Evolution of a Koi Keeper - Part 2

The Journey Continues
(My first trip to Japan)

  The fall of 2002 brought a significant change in my life and those around me. For years my good friends, Tim Waddington, Tom Lansing, Jim Reilly and many others had been urging me to take the plunge and go to Japan with Peter Waddington. Although I have always planned on going, I wanted to make sure that I had a solid “foundation” of knowledge before making the pilgrimage. With that knowledge I reasoned that I could benefit more with the experiences in Japan I was to receive. I soon found out that no amount of preparation could have me ready for what I was about to experience!

Day 1
   After spending weeks packing and repacking, Cheryl drove me to the airport and dropped me off to start my journey. After a “short” 3 hour flight from Dallas/Ft Worth to San Jose I boarded my flight to Narita. Normally an 11 hour flight across the Pacific, we were rerouted up the pacific coast, over central Alaska, and down the Kamchatka Peninsula and northern islands of Japan into Narita making for a nice long 13 hour flight. Heavy storms over the Pacific Ocean necessitated this diversion and my excitement kept me from getting even a wink of sleep. With the original itinerary making my arrival about an hour after the Downs’ and Michael Kimberling, I knew the possibility of us hooking up at the airport for the journey to Nagaoka was no longer an option…..I was on my own! Thank goodness Tim had sent me instructions on managing the train system.

  No problems clearing customs, or even obtaining my train tickets. I found the “Narita Express” and my assigned seat and off we went towards Tokyo Station. About an hour later I disembarked into a mass of commuters! My watch reminded me it was “rush hour” on a Monday evening. Dodging the hoard of commuters I kept following the “Shinkansan” (bullet train) signs upwards through Tokyo station…right up until the signs “split” in 2 directions! Scratching my head and looking for a small clue, I finally let my male pride wavier and approached a young Japanese girl (thinking perhaps she knew some English) and asked for directions. She didn’t have a clue as to what I was asking and I finally just held out my tickets. She pointed up the stairs and said “21”. Nodding, I thanked her and sprinted up the stairs…the schedule only allowed for 20 minutes between trains!

  While I waited trackside, I asked (while holding out my tickets) a young Japanese man where to stand for my assigned car. He got a very confused look on his face and finally said “No, no 21”! Now I was confused! He looked up at some signs and finally said “Track 20”! He grabbed me by the hand and started to lead me across the ramp and then down the track to my assigned “boarding spot”. I nodded my thanks and prayed he was right! Thankfully they were still in the cleaning process on the train and I boarded shortly afterwards. The PA system confirmed that I was now in fact on the correct train and a sigh of relief could be heard. I finally started to relax as the train started to depart the station on our near 2 hour journey to Nagaoka. Signs within the train and the PA system made it near impossible for me to miss my stop….that is unless I was to fall asleep!

  No, I didn’t fall asleep, my adrenaline keeping me wide awake as we passed through tunnel after tunnel through the pitch black night. We arrived at the Nagaoka station precisely on schedule….10:11 PM, Monday evening. Now being that I left at 9:40 AM on Sunday with a 15 hour time difference and crossed the International Date Line, I had no earthly idea how long this journey had been (having change my watch over several times). Upon doing the calculation later, I found the trip had taken a grand total of 21 hours and making it a total of 24 hours since I had rolled out of bed the previous morning.

  Following Tim’s instructions, it was a short walk from the train station to the Nagaoka Grand Hotel and as I walked up to the door, Chuck, Kimberli, and Michael were also walking up from the opposite direction, having just returned from dinner with Peter and Dennis. After taking a few “ribbings” about my delays, they told me that Peter was waiting at Nomoles (where else?) for me. I checked into the hotel and after saying my name, the young man said “You go, Mr. Peter waiting, Nomoles.” I thought to myself, “great, now all I need to know is where the heck is the famous Nomoles”? I got a map from the man, dumped my bag in my room and set off on another adventure through the streets of Nagaoka. Being but about 2 to 3 blocks away, even I couldn’t get lost….or could I?

  As I walked down the street, I could see a sign on the opposite corner signifying Nomoles. This banner draped down to about 4’ off of the sidewalk so after I crossed I began looking for the door. A young lady was standing in the doorway just up from the banner so I assumed that was the entrance. We all know what “assume” actually spells? We can drop the “u” since ya’ll weren’t there and I truly felt like “one” since she attempted to lead me into the building…..for what I quickly figured out was for a “massage”!

