All Japan Show, we took the chance to
ask him some questions about it.

In February the All Japan Show will of course The main change for the show is that the fees
take place in Niigata for the 1st time. How to enter Koi have been reduced, both in the
did that come about? show and the dream koi exhibition. We hope
that this will encourage many of Niigata’s
It was agreed to hold it in Niigata this year to
breeders to enter their Nishikigoi into both so
commemorate the 5th anniversary of the
there will be many for visitors to see.
Chuetsu earthquake.
Do you think a Koi from Niigata will win the
Is it just going to be for one year?
Grand Champion prize?
Yes, at the moment it is planned that this will
I don’t know, after October when the Koi are
be a one off. I don’t know whether it will be
harvested and shows have taken place we’ll
possible to hold the show here in Niigata in the
know more about which Koi are likely to be at
future.
the show.
2011 will move back to Tokyo?
You’ll be able to read more info about the show,
Yes, that’s correct, next year it will return to
how to get there, where to stay etc. in a future
Tokyo. issue of Niigata Nishikigoi Digest, alternatively
Is there anything different or special planned keep an eye on www.niigata-nishikigoi.com
for this show compared to previous years?

Draft poster for the 2010 All Japan Show

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Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

My Perfect Kohaku
by Hisashi Hirasawa
Base Koi outline courtesy of Koi magazine (www.koimag.co.uk)

Sandan is my preferred pattern on Kohaku. This

Kohaku has a circular head pattern connected to
the large shoulder pattern which ends just in
front of the dorsal fin. Two more simple dan’s
on the back half of the Koi complete a simple yet
elegant sandan pattern.

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Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

My Perfect Showa
by Hisashi Hirasawa
Base Koi outline courtesy of Koi magazine (www.koimag.co.uk)

Creating the perfect Showa was hardest of all 3

varieties. The Showa I have come up with has a
nice menware pattern on the head and neat even
motoguro on the pectoral fins. The sumi is bold
yet not overpowering. The hi pattern
compliments the sumi nicely. On both the head
and the body there is just the right amount of
white showing.

9
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

My Perfect Sanke
by Hisashi Hirasawa
Base Koi outline courtesy of Koi magazine (www.koimag.co.uk)

A pattern with a maruten marking is my ideal

pattern. Maru, meaning circle, is of course also
the first part of the name Marudo so it is perfect
for Marudo Sanke. As with the Kohaku, the beni
pattern is sandan. The tsubo sumi is small and
well defined and placed perfectly on the white to
complement the red pattern.

10
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

Lucky 13?
We join Devin Swanson as he culls his Marudo Kohaku

Twenty year old Devin Swanson is presently
working at Marudo Koi Farm.
Devin’s first interest in Nishikigoi started when
he was 12 years old. When he was 14 his
family started a Nishikigoi business in the USA,
Koi Acres, and he made his first visit to Japan.
At the age of 17 he made the first of a number
of visits voluntarily working and rather more
learning about Nishikigoi at Marudo Koi Farm,
his dream one day to breed high class
Nishikigoi in the USA.
to resolve Devin’s predicament. Devin was too
young to apply for a working visa and the only
option available was to apply for a cultural
exchange visa. These are granted to people
who are visiting Japan to study part of Japanese
culture. Whilst origami, bonsai and ikebana
(flower arranging) were all considered parts of
the Japanese culture Nishikigoi were not and
Devin’s application was declined leaving him
with no option other than to return to America.
Hishashi-san continued his quest to get Devin a
longer term visa and in July this year was
finally successful. Devin became the first
person to be granted a cultural exchange visa
for the purposes of studying Nishikigoi.
Devin’s work at Marudo is full time, sometimes
7 days a week, however, on his off days he has
his own pond of Kohaku to sort through.
These fry were from a late spawning timed to
coincide with his return to Japan. The
spawning, carried out on 23rd July, was of a
75cm Nogami male Kohaku and a Hoshikin
female Kohaku.

