Japan Autumn 2001 - Day 2
Having had a good nights sleep - and ready for it after all
the travelling etc - it was nice to wake up with the sun shining
straight onto the bed through the window indicating the we may
be in for a nice day ahead ... so time to get up - a quick wash,
shave etc and down for some breakfast .. something that I never
have back home ... rather have those extra few minutes in bed I
guess .... but whatever ... One or two of the lads were
already sat in the dining room so Gary and I joined them, we
collected what we wished from self service area, although if you
wished you could have freshly fried eggs (that was something new
since my last visit - only boiled eggs on that trip !) fried
bacon, beans, sausage etc and of course their own traditional
slices of toast which had not changed one little bit .. still
over 1" thick .... there was of course the usual Orange, or
Grapefruit juice and either Coffee or Tea ..... We sat there and
chatted whilst we tucked into a hearty breakfast and soon it was
time to pile into the Hire Vans and head up the mountains ...
The Japanese countryside was just as beautiful as I had
remembered ... only this time there was not a single trace of
Snow ... the temperatures were already into the 20's and the
tree's were just about to start changing colour and adopting
their autumn colours ... the contrast between the reds and
greens and so many different shades of green as well, were
magnificent ... yes it is indeed a hard life having to go out
to Japan !
The first place we stopped was at Sakai Yamamatsu's where as
is tradition we stood there with open mouths watering as we
gazed down at the remarkable Koi contained within the tanks ....
but the Japanese staff were all busy preparing for the stocks as
they would be Harvested later in that week .... Gary was totally
mesmerised by the quality of some of the Koi ... but I told him
that this was in fact nothing to what he would be seeing as the
day and week progressed ... and those wise words of wisdom were
soon supported as Gary will testify to anyone ....
After about 30 minutes we were on the move again ... and
stopped by Shintaro's on the way but he was out doing business
so we carried on and headed even higher up the mountains in
search of more Koi ...
We headed a few miles back down the road we had travelled
earlier to where we saw a 'local auction' ..we parked up and
started to wander round the show vats seeing some of the koi
that were being offered for sale .. suddenly I started to look
around me at the faces of some of the Japanese men who were
attending that very small local show ... cricky ! these
faces were of some of the greatest faces and names amongst
Japans Top Breeders .. there were so many it is impossible to
remember them .. some of them clearly well known and well
respected breeders who I had never had the pleasure to actually
meet before this local gathering ... it was like being in the
company of the greatest film stars .. only this of course was
much better ...
Whilst we were mixing with all these very well known people
we were invited to join them upstairs in the building behind us
where refreshments were to be served ... So we made our way
upstairs following our hosts and sat down, on the floor (of
course) at just one of the many tables that were laid out in
readiness for a real get-to-gether ... and this surely has to be
one of the highlights of the year and I am reasonably sure that
even Peter did not know this event was taking place when we
passed it the first time on our way down to Sakai Yamamatsu's
and Shintaro's ... So this is something that just happened ...
As the tables filled up with all the Japanese breeders and other
local Japanese associates .. I started to take some video of the
gathering .. and found myself shouting to try to attract the
attention of Sakai - to find out from Mike Shaw of all people -
that the man I was shouting to was in fact Igareshi .. I felt
such a fool .. but many of these Japanese breeders have this
same broad smile that Sakai most certainly has ... but
here was ruddy Mike Shaw who has not been in the Koi trade 5
minutes correcting me on my mistake .. and that is something
that I cannot forget and will if possible make sure that nothing
similar happens in the future ... and everytime I happened
to mention Sakai .. Mike would blurt out 'Which one of the 15
Sakai's are we talking about Trev' .... so I could not live this
down, nor my embarrasment .... still it gave Mike something to
talk about ... the snacks that had been prepared were of course
traditional Japanese snacks mainly made up of Sushi and rice ..
and to be honest not something that at 10.00 am in the morning I
could face ... or even at 4.00pm .. or 6.00 pm .. I am afraid
that my tastes in food cease to exist outside of Roast Beef and
good old Yorkshire Pudding ...
After about an hour and a half we started to make a move again
and if my memory serves me right then it was Hirasawa that we
went to next where we found ourselves looking at some very large
and magnificent Koi ... of course there were some two year old
Koi as well as the 3, 4 and 5 year olds .. and here I managed to
acquire some very nice Nissai of the Go Sanke range which
included a few very nice and attractive Doitsu Kohaku and Sanke
.. so I was well pleased with my purchases so far ...
Hirasawa had a wonderful selection of Koi and his outlet has
many tanks in more than one or two Fish Houses .. so it was a
very worth while visit all round ... One of my customers
had given me a shopping list for two particular Koi if I could
find them .. one of them was a large Benigoi .. and Hirasawa had
several of these - but it was decided that there was not a need
to rush and as a certain other party of British Dealers and
their guests had arrived that we decided that we would move on
and call back to see and inspect the Benigoi at at later time
... at least I knew where I could get one .. the other Koi
on my customers shopping list was for a Goshiki .. but this one
had to be one of the traditional sort with good Hi colour and
with the dark Gray / Black scaling ... not quite so easy
to locate even in Japan ... but more about that particular Koi
later ...
Back to Shintaro's where we were welcomed and invited into
his home to take refreshments etc .. as usual we were all
treated to a very nice cup of tea - which I am sure Mrs Shintaro
has been taught at some time how to make it English Style ....
and as normal when we are invited in and we gather round the
table, sitting of course cross legged at the low tables that
most of the Japanese still use and prefer today ... The tables
were well laid out with biscuits, snippets of this and that and
2 full plates of truly superb sections of what I have to say was
probably the nicest and most juiciest Apples that I have ever
had the pleasure to taste ... Peter did tell me the variety ..
but I am sorry I have forgotton .. but needless to say they were
grown in Japan ... now an apple tree like that growing in my own
garden would go down very well .... Very soon most of the
food had disappeared and we were still trying to polish off the
last plate of Crisps ...
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This picture was taken at Shintaro's home,
where we were always made most welcome, and shows
Hillary (Peter's trouble and strife) Harvey, who works
for Peter, then Peter of course.
Next is Dennis Peter's business partner and a very
nice chap with it, then there is Ralph who was from
Holland and for a young fellow as he is (lucky chap) his
knowledge of Koi astounded me .. someone to look out for
I am sure who will generate a name with the Koi World in
Holland .. and it was nice to meet him. |
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