  I quickly went back to the “Nomoles” sign and figured out that this banner was draped over the door. Lifting the banner I slid the door open and was relieved to see Peter, surrounded by Dennis, Nigel and another gentleman who was introduced…Sean Hunter. Having never met Sean before but knowing of his expertise in pond building, we hit it off tremendously. I was somewhat surprised to learn that Sean was just as delighted (or at least so he said) to meet me, apparently enjoying some of my light hearted posts on the “NI Board”. Or maybe it was some of the “tussles” between JR and I?

  Peter introduced me to “Master”, the owner of Nomoles. I quickly spotted the autographed baseball bat that Tom Lansing had presented to “Master” and I pointed upwards towards it. I asked, “Tom San?” “Master” asked if I was a friend of “Tom San” and after replying, “Master” and I became old friends as he introduced me to the rest of his staff. Peter ordered me some of Nomoles famous fried chicken and it lived up to its reputation…as good as any I have had in the US. After a “few” malt beverages, we were off to a “noodle bar” for an evening snack and another “malt beverage”. Finally calling it a night around 2 AM, I stumbled back to the hotel with our group, found my room and called it a day. Or is that, “called it 2 days,” since it was now Tuesday!

Day 2 (or is that day 3?)
  Even after all of the previous day’s events, I was up at the crack of dawn, ready for my first true day in Niigata. We were all to meet at 8:30 AM in the lobby (according to the itinerary…the one I never got) for breakfast. I was in the lobby at 7:30 ready to go. Dennis joined me at about 8:10 and he and I went into the restaurant to get our pot(s) of coffee. Peter, Nigel, Sean, Michael, Chuck and Kimberli all joined us as we started to discuss the “schedule” for the day. Peter told me that to start the day off right, he’d take “me” to the best Koi breeder in Niigata first, Igarashi Kazuto. Having always appreciated “Iggy’s” Koi, I looked forward to this immensely. Peter also said that we were all invited to attend a meeting with breeders at 1 PM and that Tim would arrive and join us there. After a very nice “Western” style buffet (with a touch of Japanese thrown in), we were off to the mountains of Niigata.

  As we began our ascent into the mountains, a light snow began to fall. Peter seemed genuinely surprised having never seen snow in Niigata in October in his 25+ years of being there. As we pulled into the first stop, Peter fed my excitement explaining how great the Koi were here…..top quality and a sight to behold. As I looked around, I did not recognize this Koi house from any of the pictures I had seen in NI, but I never could judge anything from pictures! As we entered the Koi house, Peter led me around exclaiming how great these Koi were, the patterns, the skin, the colors! I was bewildered as I looked at these Koi. Although I had camera in hand, I could not bring myself to photograph even one! I scratched my head and silently thought to myself “these Koi are SHITE”! Peter kept going on and on about the magnificence of these Koi! Finally catching a glimpse of the rest of our party out of the corner of my eye….all giggling to themselves, the “Gig was up”! I was VERY relieved to find out that they all were having a “go at me”. As we exited the “Takazawa Nishikigoi Center” (not Iggy’s), The snow was coming down pretty good, in fact a large clump fell off of the roof missing Kimberli by inches.

  As we kept climbing up through the mountains on what seemed to me to be VERY narrow roads towards Mushigami, The snow got heavier and heavier and Peter was amazed, having NEVER seen it like this before until the end of November.

Arriving at the “real” Igarashi Kazuto’s we noticed a unique sight as Michael Kimberlin exited the “Bongo”. He was wearing Sandals!

We all got chills watching him step gingerly through the 6 to 8 inches of show that had by now fallen. Brrrrrrr! Entering “Iggy’s” number one Koi house, my jaw dropped open! I was speechless as many 80cm+, high quality Koi swam so gracefully beneath me. Dennis bowled up Chuck and Kimberli Downs’ Kohaku (Wynona) that they had purchased on a previous trip and left to grown on. Stunning is the only word I can use to describe her. I began my quest to find the “1” Koi that Cheryl and I had agreed that I could purchase on this trip. Since we have more Kohaku’s and Showa’s than any other variety, Cheryl and I agreed that my purchase should be a high quality Sanke, a 2 to 3 year old. Having one fairly good “Iggy” Sanke, it seemed only natural that I could find another that “tripped my trigger”. But, my eye kept returning to a Gin Rin Kohaku of about 45cm.