Culling at Marudo July 2008

Devin’s time at Marudo Koi Farm was spent as

a ‘tourist’ for whom the maximum stay was 3
months. As such he would return home, or
visit elsewhere for a while, before re-entering
Japan. Sadly the Japan immigration authority
didn’t share the same enthusiasm about Devin
wanting to be in Japan as Devin did. Upon re-
entering the country in May 2008 they stopped
him and enquired as to why he was visiting so
Keepers from the 1st cull
frequently. Whilst allowed to enter on that
occasion he was told that he would then have The first cull of these fry took place when they
to leave Japan for 6 months before he could were just 21 days old, and in truth a little small
return again. to cull as their patterns were quite difficult to
see. At that point their number reduced from
Hisashi Hirasawa set about trying to find a way

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Niigata Nishikigoi Digest
Too much red - the netted fry awaiting culling
around 15000 that were originally released to
the mud pond to just 1800.
On 30th August Devin undertook the second
cull. Assisted by Hisashi-san 2 sweeps of the
net were made, the captured fry had grown
surprisingly well over the 16 or so days since
the first cull. What however was also apparent,
as they were placed in a holding net, is that
there were lots of Benigoi and single stepped
patterns amongst them – before the net had
even entered the water Devin had stated that
only the very good ones were going to be kept,
obviously that excludes single step patterns
and Benigoi!
Devin undertaking the 2nd cull
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Issue 1 — September 2009
During the first cull Devin had considered that
there appeared to be a predominance of sandan
Kohaku. Sandan, or 3 stepped, patterns are
considered by the Japanese as the most
desirable of the standard patterns, if they have
a maruten head pattern then all the better to
boot. In other aspects of Japanese culture, such
as bonsai or the arrangement of rocks in
gardens, grouping things in 3’s is also
common.
Sadly upon commencing the cull sandan
patterns were conspicuous by their absence,
nidan (2 step) patterns however were extremely
common. There were also quite a number of
Tancho in evidence as well as quite a number of
fry with misshapen heads. Sods law of course
dictates that some of those with misshapen
heads have desirable patterns.
Devin had anticipated reducing the numbers on
this cull to around 300, he in fact ended up
with just 105. The pictures on the following
page show 13 that Devin picked out as good
examples. Will they be the lucky 13? Of those
you can see the one that Devin deemed number
1 and that that I deemed number 1, it bears a
striking resemblance to the 2006 All Japan GC,
at least on the head.
In little over a week these fry are likely to be
netted from the pond and moved into a winter
holding tank, you’ll be able to follow their
progress in future issues of Niigata Nishikigoi
Digest.
Of course, you can never net everything from
the pond, upon the next netting maybe a
couple of missed gems will show up, find out
next month.
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

Lucky
13?

13 of the keepers from the 2nd selection

picked out as Devin as having the potential
he was looking for

Top 2?
Are the best 2 on the following page?

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Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

Devin’s number 1 Mark’s number 1

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Niigata Nishikigoi Digest
Visiting Niigata
Essential guide for the independent traveller
Niigata - the ‘Mecca’ of Nishikigoi
Japan and, more specifically, Niigata
Prefecture is the home and heartland of
Nishikigoi. Wild carp , or ‘magoi’ as they are
known, inhabited the Uono River which runs
through Uonuma before reaching Japan’s
longest river, the Shinano, at Kawaguchi from
where it makes its way through Ojiya,
Nagaoka and Niigata City before ending its
journey at the Japan Sea.
These carp provided a vital food source for the
mountain people that lived above the river
basin in the area known as Yamakoshi. An
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Issue 1 — September 2009
area of heavy snowfall it would be completely
cut off from the rest of civilisation during the
long winter period which extended to almost 6
months.
It is several hundred years ago that records
suggest that the poor farmers of Yamakoshi
started to farm Koi themselves, keeping them
in the reservoirs that fed their rice fields, or
indeed in the rice fields themselves. It was
amongst these very Koi that the first colour
mutations would occur, patches of red or
white, eventually becoming completely red or
completely white Koi, which the poor farmers
would keep as pets to while away the long
winter time. Their colourless siblings would
be eaten.
As years passed by the farmers would start to
breed the coloured carp together, eventually
this would lead to the birth of different
coloured Koi but, perhaps most significantly,
the birth of Kohaku.
Were it not for the peasant farmers of
Yamakoshi we would not have the carp that
we know as Nishikigoi today, for this simple
reason the area of Yamakoshi is considered
‘Mecca’ for many Nishikigoi hobbyists.
For many Koi keepers, as they get deeper into
the hobby, thoughts turn to visiting the
‘Mecca’ which, whilst appealing as an idea, is
also somewhat daunting.
There are so many options, should you go
with a dealer, should you go with an agent,
can you visit just as a group of hobbyists, etc,
etc.
Concerns that are often, and understandably,
raised are:
• The culture is very different
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

