Inside the secret world of Koi | Japan Documentary

Imagine a place where a specific fish is part of one of the oldest cultures on our planet. Here several generations have worked day after day for something special and unique. Here is also the country where people and nature coexist in harmony. For more than a hundred years, breeders have developed a unique way of turning a certain species of fish into a true work of art. Torazo Tsuyoshi Kawakami is one of those breeders who has become the guardian of this heritage. He and his family live in one of those places where a unique variety of Japanese Koi has been developed.

For over a hundred years, his family produced a special lineage that is the

secret

to all their swimming champions. It is such a precious fish that the Japanese give it a special name. NISHIKIGOI. Or better known as swimming jewels. In this film I take you on a journey to the

secret

world

of koi. October Japan. It's harvest season. For most koi farmers in this area, this is the moment they have been looking forward to all season. For several months, these koi have been given to Mother Nature high in the Yamakoshi Mountains. Despite daily checks by the breeder.

It is not without risks. There is a lot at stake.. Not only this year's harvest, but also many years of energy put into the care of these Nishikigoi birds, bears, the risk of disease and Mother Nature, all risks that the breeder must take into account. . Fortunately, breeders like Tsuyoshi Kawakami have gained generations of experience... ...allowing them to confidently develop their koi each year. They have invited me to one of the Torazo family's harvests. In addition to Tsuyoshi Kawakami, her daughter Yuki and her husband Homare are helping to catch these precious Koi fish. To make sure everything runs as smoothly and quickly as possible, Yuki checks the oxygen supplies connected to the tanks.

Once ready for transport to the koi house, everyone rushes to the car in anticipation of this year's results. Cleaning clothes and shoes is still important. To reduce the possibility of transmitting mountain diseases or viruses to other fish. I have to clean my shoes. I drive with Homare to Torazo's big new koi house to see this year's results. The tension and enthusiasm of each one can be read directly on her face. Even Torazo's wife has come to see the results of this year's harvest. Several Torazo customers have already arrived to come take a look. Often this is not the case, many of the customers return to see their own fish after a year of absence.

Many fans and traders who travel to Japan, including myself... ...come to Niigata to attend these annual events. Anyone can describe the combination of this area and Nishikigoi. This is something you have to experience for yourself. Urakawa Koi Farm is a long-established company founded in 1917. The

world

famous "Torazo Sanshoku" and "Torazo Kohaku" are brands of Koi produced by this highly respected koi farm. Today they are famous for the “Torazo Kohaku” lineage which has its roots in the crossing of Dainichi... Kohaku and Murata Kohaku from Chiba Prefecture 20 years ago. Nowadays, fans from all over the world want to own the famous Torazo Kohaku.

In recent years, Tsuyoshi and his family have won several major awards with their best Koi, which makes sense that many are trying to get their hands on one of those potential champions. Very soon we will return to Torazo Koi Farm. There's a first time for everything... Including my introduction to Shintaro Koi Farm. Meanwhile, I have been traveling to Japan for more than 6 years... but despite all those visits I do not personally know all the breeders. I continue my day at Shintaro Koi Farm... where they are about to harvest their largest mud pond containing the best Nishikigoi on the farm.

A stunning setting where the size of this mud pond immediately exceeds my expectations. Shintaro Koi Farm is run by Masaru Saito. The high quality of Go Sanke is known all over the world... ..and more and more fans know where to find it today. Under the guidance of Masaru and his children, everyone patiently waits for instructions. I would like to introduce you to Howard, a heart and soul USA fan and part of the team I travel with. Together with Howard, Johan and Domi, the team is complete for a week full of adventures. Today there is extra help.

Saito San's 2 sons, Kensuke and Kosuke lead the harvest. One of the brothers was recently bitten by a dog, so he wears a blue glove to protect the wound from him. Both sons will be trained in the coming years under the wings of their father to become true koi breeders. Hopefully they will take over the farm in the future. It remains a spectacular event as the koi emerge one by one from the dark water. Japanese television is also present today. The Japanese Koi is cultural heritage and very important for the country. Several camera crews follow the breeders throughout the year to eventually make a

documentary

for Japanese television.