Being our first “true” stop, I was not depressed when we left “Iggy’s” and continue our journey up further into the mountains.

  We arrived at Yamamatsu’s number one Koi house (the one with the heated lounge and beer tap, and no, I did not partake) Igarashi Hirome (Stallone) was there with a crew from the Isawa Nishikigoi Center collecting some of Toshio Sakai’s Koi. As we peered into the number one tank I was again amazed at the quality of the Koi. A large Sanke that we came to call the “shoulder sumi Sanke” was swimming gracefully around the tank. This Sanke was pushing 90cm! Two smaller Sankes caught my eye but I was too timid to ask to see them bowled. Besides, I had all week to find MY Koi. As we viewed the elder Sakai’s stocks, Dennis pointed out Hiroi Seiji looking into one of the other Yamamatsu tanks. Dennis told me that he does not breed Koi but that he has one of, if not the best “eye” for Koi in Niigata and that he “cherry picks” different breeders and then sells these at his own establishment.

  As we left Yamamatsu’s and walked the short distance to Masaru Saito’s (Shintaro) we were greeted by his friendly dog and Saito San came out to loan us some “Wellies”. By this time Michael really needed them, his toes turning a bright shade of blue! I believe that Nigel got to borrow the most stylish pair of “Wellies” though …accented with fur and Saito San’s dog loved them!

   From Saito’s house we drove down to his Koi Houses and I was once again astounded at the size and quality of the Koi I was viewing. I knew this was the place I wanted my Sanke from, now to just find her. As the others bowled and viewed Koi from the top 2 tanks, I was off at another, closely studying what appeared to be 2 and 3 year old Koi. Then she caught my eye, a stunning Sanke! Saito had walked up behind me with a large grin as I pointed towards her. “Sold, Stephen Scott” was his response! I was dejected since no others in that tank could compare to her…..in my humble opinion. I didn’t find out until much later in the week that Saito San had many more Sankes in his other Koi House. We returned to Saito San’s home where his wife Hirome served us tea and snacks as their boys Kenski and Koski played video games. I looked over at Saito San, pointed to the boys, and said “ reminds me of home”! He totally understood, after being at my home only 2 months before and watching my son, Kyle, and his friends doing the exact same thing!

  We left Saito’s home and headed for the breeder’s meeting at the Mushigami village center. Fujio Oomo acted as interpreter as Peter and Nigel discussed the shift towards foreign markets for the breeder’s Koi. Signs in English were stressed so that foreign buyers could more easily identify “breeders”.

  The afternoon was a daze, Koi house after Koi house, filled with high quality Koi. Between breeders, Peter had shared a section of his sequel to Koi Kichi and my appetite for this sequel grew even more. A quick stop at a small market got Chuck his much needed snack (the rest of us enjoyed the stop as well). Thank goodness Peter, Dennis and Tim were there to help tell us what these “snacks” actually were.

  The last stop for the day was Yagenji. We weren’t 3 steps into the Koi house when we all stopped with jaws ajar. An absolutely stunning 27”+ Shiro Utsuri was swimming gracefully by in the first tank. Peter got the Ishihara brothers to bowl her up for our inspection. After a very short period of time with all of our Oooos and Ahhhs, the Downs’ looked up to Peter for a price on this Shiro. Peter looked to the Ishihara brothers and they quickly exited the Koi house for “discussions”. Watching them from inside, looking at each other and back to us was a treat. Shortly they came back in and stated their price. Peter, looked to the Downs’ and asked “Well”? I guarantee it was the quickest Koi purchase decision ever in the history of married couples, Kimberli saying “YES”, without looking to Chuck and Chuck saying “Ahhhh Yeah!” milli seconds behind Kimberli. Without a doubt in my mind, this was the best “value” in all of our combined Koi purchases.

  As we descended from the mountains back to Nagaoka, we reviewed the day’s stops and discussed the next day’s “schedule”…the one I never got for day 1 and Peter assured me I would get for day 2. After a couple hours of napping (at least for me), we all met back down in the lobby around 8pm for our second night at Nomoles. Nigel and Sean had left for Tokyo for their return journey back to the UK but filling in for them was our friend Mark Bodycott (USAKOI) who decided to join us for dinner at Nomoles. After another wonderful dinner and a few “Malt” Beverages, Peter had us off for a “midnight” snack at “Baden Baden,” a German style restaurant a few blocks away After a few more “Malt” beverages and some pizza, we rolled back to the Grand Hotel about 1:30am.