• They speak a completely different many European flights seem to land around the
language same time at Narita and there are of course
• The signs aren’t in English flights landing from around the world.
• How will I travel around Where now?
• What should I go and see
• Where should I stay and what are the Narita Airport is situated about 60km from
rooms like central Tokyo and that is where you need to
• What is the food like head first before progressing to Niigata.
• Will I see Koi As of the time writing (Sept 09) the simplest
• Will I be able to buy Koi way to get to Tokyo Station is using the Narita
Having lived in Ojiya, and spent most of the last Express service. The Narita Express, or N’Ex as
2 years in the mountains of Yamakoshi, it’s referred to, usually runs once every one
hopefully I’ll answer all of those questions and hour, and every 30 minutes at peak times, and
concerns and, more so, demonstrate that it is takes just under an hour to reach Tokyo Station.
quite simple for the ‘Independent Koi Traveller’ In addition to the N’Ex there are also a number
to experience Niigata, see Koi, breeders and a of local trains that will take you from the airport
whole lot more of Japanese culture. to Tokyo Station, albeit at a somewhat slower
Purchasing Koi pace.

I must start off by saying that if your objective

is to visit Japan and purchase Koi then the
simplest and most practical route to doing so is
to visit the breeders with a dealer or agent. It is
entirely possible to walk into breeders in
Niigata and purchase Koi however, irrespective
of what anyone may have written before, the
logistics of arranging for them to be sent
around the world are prohibitive on a number
of levels, not least financially. If you are with an
agent or dealer they will take care of all of this
for you.
However, most dealers and agents are
The Narita Express
understandably only going to be interested in
purchasing Koi, not partaking in sightseeing
and absorbing the culture. Should you wish to Tokyo station is a central hub for Shikansen
do both, it is perfectly practical to meet up with (bullet) trains to just about anywhere you would
a dealer or agent for a few days Koi buying want to go in Japan. There are information
before or after taking in some sightseeing. desks in the station where the staff speak very
good English. Likewise signs are also clearly
Getting to Japan displayed in English. In total over 4000 trains
Most people visiting Japan and then travelling pass through Tokyo station each day.
to Niigata will arrive at Narita International
Airport. Narita is serviced by over 60 airlines
from around the globe.
It is actually possible to fly to Niigata Airport
using Korean Air.
Upon arrival in Japan visitors are required to fill
in a temporary landing registration form and
customs declaration before passing through
passport control and onto baggage reclaim and
customs checks. Normally the flight attendants
will give you the appropriate forms. Around the
airport there are many English signs and most
officials can speak sufficient English to
complete formalities. Don’t be surprised to
spend an hour queuing for passport control, Shinkanesen at Nagaoka Station