It's time to return to the Koi House. The weather is perfect and temperatures reach summer values. Once at the koi house, all captured Koi can be viewed and measured. Shintaro Koi Farm was founded in 1955 by Shosuke Saito. Before Shosuke got his first koi, he was a small rice farmer. It all started as a hobby, just 10 years later he became a koi breeder. The transition from rice to koi happened quickly. Shosuke San saw that surrounding koi farms, such as Matsunoske, were running a successful business selling koi to the Japanese. With the motto: Maker of Dreams, the farm has become enormously popular and well-known.

Dozens of years of hard work have resulted in the current state. However, not everything happened automatically. In 2004, like many others, the Shintaro Koi farm was affected by the Chūetsu earthquake. A terrible day that had left irreparable damage to many producers. The many koi that were lost that day were terrible for the global industry. Fortunately, the hobby has never been as popular as it is now... That's at least how I experienced it. Certainly in Southeast Asia, but also in America and Europe. Breeders like Shintaro are doing good business and the hobby is increasing. But what does this mean for fans?

I will return to this topic later. Being surrounded by the art of these fish, by hobbyists and traders who share the same passion, is priceless. Many seem relieved and happy with the results of this year's harvest. In the coming years we will follow the evolution of the Shintaro Koi farm more closely. Starting with the upcoming All Japan Koi Show in Tokyo. During this trip there are also brief visits to known and unknown koi breeders who have since become friends. Similarly, at the Yagenji Koi Farm, Daisuke San shows us some amazing Sanke and Asagi that just came out of the mud pond.

I have the freedom to travel alone through the Yamakoshi Mountains, this has the biggest advantage that I can visit most of the breeders. Sometimes very short and sometimes a whole day. This is also the case when we take a brief look at Marusada Koi Farm... ...where a customer has selected some very beautiful fish. A new day has arrived. Today we are planning harvest number 1 of Koda Koi Farm with Hoshino San. Just like Shintaro Koi Farm, this is the first time I have been able to be present at a large harvest from this breeder. We met very early in the morning so as not to miss anything of this event.

The morning fog has not yet settled and that gives an extra dimension to the environment where this mud pond is located. The first thing that catches my attention is the enormous depth of this mud pond. It took days to empty it until there was enough water for this day. What is also striking is the composition of the soil: unlike the mountains, the number of stones in the pond is extremely high. But there is more to see, including many lobsters and other animals that are also a good food source for Koi. The tension rises and... Masato San, after not seeing his face for a summer, sees his pride for the first time.

Koda Koi Farm is a relatively small breeder that does much of the work alone. It is impressive to see how hard this man works to ensure that all the fish arrive at the koi house quickly and, above all, in good health. Koda Koi Farm is run by Masato Hoshino based in Kawaguchi. Its main varieties are GR Kohaku, GR Showa, GR Goshiki, D Sanke, D Showa and many more. As a hobbyist, you can have a lot of success on your farm when you look for many varieties during your trip to Japan. During the summer, the breeder checks his ponds daily.

Not only do you have to refill the feeding machines... ...but also all the fences that are supposed to protect wild animals such as birds and bears. You can imagine that the breeder is happy when all the Koi come out of the mud pond healthy. Only their own fish swim in this pond... but also those of many hobbyists who have chosen to have the breeder take care of them. In Japan they call this form of paid care Azukari. The location of this koi house is stunning. Near one of the most beautiful viewpoints is the multi-koi house of Koda Koi Farm.

It's time to take a closer look at the fish and many Dutch friends send me messages asking how their fish are doing. Logical because everyone has been waiting for this for a long time. One fish is even more beautiful than the other. Once controlled, the fish go directly to the large tanks where they await a brief treatment for any parasites they may have contracted during their time outdoors. This is a standard procedure and is carried out at all breeders. It's been a long morning, time for a good lunch. My favorite, SUSHI! It is well known that the Japanese are good with fish.

There are several sushi restaurants in Nagaoka where you can eat the freshest sushi all day long. If you ever travel to Japan, I advise you to eat as much sushi as possible, you won't regret it. There are still 2 visits on the agenda for today. Marusei and Maruhiro Koi Farm. Johan and Howard have their eye on a Koi who seems cool enough to talk about. In Marusei we also met 3 friends from America... ...busy with new purchases for the next season. From Marusei it is a fifteen minute drive to Maruhiro. Many recognize Maruhiro Koi Farm... ...by the large round pond with hundreds of giant koi swimming beautifully in the Koi house.