Day 3 (or is that day 4, I am soo confused by now!)
  Once again I awoke before the sun came over the mountains. The day was cloudy but warmer than the day before. I looked all around for my “schedule”. I was beginning to feel “singled out” since everyone else was getting a daily schedule and I was not! Another wonderful breakfast at the Grand Hotel (included with the very reasonable room cost) and we were off once again on our Koi pilgrimage. Peter reminded all that according to the day’s schedule we were starting off in Ojiya that morning. I protested that I once again didn’t get a daily schedule like everyone else and Peter along with Dennis apologized profusely for their error (and blamed it on Tim). First stop that morning was Marudoh. As we walked in, Peter pointed out an Asagi he had set aside for JR’s review the following week. Very nice indeed….for an Asagi <grin>. We were greeted and offered beverages as Peter asked to have 3 Showas that he had previously purchased bowled. All I can say is STUNNING! The Downs’ quickly purchased the best (at least in my opinion) of the 3 from Peter and I believe JR snatched up another the following week. From there we were off to Nogami’s.

  Upon arrival at Nogami’s we noticed that an outside vat was being treated with PP. Peter explained Nogami San’s PP methods…definitely not to be tried at home! Again I was amazed to see the quality of Koi present. I was hoping to be treated with a glimpse of another Showa like the one Bill Oakly purchased the previous year from Nagomi San. Although there were none present that would begin to compare to Bill’s, there were some Kohakus that definitely knocked my socks off. Nogami San took us from his home to his “secret” Koi house which adjoins one of the many secret Dianichi koi houses. Everyone made sure to point out the dead frog in the parking lot to me as well! So far in just over 1 day of “shopping” I had seen more high quality Koi than I had even begun to see in my previous 10 years….but still not the Sanke of Cheryl and my dreams…at least one I could afford.

  Next stop, Hasagawa, known for Kohakus of astounding patterns. As we entered the Koi house, everyone pointed to the room on the left with literally thousands of Tosai crammed together! As everyone proceeded down to the end tank, my eye caught a glimpse of a Kohaku swimming in the first tank…I looked the tank over closely, but my eye kept returning to this one Kohaku…I was mesmerized. While the others looked over the end tank, Tim grabbed me and took me outside and showed me the outdoor pond with perhaps a couple thousand larger Tosai. Tim explained that these were the Tosai that didn’t make Hasagawa San’s final “cut” and thus were “Tatashita”. Tim explained that they always gets first choice on these Koi and selects 100 or so from this group. He added that many of these will be as good as the “Tatagoi” that Hasagawa San will keep to grow on but that he doesn’t have the space necessary for more than the 100 or so that he chooses to grow on. But as Tim explained all of this, I will still in deep thought over the Kohaku I had just seen inside.

  Back in the Koi house, my eye immediately returned to the Kohaku..I never did make it down to the end tank. After a few minutes, Peter wisked us off into Hasagawa San’s home where on the first level is the tank he keeps his Tatagoi Tosai.

Peter netted 3 Kohakus and began a teaching lesson using these Koi as an example……I was lost, not hearing a word, still dreaming of the Kohaku out in the Koi house. I “think” 20 minutes or so passed during this teaching lesson and as we began to exit outside I asked Peter if we could bowl a Koi back in the Koi house. Peter went and got Hasagawa San and they Bowled up this Sansai Kohaku……my mouth now watering.

   I looked to Peter for his opinion…his answer, “Stunning”. I asked Peter to inquire as to her price? Hasagawa San thought for a minute and responded. I paused for a few seconds. Although slightly over my “budget,” I could still afford her….now 2 lingering concerns came to mind….The fact that Cheryl and I had decide on a Sanke (not a Kohaku) and the fact that it was still only day 2! Add to that the advice my well respected friend Tom Lansing had told me…. “Don’t buy anything until you’ve been to Isawa”! Peter read my mind though and quickly made me an offer I couldn’t refuse ….if I found something I liked more later in the week, He’d buy this Kohaku from me! I quickly said “SOLD” and began to think of a plan on how to tell Cheryl that I wasn’t coming home with a Sanke! Kimberli quickly pointed out the small heart shape on the Koi’s left shoulder..and thus the name Valentine was born!