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Niigata Nishikigoi Digest
Niigata is serviced by the Joetsu Shinkansen line
which cuts straight through the mountainous
spine of Japan. Trains heading for Niigata
depart from platforms 20-23. Nagaoka is
245km away, a journey that takes around 1hr
45mins depending on which service you use.
Seats can be reserved or non-reserved. All
trains on the Joetsu line are non smoking
Shinkansen trains are an experience in
themselves, especially for anyone used to
travelling on UK railways. They are
immaculately clean and almost without
exception run on time, the suggestion being
that if you think a train is late your watch is
probably wrong.
It should be noted that you can purchase tickets Hotel Ojiya Park
to take you all the way from Narita Airport to
Nagaoka at the airport, you don’t need to worry You can find more details about hotels on
about finding ticket booths in Tokyo. The total
cost of the journey is around ¥11500. Tickets
can be purchased using credit cards without
any problem and, usually the station staff will
issue them in English so they are easier to
understand.
Where to Stay
There are essentially 2 choices of where to stay,
either Nagaoka itself or Ojiya which is 20km
away. Nagaoka is larger with a greater choice
of hotels, bars and restaurants than Ojiya, it’s
also situated slightly further away from the Koi
breeders you’ll be wanting to visit, it takes
around 25 minutes or so to reach Yamakoshi
from Nagaoka. If staying in Ojiya then you can
be in ‘Koi country’ within 10 minutes of leaving
your hotel.
New Plaza Hotel, Ojiya
Issue 1 — September 2009
All of the hotels offer simple clean
accommodation in western style rooms.
All of the hotels listed below offer Internet
access and have the option of breakfast
available.
Nagaoka Hotels
Nagaoka Grand Hotel
New Otani Hotel
The Mets
Alpha-1 Hotel
Ojiya Hotels
New Plaza Business Hotel
Niigata-Nishikigoi.com
Where to Eat
Both Nagaoka and Ojiya have a range of
different restaurants, from familiar global
brands such as KFC and McDonalds, to more
traditional restaurants.
There are many convenience stores around
Ojiya and Nagaoka which many people use to
purchase food for lunch.
You can find more details about restaurants on
Niigata-Nishikigoi.com
Getting Around
A car is essential for getting around. There are
several places in Nagaoka from which a vehicle
can be hired. Immediately below the station is
a car rental company where the staff speak
reasonable English. Nippon Rent a Car is
situated across the road to the left from the
main station entrance. Alternatively Mazda Car
Rental can be booked online via Europcar
(www.europcar.jp). It should be noted that
there is nowhere to hire a car in Ojiya, it must
be done in Nagaoka and then drive to Ojiya.
Hiring a car requires and International Driving
Permit.
Finding your way around is relatively easy, I
would strongly recommend printing some of
the maps that are on Niigata-Nishikigoi.com
before leaving home, these show all of the main
roads that you’ll drive on to get around the
area, stick to those and the roads are quite
safe. Almost all road signs and place names are
now displayed in English as well as Japanese.
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Niigata Nishikigoi Digest
Road sign on Route 17 between Nagaoka and Ojiya
It is possible to get a train from Nagaoka to
Ojiya City which takes about 15 minutes. From
there it would be possible to visit such
attractions as Nishikigoi no Sato.
Interactive map from Niigata-Nishikigoi.com show locations of Niigata breeders
18
Issue 1 — September 2009
Visiting Breeders
The area of Yamakoshi and Ojiya has the
greatest density of breeders in all of Japan,
amongst them some of the most famous,
names such as Dainichi, Izumiya, Torazo,
Kazuto, Marudo, Isa, Shintaro, Matsunosuke
and many more. It is possible to drive around
many of these breeders in a single day. The
breeders map on Niigata-Nishikigoi.com shows
the location of over 100 of the breeders, and
the breeders guide provides more information
on them.
One needs to be aware that most of the
breeders speak little or no English and a certain
amount of etiquette should be observed. If
there are already customers at premises then
don’t just barge in, most Koi houses are quite
small and dealers or agents will likely have
made pre-arranged appointments to visit.
Always dip your feet in disinfectant trays and
spray hands with alcohol before entering Koi
houses.
Some of the places you will find English
speakers include, Torazo, Dainichi, Marusada,
Maruju, Shintaro, Koda, Yamazaki, Miyatora,
Oomo, amongst others.
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