We arrived at exactly the right time. Having just returned from the harvest, they are busy inspecting and discussing the koi. Maruhiro Koi Farm was founded and still run by Hironori Hirasawa. Hironori is the son of Seitaro Hirasawa (Marusei Koi Farm)... ...and like his family farm, he produces a wide range of koi. It is a remarkable picture of the number of varieties that emerge from the mud pond. The dimensions of this koi seem small, while the average fish measures at least 70 cm. Wow, during the next visit in February a new visit is planned, in which we will see the entire koi house more closely.

Since then, Yagenji Koi Farm has become a permanent part of my travels. Since day 1 I have been very kindly received by the brothers Daisuke and Toshinori. With 30,000 square meters of facilities and more than 50 mud ponds,... ...the brothers know how to grow very high quality Nishikigoi. The company was founded in 1963 and mainly focuses on the cultivation of Shiro Utsuri, Gin Rin Showa, Kohaku, Sanke, Showa, Chagoi and Ochiba varieties. In Japanese culture, it is obvious that the older brother takes over the company when necessary. But in the case of Yagenji Koi Farm this is slightly different. When Yaiichi transferred the farm to his eldest son Toshinori... ...Daisuke decided to work as a chef after finishing his studies.

It wasn't until they were quite busy that... Daisuke returned to learn the trade and share the farm with his father and his older brother. Meanwhile, the eldest son, Toshinori, had gained a lot of experience at the Sakai fish farms in Hiroshima. 0:27:46.970,0:27:53.139 The younger brother, Daisuke, could not be left behind and decided to gain experience at Momotaro Koi Farm. What is special about this breeder is that both brothers have the same responsibilities. True brotherhood. Yagenji Koi Farm is a highly successful Koi breeder with the most diverse varieties... ...and a very special harvest is planned today. 0:29:00.309,0:29:05.579 The Karashigoi belongs to the Kawarimono variety and is a single-color mustard koi.

This lineage is created by Konishi. She is a cross between a female Doitsu Akame Kigoi and a male olive green Wagoi Chagoi. Both greater than 90 cm. The Konishi lineage is known for its excellent size and body color. Some fish of this lineage measure approximately one meter in height. 0:29:39.700,0:29:43.439 So it's no surprise that these fish are extremely popular. The Karashigoi that we harvest today are 3 years old. I am amazed at the enormous length and size these koi already have. During the trip to the mud pond, Daisuke San told us that there have been several unwanted visitors this summer.

The feeding machine was found and destroyed by bears. The final result? The feeding machine disappeared into the pond.mud. Fortunately, the fish did not notice this, thanks to daily monitoring a new one could be placed. Indicates what a breeder should take into account. The bears didn't come for the fish but for the fish food inside the machines. It's time to go back to the koi house. All the koi are loaded and the oxygen tanks do their job for the return trip. The first calls have already arrived... ...some traders have already learned that the exclusive fish are on the way from the mud pond.

Once back, the first customers are ready to select and buy the freshly caught Koi. Including Ryuki Narita, one of the largest Japanese distributors. A respected man with a lot of knowledge. Narita San, is the video okay? Yes ok! Ryuki Narita waits silently and looks at all the Karashigoi one by one. After a good conversation with Daisuke San, he decides to move on to the next appointment. What he has seen or bought remains a surprise. Daisuke proudly shows the Karashigoi to the people who have come to see it. He chooses several fish and presents them in a small bowl.

And he is right, these fish are incredibly beautiful. Unfortunately I have to skip this time, these fish are a little out of my budget. Watching the brothers work together surprised me time and time again. The oiled machine runs at full speed during harvest season. After the hard work, the family invites us to a fantastic lunch. I can't wait to come back very soon to meet the brothers again. We are on time! The freshly harvested fish arrives at the INC or Isawa Nishikigoi Center. A special show from one of Niigata's most famous producers. Toshio Sakai was born to his older brother Toshiyuki and grew up here in Mushigame, Niigata.