  As we consummated the purchase with the traditional tea inside Hasagawa’s home Peter gave us a tour of this magnificent structure.

Peter explained that this one wooden beam cost over 1 million Yen. Hasagawa San joked that this is the house that Peter built! I might add that a few of us most likely helped out over the years as well <grin>.

  As we sipped our tea in the living room, the clock struck the hour and all of a sudden we were all fascinated watching this clock transform itself into an animated show! The clock face began to rotate in a series of maneuvers until the 4 corners opened exposing animated figures which moved about……Thus began our “Quest” for a “Hasagawa clock”! Chuck and Kimberli were set on having just such a clock! Dennis found out from Hasagawa San exactly where he purchased this clock and assured us that we would work a trip to this store somewhere into the “weekly schedule”.

  As we migrated back towards the mountains, and Mushigami village, we stopped at numerous smaller breeders along the way. Numerous times throughout the day, Peter had to tell Michael (the Quiet man) Kimberlin to “shut up” for he was just talking way too much! Those that know Michael also know he doesn’t say much, but when he does, its truly enlightening. Chuck made mention that he’d be interested in seeing a high quality “Red Kujaku”. Thus, another “Quest” was born, the “Hunt for the Elusive Red Kujaku”! During a late Tea at Shintaro’s we made mention of this new “Quest”. Saito San called (rang for you Brits <grin>) around and informed us that the best Red Kujaku was at Hiroi Seiji’s.

  That afternoon, we stopped at Izumiya and Tim quickly got me aside to show me some “Special” Koi. As we walked back around to the front, he led me into a barn…..with a famous “fighting bull” in a stall. Tim quickly determined it was time to leave as the bull started to go beneath the rail to get at him! Being late in the day by now, we weren’t able to get back to Hiroi Seiiji’s to see this famous “Red Kujaku”, winner for its class at the Nogoysai.

  Due to our pending drive down to Isawa the next day, we called it an early night (Midnight) at Nomoles so we could be rested for our 6am departure to Isawa.

Day 4 (or whatever, I have lost track by this time)
  Up bright and early with our box lunches prepared by the Grand Hotel for our journey down to Toshio Sakai’s (Isawa Nishikigoi Center). We agreed to meet at the second rest area along the hiway so we could eat a snack and get some coffee. Dennis led the way driving the “Bongo” with Chuck, Kimberli and Michael with him. Tim drove the “compact” with Peter asleep on the back seat. We had barely passed the “first” rest area when Tim and I decided to start nibbling on the first boxed lunch. As Dennis passed the second rest area (the one we were suppose to pull off into), Tim and I looked at each other and decided to dive into the second boxed lunch. By the time Dennis drove past the 3rd rest area, Peter was awake and diving into the third and final boxed lunch. As we approached the 4th rest area, Tim flashed his lights at Dennis and Dennis finally decided to pull off the hiway! Dennis quickly explained that Michael was talking too much and that they got involved in a deep conversation…yeah, right!

  After getting some food and coffee in us, we were ready to head off once more. Dennis explained he needed fuel first. Having a little tough of a time getting the “Bongo” started, we started to pull over to the fuel pumps……Dennis didn’t quite make it, running out of fuel just a few feet from the pumps!

   The drive down to Isawa was spectacular, seeing the Sea of Japan, Nagano (the site of the winter Olympics a few year’s back) and as we rounded a bend in the road, Mt. Fuji, the most recognizable landmark in Japan.

  Upon arrival at the Isawa Nishikigoi Center (INC) we were greeted by Toshio Sakai. He led us through the “Junk Yard” (an effort to keep the Tax man at bay) to view some of the best Koi yet…in fact, one was THE best Koi I have ever personally seen…the famous “Battleship” Kohaku.