Other places of interest to visit

There are many other things to see and do in
Niigata, dependent on season.
Here are a few other things you may wish to
experience whilst visiting the area.
Nishikigoi no Sato
Ojiya City is home to the Koi Museum,
Nishikigoi no Sato , and a worthwhile visit for
anyone in the area. The museum contains
exhibits explaining the history of Koi in the
area, has a large indoor Koi pond containing Koi
which visitors can adopt and a Japanese water
Tsunotsuki at Ojiya Bullring
garden outside, however depending on season
the Koi may be moved inside. You can read
more about Nishikigoi no Sato elsewhere in this
issue of Niigata Nishikigoi Digest.
Koryu Shrine
Located in Yamogihira, in the heart of the Koi
producing area and home to several breeders,
the Koryu Shrine was built by the people of the
surrounding area. To reach the shrine requires
a climb up a steep narrow stone staircase,
although an elevator is available part of the
way.
Yahiko Shrine
Located about 90 minutes from Nagaoka the
Yahiko Shrine is a spiritual mecca for many Koi
breeders. Legend has it that the God
Display pond at Nishikigoi no Sato
Amenokagoyama-no-mikoto was sent to the
area of Yahiko to teach people how to grow rice
and harvest fish. The area around the shrine is
famous for its beautifully coloured leaves,
particularly in autumn.
Izumiya Ryokan
The Izumiya Ryokan is situated in Yamogihira. It
is a traditional Japanese hot spring hotel where
many Japanese visit to enjoy the health benefits
and relaxation offered by the natural warm
water which comes from deep in the ground.
Whilst the average visitor wouldn’t want to stay
for their whole visit, the experience is highly
recommended.
Bullfighting (Tsunotsuki) Yahiko Shrine
Bullfighting, or tsunotsuki, is not like that seen
in countries such as Spain. In Japan it is a show
of strength, similar to sumo wrestling, where 2
Got a question about visiting Niigata?
bulls will push against one another until one is
deemed the stronger and more skilful. A Did this article raise any questions?
number of well known breeders including
Senichi Mano of Izumiya Koi Farm, and Susumu Are you thinking about visiting but still
Shinoda of Shinoda Koi Farm also keep fighting unsure about something?
bulls. The bullring is well signposted from
Ojiya station. Takes place monthly between If so mail it to digest@justkoi.co.uk and we’ll
May and November in both Ojiya and try answer it in a future issue.
Yamakoshi.

19
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here
from just
£60 per
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Contact Mark Gardner

mark@justkoi.co.uk
for more details
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

Visit to Nishikigoi no Sato

and Sun Plaza

The Nishikigoi no Sato and Sun Plaza complex

is situated in the heart of Ojiya City and is
dedicated to the promotion of local industry, of
which Nishikigoi is of course one.
Nishikigoi no Sato is known by many as ‘The
Koi Museum’, although technically its name
translates as Village of Nishikigoi. It is
managed by Katsuyoshi Hirasawa of Ojiya City
Industrial Development Centre who run the
complex, with the support of others
organisations such as the All Japan Nishikigoi
Promotion Association.
Admission to Nishikigoi no Sato is just 500yen
for adults. The village is split into 3 main
areas, the first area entered is a dry display
area. There are various Nishikigoi related
displays with bilingual text (English and
Japanese) which explain the different varieties
of Nishikigoi, a gene tree showing how different
varieties are linked, a TV screen which usually
plays a video about Nishikigoi and a large
interactive map lets you locate various
breeders’ positions in Ojiya and up into the
mountains of Yamakoshi. There are also
several aquariums containing small Koi.
Koi in the octagonal display pond

displayed on a board by the main entrance.

The ‘dry’ display area
Carry on through and the large octagonal
display pond is reached. This pond is home to
a number of Nishikigoi, the largest in excess of
1m. Visitors can sponsor the Nishikigoi in the
pond for around 50,000yen, their name then
Whilst it’s fair to say that some of the Koi in the
pond may have seen better days and the more
discerning hobbyist won’t get too excited over
the general quality, their incredible tameness,
along with their colours and size, certainly
seems to impress many of the facilities visitors.
Visitors can purchase wafer ice cream cones
containing Koi pellets at reception and the Koi
happily eat the whole lot from the hand offering
them, including the cone.
Outside there is a Japanese style garden with
some nice features including waterfalls,
bridges, stepping stones, and a selection of
traditional Japanese plants including maples,

21
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

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Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

pines and bamboo. The garden also features a

large Koi Pond which is stocked from spring
through to autumn when the Koi are brought
inside for winter.
In total around 35000 people visit Nishikigoi no
Sato each year, 800 or whom are from overseas.
Most of these are not Koi hobbyists, at least not
when they visit. It is of course hoped that
having seen the beauty and friendliness of the
Nishikigoi on display they may go away and
become involved in the hobby.