The story goes back many years, where his father was responsible for the development of the Matsunosuke lineage. More on this later. The younger brother, Toshio Sakai, establishes his own farm in Isawa, Yamanshi Prefecture. Toshio Sakai is known as a wizard when it comes to the development of Nishikigoi in general. The brothers work closely together...one of those reasons has to do with the location of the farm. Isawa has something special, something that Niigata producers don't have... Hot spring water! Thermal water that comes directly from the ground. Good for growth, but that shouldn't come at the expense of quality.

For that reason, many fish come to Niigata to grow at a slower rate. The result? Quality remains guaranteed. There is much more to say about these brothers, I hope to continue this story soon. Today is an exciting day for me, a day I've been secretly waiting for an entire season. One of my fish will be caught today, a 3 year old Sanke from well known breeder Yamamatsu. Yamamatsu Koi Farm, also known as Matsunosuke, won the championship at the All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show in 1955 for his Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke). Sanke became Matsunosuke's trademark. Today, many breeders use the Matsunosuke lineage as Oyagoi.

Oyagoi is the Japanese name of the parent animal. Yamamatsu Koi Farm (Matsunosuke) is now run by Toshiaki Sakai. His farm is famous throughout Japan and the world for producing high-quality Go Sanke. The Matsunosuke lineage is world famous, it was the first lineage in which a Go Sanke Koi exceeded one meter in height. A great achievement that was not achieved just like that. With years of experience and the help of others, Sakai San managed to grow a Sanke over 1 meter. Not only the length is special, but also the excellent quality of the leather is known from the Matsunosuke lineage.

Back to my Azukari Sanke, purchased at Koi Center Sneek when the fish was 2 years old. The combination of good skin quality and body shape was decisive for me when I bought the fish. Luckily, everyone sees fishing differently. Always select a fish that you like, in the end it should come swimming to your pond. I see potential in this fish for future exhibitions in Europe, that's why I bought it. He will stay here for a few more years but for now he will attend the Nogyosai Koi Show in Ojiya where he has achieved a 3rd place in size.

We will continue to follow this koi for years to come. It's my favorite day of this trip, on the show my favorite day of this trip. Marudo's number 1 choice. Marudo Koi Farm is not located in the Yamakoshi Mountains like most breeders. The koi house is located in Nagaoka-shi, at the foot of the mountains. It is a 15 minute drive to the mud deposits. The crew checks the latest to avoid problems during the mountain tour. A responsible job, because nothing can go wrong on this special day. It's time for a tradition. Toast to a good harvest. Not only those present will have to toast, the pound of clay will also receive a special treatment with Sake.

What do the names Hisashi Hirasawa and Dainichi have to do with each other? Mention the name Marudo Koi Farm and many of their hearts start to beat a little faster. Before Hirasawa San took over Marudo Koi Farm, he worked for no less than 18 years for Dainichi Koi Farm. His teacher of him? Mr. Minoru Mano. In 1987, he stopped at Dainichi Koi Farm and took over Marudo Koi Farm. During the long period at the Dainichi Koi Farm, Hirasawa San learned to focus mainly on body confirmation and hello (red). Improving these 2 parts is essential to growing very high quality koi.

I don't have exact figures, but at that time the Mardudo Koi Farm produced 5 million fry, of which just under 1.5 million were of the showa variety. After the eggs hatched, less than 10% remained and a maximum of 5000 showa were selected. Like many breeders in Japan, he wants to win the All Japan Koi Show. The highest stage where breeders can show their pride to the rest of the world. The honor and prestige he obtains is every producer's dream. The fact of being able to be present at this harvest is already special. For the second year in a row I get to film harvest number 1 from Marudo Koi Farm.

Thanks to Johan and Domi who introduced me here 2 years ago. It's quite satisfying to see the relief on the Japanese breeder's face. Everyone seems very happy with the results of this year's harvest. So we just got back home and they are waiting to load. Well, the breeder is busy with the latest photos. I want to take some time to thank you for watching my videos. Sharing my adventures is very important to me. I hope I have encouraged you to continue with the hobby or start. I want to thank the producers for their hospitality and the Koi Zanmai team for these fantastic days.

Making this film requires a lot of time but unfortunately also money. Consider joining my channel. The link can be found in the description of this video. I'd love for you to leave a comment below the video about what you thought. Sharing helps reach more people in the world. Thanks for watching and please check out one of my next videos!