   Sakai San quickly bowled up a Sanke that he had given to the Downs’ as a present and she was awesome. We went over to alongside the house were Sakai started to bowl up some of his best from this year’s harvest…..all exquisite! Chuck and Kimberli made a few selections while Michael and I sat back contemplating our next “move”. Peter asked Michael if he would like to see anything bowled. Michael, like myself seemed hesitant, not believing anything was within our budgets. Peter, intuitively asked Michael what his budget was and proceeded to inform Sakai San of such. Sakai thought a minute, and asked if we were hungry and would we like lunch? Well, Tim answered for all of us (of course) and said yes. Sakai’s right hand man, Igarashi Hirome (Stallone) then took us to lunch while Sakai hunted for just the right Koi for Michael. While at lunch, the subject of “The Elusive Red Kujaku” came up…. “Stallone” picked up on it and said “we have, we have”! Go figure! After lunch we made a quick stop at one of Sakai’s “secret ponds” looking for the “Elusive Red Kujaku”! Unfortunately they were all Tosai and not what Chuck had in mind.

  Returning to INC, Sakai stood smiling as we approached. He immediately bowled up 2, 24”+ Kohakus, both excellent! Michael was beaming from ear to ear and was speechless! Nothing really new there though <grin>. Michael of course chose what I considered to be the better of the 2 and I studied long and hard over the other, deciding whether to take Peter up on his offer on my Hasagawa Kohaku. After much deliberation I decided to stay with my Hasagawa Kohaku, already owning a Sakai, bold patterned Kohaku named “Slash”.

  Peter grabbed me aside to show me one of the other favorite “sights” at the INC. The drainage ditch alongside the property was filled with Koi! I wondered how many people came back at night just to dip a few out to take home!

   The drive back to Nagaoka was uneventful. I did mention my “plan” to Tim. After much thought, perhaps just 1 more Koi purchase was in order. Being already over budget perhaps by purchasing a Nissai Sanke at least I could dig out of the dog house with Cheryl by at least bringing home the Sanke we had agreed I’d purchase? Perhaps Shintaro had some I hadn’t seen yet? Three hours (a new Infiltration record) found us back at the Grand Hotel and freshening up for another dinner at Nomoles.

  As usual, Peter had the answer for every question/concern. I made mention to him that Master San didn’t have Sushi on the menu. He quickly called Master San over to the table and said “Steve San, Sushi”. Master San quickly said “yes…when?” I asked, “Friday”. “Yes, yes, Friday,” was Master San’s response. As we sat discussing the week’s events, Peter presented us with our personal “daily statements” showing each of us our breakdown’s on charges thus far. Infiltration uses a “cost/commsission/expense” method for their trips. They will help you pick out the Koi of your dreams, obtain the price from the breeder, then add a commission of 21% onto the price. All expenses such as vehicle rental and fuel are split evenly amongst all. I quickly looked over my statement and went to the bottom line and was SHOCKED at the total! It couldn’t be correct! 11,595,142 Yen! That’s about $100,000! I quickly went over the itemization, Truck rental for 3 days, Isawa road fees, Hasagawa Kohaku, commission on the Kohaku, all in order….Then I saw it….. Charge for no Koi Purchased at INC…5,000,000 Yen, Commission, another 2,500,000 Yen. Then “Penalty for knowing JR” 1,500,000 Yen and a commission of 2,250,000 Yen! I started laughing hysterically as did everyone else…all having similar “charges” added to their statements……Hasagawa Clock quest, Red Kujaku quest, Michael Talking too much, etc, etc, etc…plus commissions!

  It was also this evening when I FINALLY figured out they all were having a little fun with my frustration over the daily “schedule”. As we started to discuss the next day’s “schedule” and how hard it was going to be to work in the “Hasagawa Clock hunt” into it, let alone the “Hunt for the Elusive Red Kujacku”! By this time, we all had our “purchases” done (except perhaps for a certain Shintaro Sanke for Cheryl) and that now it was time to relax and enjoy! You see, there NEVER was a daily schedule, Peter just planning out “areas” to visit and allowing for his customers’ needs to determine where to stop…including department stores for clocks!

Day 5 (I think?)
  Yes, we did in fact spend this morning looking for the “Hasagawa Clock”! Although not finding the “exact” one, we did find others and Peter did in fact obtain a brochure from the store so that Chuck and Kimberli could order one. Peter’s never one to miss out on a commission! It was also this day that Peter did in fact find the “Elusive Red Kujaku”!

