Sunday started off with a bit of headache as we had the new group arrive so they all wanted to go to the nogyosai show, so one hire car with 5 and a mini bus with 7 it was off to the show, as usual superb koi with an amazing kohaku taking gc.

Great to chillout and walk around the koi and meeting the breeders so many varietys and and most koi of very high quality.

After browsing around the fair for a couple of hours we then moved of to Dianichi and was surpised to find that some of the koi were affordable, expensive but affordable. I think this was one of the best breeders we had visited and being a showa lover i couldnt be any more at home!! A few hours were then spent around many differant breeders premises waiting for them to come back from the show to give us prices. Then it was time to return to Torazo to see the koi we had reserved in the day light, we were not to be disappointed. The quality was what we had come for and the prices were not to bad. First in the bowl was the little 3 step at around 35cm she looked superb, and duly purchased for the shop. The larger sister came in at around 50cm and just glistened and again was purchsed straight away.

We needed one more for the box when i remembered the tataegoi that one of the lads had been offered, so i asked if it was still available, that was bowled and i asked about any more tategoi and a massive 60cm nisai maruten was placed i front of us, the maruten had so much presance i loved it but we now had to many for the box and i was being greedy and none were going back, so I thought if these two are genuine tategoi he wont mind growing one on and ill take the three home with me, he instanty agreed and the deal was done. Which one stayed well, id have liked to have left the maruten at 60cm it had the chance to go through past 70cm and that would suit me, but it was agreed that the smaller one was better quality and would gain more value with a trip to the mud pond.

The smaller tategoi kohaku that is going back to the mud pond.

The larger two step like her lttle sister both show quality

Maruten tatgoi kohaku coming back to the uk.

The three step kohaku from Torazo, just oozed quality.

70cm shiro utsuri from miyako.

Feeling very pleased we headed up the mountains to miyako where one of party bought a 70cm shiro utsuri, sorry the pic is not very good she would not behave herself.

then last call for the essex guys was to izumiya to but one of his sansai ogons, after going through half a dozen we found the best one we could, at nearly 60 cm she was lovely ............

As i write this log now, the Essex boys have been put on the bullet train that will take them to Tokyo and from there to Narita and a plane home, it was a great week with highs and lows and some times i laughed so much i thought my sides would split , (literally i think i have a hernia !!!!!!!), but as usual everyone had a good time and i hope they have all taken a little of that Niigata magic home with them, and only those who have been here can know how that feels ..............