Sun Plaza main entrance

Across the car park visitors will find Sun Plaza,

home to a variety of shops and restaurants
selling local goods. On the carp park level
basement you can find a soba noodle restaurant
serving the local speciality of hegi soba. You
will also find a museum about the local silk
industry where you can still purchase
handmade silk and even make your own on the
traditional looms.
Upstairs are 2 main shops, ideal places to
purchase souvenirs. The main shop sells all
manner of locally produced food items
including noodles and sake. Perhaps of most
interest to the Nishikigoi enthusiast visiting is
the wide range of Nishikigoi themed items that A variety of Nishikigoi related souvenirs on sale at Sun
can be purchased, towels to ceramics, clothing Plaza

and even large original paintings by local

The main shop in Sun Plaza
Nishikigoi artist Tadao Kondo, we’ll be
featuring his stunning work in a future issue.
This shop also has some static displays of local
industry items, be sure to check out the
enormous fireworks that are used at the
displays here during August and September
As well as being famous for it’s Nishikigoi, rice
and sake production, Niigata has a rich history
in the production of silk and other fabrics, even
having it’s own unique type of silk where the
cloth is dyed in the snow giving it a crumpled
texture.

23
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest
The second shop is dedicated to products made
with these local cloths, products ranging from
kimono to fans, and a whole range of other silk
clothing and household goods. There are some
very beautiful items on offer but be warned,
some of these handmade items come with quite
high price tags.
Various goods made with Niigata speciality fabrics on sale
in Sun Plaza
Nishikigoi no Sato and Sun Plaza is certainly
somewhere that all visitors to Ojiya, or the
surrounding areas, should find time to visit on
at least one occasion.
24
Issue 1 — September 2009
Access to Nishikigoi no Sato and Sun Plaza
Nishikigoi no Sato and Sun Plaza are situated
in the centre of Ojiya City, approximately 5
minutes drive from Ojiya Station from which
it is clearly signposted.
If arriving at Ojiya Station by train then it is
approximately a 20 minute walk,
alternatively taxi’s are always available
outside the station, the fare is around
800yen and all taxi drivers will have no
problem understanding where you wish to
visit.
Directions from Ojiya Station:
Ojiya Station is situated at the top of a T-
junction. Assuming you’ve come from the
direction of Nagaoka or Yamakoshi, and the
station is on your left, make a right turn at
the junction.
After approximately 500m you will cross the
Shinano River before heading uphill into the
newer part of the city.
Pass straight through 3 sets of traffic lights
before reaching a 4th set on a main
crossroads. At these lights take a right hand
turn.
After 200m you will see the large sign for
Nishikigoi no Sato on the left hand side.
♦ Address: 1-8-25, Jyonai, Ojiya City,
Niigata Prefecture
♦ Tel: +81-258-83-2233
♦ Website: http://www.ojiyasunplaza.jp/
(Japanese only)
♦ Hours: (March through November) 9 a.m.
to 6 p.m. (December through February) 9
a.m. to 5 p.m.
♦ Closed: From December 29th through
January 3rd
♦ Admission: Adult - 500 JPY (Group - 400
JPY), Elementary and Junior High School
Students - 300 JPY (Group - 250 JPY),
Below Elementary School age - Free
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

Mushigame Ta Agari Hinpyoukai

17th August 2009

Mushigame is home to more Koi breeders Community Centre where the event was to
than any other village in Yamakoshi. The take place.
Nagaoka Nishikigoi Breeders Member book
At 12.55 an air pump was set up and shortly
published in October 2007 lists 28 breeders,
afterwards familiar faces from around the
the population, young and old, only amounts
village started to arrive in their trucks, on the
to around 400.
back blue bowls and 1 or 2 bags of small Koi,
A small number of these breeders are maybe 15cm at most.
members of a group called the Mushigame
Rinyu Club, the members are:

♦ Igarashi Yorijo

♦ Sato Yorijo

♦ Nagashima Yorijo

♦ Kanno Koi Farm

♦ Maruei Yorijo

♦ Marusho Yorijo

♦ Yamamatsu

On the 17th August the club staged it’s annual

‘Ta Agari Hinpyoukai’, or baby Koi show, for
Koi spawned this year.
With spawning not generally getting underway
until mid May at the earliest most of these
small Koi would be just 3 months or less in
age and the first chance for breeders to see a
sample of one another's results for this year,
although of course at 3 months old there is a
long way to go for all these Koi.
According to the adverts the show was due to
start at 1pm, at 12.50 there was little sign of
anything happening outside the Mushigame Breeders arriving with their entries to the show

25
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

In many cases these Koi were being brought obtain eggs or fry in the spring from more
straight from the mud ponds from which established breeders, grow them in fry ponds
they’d just been netted and selected. over summer, sell some at harvest and maybe
grow some in 1 ton tanks beneath their
Each breeder set up their own bowl or bowls
houses over winter, again selling them in the
in lines either side of a airline running from a
spring.
single air pump.
The owner of the Grand Champion, Tokuji
Ikarashi Kazuto, who was in charge of
Ikarashi, is one such breeder. This Showa was
organizing the event labelled each bowl with a
the result of a spawning between a 65cm 4
number, in total 22 bowls of Koi were entered
year old female Matsunosuke Showa paired
by around a dozen breeders, the event not
with a young Yagenji Tancho Showa. It wasn’t
just restricted to Rinyu Club members. Each
only this Koi, but all the others in the bowl,
bowl would contain between 5 and 8 Koi and,
that were very impressive indeed.
with the exception of the Grand Champion,
prizes would be awarded to the best bowls of
Koi.

The judging panel consisted of Toshiyuki

Sakai (Yamamatsu), Shosaku Ikarashi (Marusho
Yorijo) and Hiroshi Nagashima (Nagashima
Yorijo) and their first task of the afternoon
was to select the Grand Champion prize,
awarded to a single Koi.

Left to middle the judges Toshiyuki Sakai (Yamamatsu),

Shosaku Ikarashi (Marusho Yorijo) and Hiroshi Nagashima
(Nagashima Yorijo)

Whilst there were many very attractive young

Koi on display there was, in my mind, one
particular Showa which stood head and
shoulders above the others.
It was no surprise when having quickly looked
at all 22 bowls the judges declared that Showa
as Grand Champion.
Several of the 28 breeders mentioned earlier
are perhaps not breeders in the sense that Grand Champion 2009 Mushigame Rinyu Club Ta Agari
readers would expect, they don’t own oyagoi,
they don’t have big Koi houses, they just

26
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

Thereafter the judges would select 5 bowls to The Winners

award 1st prizes to and 5 bowls to award 2nd
prizes to, the latter being referred to as tategoi
Grand Champion -
prizes.
Showa - Tokuji Ikarashi
At 2.30pm, after a brief presentation ceremony
and a raffle, the Koi were all rebagged to be
1st prizes -
returned to their mud ponds for a further
month or so of growth. Shiro Utsuri - Kosaku Ikarashi (Isoshin)
At just 90 minutes duration, surely the shortest Sanke - Yamamatsu
Koi show in the world.
Kohaku - Ikarashi Kazuto
Sanke - Sukeichi Ikarashi
Sanke - Masahiro Ishihara

2nd prizes -
Sanke - Hisaki Tanaka
Showa - Hiroshi Nagashima
Sanke - Syosaku Ikarashi (Marusyo)
Sanke - Yamamatsu
Goshiki - Eiji Matsuda
Tokuji Ikarashi (left) with Toshiyuki Sakai

More of Tokuji Ikarashi’s Showa

27
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

1st Prize Sanke - Yamamatsu

1st Prize Kohaku - Ikarashi Kazuto

28
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest Issue 1 — September 2009

2nd Prize Goshiki - Eiji Matsuda (Maruei)

2nd Prize Showa - Hiroshi Nagashima

29
Niigata Nishikigoi Digest
Feedback Advertising
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Issue 1 — September 2009
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Whilst we don’t know exactly how many
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