“Like this one Chuck?” As he pointed up to a Koi Calendar hanging in the dry goods shop. We had tea once again at Saito San’s where Tim asked Saito San about a Nissai Sanke for “Cheryl”. Saito and Cheryl really hit it off well a few months earlier while he stayed with us when he came to judge the Oklahoma Koi Society Koi Show.. Saito said “Sanke, not Saaaaanke,” referring to the southern accent of how my wife pronounces Sanke…all got a laugh out of that. He let us know that he would have a Sanke for me to look at the next day.

  Our last stop for the day was back at Hiroi Seiiji’s…to gaze upon the “Elusive Red Kujaku”.

   Chuck gazed upon this Red Kujaku and said “nice”. Even being the Nogoysai winner didn’t make this Red Kujaku live up to Chuck’s demanding standards. I am sure that “The Hunt for the Elusive Red Kujaku” will continue on the Downs’ next trip to Japan, Peter wanting that “special” commission for Red Kujakus and all! Is there a commission on NOT purchasing a Red Kujaku? Hmmmmm <grin>.

  Saito San joined us for dinner at Nomoles that evening and my Sushi was waiting, as promised! I was threatened with bodily abuse if I ate my Sushi in the presence of the others, so I had to eat alone at the bar, Saito San visibly proud that I was the only one who would eat a traditional Japanese delicacy! It was another late night, topped off with “snacks” (beer and pizza) at Baden Baden again.

Day 6 (It’s a blur)
  The next day found us visiting still more breeders and a few that we wanted to go back to for a second/third look. Peter is a member of a Koi breeder/dealer’s club in Mushigami village and today was the day of their annual Koi show that they hold as a village fund raiser. Everyone’s friend, Jack Chang, was present and was acting as the judge for the show! After judging, all of these Koi were auctioned off…at VERY reasonable prices.

“Look Chuck, it’s a Kujaku!” Oops, not a RED one though.

  As the Auction progressed, we walked down the road to Saito’s for Curried Rice and Tea. Peter returned a short time later and Saito and he went back to the auction to collect Peter’s purchases.

  It was now time to go back to Saito’s Koi Houses…..to select Cheryl’s Saaaaanke <grin>. Saito netted and bowled 2 Nissai Sanke within my “new” budget. You could tell from his famous smile that he was proud of these Sanke and I truly believe would not normally have sold either of these within the budget I had set. Beaming like a proud Papa, I made my selection

   As I gazed over her, Saito asked if I was to leave it to grow on for another year or two? Before I could even answer, Peter Said YES! The decision was made!

  Saito San, being the gracious host that he is, took us all out to dinner that evening to a “traditional” Japanese Restaurant outside Ojiya. As we sat on the floor around the table, we were brought a cup with what appeared to be red cabbage in a “pickle” type juice. Tim kept repeatedly asking Peter what kind of restaurant this was…being highly suspicious! When he found out that the red cabbage was in fact chrysanthemum he said that he “Wasn’t going to eat any #$^%$@* flower!” The veggies and meat were brought out shortly for us to cook on the gas grills in the center of the table. Large bibs were placed around us to protect from the splattering juices from the grill. The meal was superb and as a special delight, Saito ordered a “special” beef…to be eaten RAW. Michael and I were the only ones to go beyond a “taste” and actually eat a hardy amount. Saito seemed delighted that we were enjoying this portion on the meal. As Michael and I got our share of this delicacy, the grills were fired back up to cook the remaining portions…..as the second grill was lit, a huge fireball erupted! Luckily it was just a “flash” and didn’t get any of our bibs ignited!

  Upon returning to the Hotel, I said my goodbyes to all since my plane flight was the first to leave Narita the next day and necessitated that I take the first train back to Tokyo. The return trip was uneventful and in fact the flight back only taking 9 actual hours directly back into Dallas, arriving 1 hour early… must have been a heck of a tail wind!

  Its now Mid January as I reflect back on this trip. Valentine, my Hasagawa Kohaku just arrived home after being shipped from Japan to Infiltration were she was QT’d treated and rested before being shipped home to Cheryl and I. She’s grown even in this short time to 24 ½” and has adjusted well to her new environment…where we can now enjoy her for years to come.

  Many lessons were learned on this trip, about Koi, friendships and traveling. It was all that I hope/expected and MORE and I look forward to my next opportunity to travel back to Niigata! If you ever run into Mark Bodycott, ask him about the Japanese Toilets…toooo funny! Thank goodness he told me in advance!