https://my.ebook5.net/nishikigoi/1q3OHs/ # September 2024 Issueサンプル ## Page 01 ![Page 01の画像](https://img01.ebook5.net/nishikigoi/1q3OHs/contents/image/book/medium/image-000001.jpg) 【ページ内のテキスト情報】 AmonthlymagazineforNishikigoienthusiastJournaloftheAllJapanNishikigoiPromotionAssociationIloveKoi...30yearsoffulfillingmydreamYokohamaNishikigoibuiltonenthusiasmandtrustYasunagaAirPumpCo.,Ltd.,Electromagneticairpumpwithexcellentenergy-savingandquietperformance.September2024BreedersInterview/KanezoKoiFarmSothattheaxisofNishikigoibreedingdoesnotwaverIwilltrymyhandatanewSumi-monoinaplacefamousforShowasanshoku1 ## Page 02 ![Page 02の画像](https://img01.ebook5.net/nishikigoi/1q3OHs/contents/image/book/medium/image-000002.jpg) 【ページ内のテキスト情報】 2 ## Page 03 ![Page 03の画像](https://img01.ebook5.net/nishikigoi/1q3OHs/contents/image/book/medium/image-000003.jpg) 【ページ内のテキスト情報】 AmonthlymagazineforNishikigoienthusiastCONTENTS9No.448Sep.202400430yearsanniversary/YokohamaNishikigoi,TakuroOgikuIloveKoi...30yearsoffulfillingmydreamYokohamaNishikigoibuiltonenthusiasmandtrust020BreedersInterview/KanezoKoiFarm,TadashiKobayashi,TakumiKobayashiSothattheaxisofNishikigoibreedingdoesnotwaverIwilltrymyhandatanewSumi-monoinaplacefamousforShowasanshoku032YasunagaAirPumpCo.,Ltd.,Electromagneticairpumpwithexcellentenergy-savingandquietperformance.036The3rdKyushuYoungKoiShow040The15thChibaprefectureYoungKoiShow3 ## Page 04 ![Page 04の画像](https://img01.ebook5.net/nishikigoi/1q3OHs/contents/image/book/medium/image-000004.jpg) 【ページ内のテキスト情報】 YokohamaNishikigoi30yearsanniversaryTakuroOgikuIloveKoi...30yearsoffulfillingmydreamYokohamaNishikigoibuiltonenthusiasmandtrustItisnoteasytostartupandrunabusinesssuccessfullyoverthelongterm,nomatterwhattypeofbusinessyouarein.Inparticular,theNishikigoidistributionbusinessrequiresalargeamountofcapitalinvestment,sothereareveryfewstoresthatwerestartedupbyyoungpeopleafterthecollapseofthebubbleeconomyandarestillinbusinesstoday.YokohamaNishikigoiwasfoundedin1994byTakuroOgiku,whowasjust21yearsoldatthetime.Thiswasanunusuallyyoungageforakoishopownerwhowasnotthesecondgenerationofhisfamily.Fromanearlyage,Mr.OgikubecamecaptivatedbyNishikigoi,andherealisedhisdreamofbecomingtheownerofakoishop.DespitetheheadwindsoftheprolongedrecessionandthesoaringpriceofNishikigoi,hehasbeencommunicatingtheappealofNishikigoifor30years,accuratelygraspingtheneedsofhiscustomers.Alonginterviewontheoccasionofamilestoneyear.Thisyearisamilestoneyear.Breederswillbevisitingeachevent.Thisyearmarksthe30thanniversaryofyourbusiness,soIthinkyoucanbecountedasalong-establishedkoishop,butdoyoufeelthat?Ogiku:Notatall(laughs).Itfeelslike30yearshavejustflownbyasI’vebeenworkingsohard...ItfeelslikeI’veonlyjuststartedrecently.YokohamaNishikigoiholdssaleseventsonceortwiceamonth,butthisyearyou’reputtinginevenmoreeffortthanusual,aren’tyou?Ogiku:It’samilestoneyear,andwhenIthinkaboutmyage,Ithinkthatnowisthepeakofmyabilitytomove.SoIthoughtthatifImissedthisyear,Iwouldn’tbeabletoholdanymorebigevents.Inanybusiness,it’sallaboutthecustomers,soI4 ## Page 05 ![Page 05の画像](https://img01.ebook5.net/nishikigoi/1q3OHs/contents/image/book/medium/image-000005.jpg) 【ページ内のテキスト情報】 PanoramicviewoftheYokohamaNishikigoifacility.Businessoperationsinthisareabeganintheautumnof2005.thoughtabouthowtomakethecustomershappyandenjoythemselves.Soyouinvitedbreederstocometothestoreforthemonthlysales?Ogiku:Ithoughtthatcustomerswouldhavequestionsforthebreeders,andthebreederscouldheartheneedsofthecustomersdirectly.FromthestartofthisyearuntilJune,wehadninebreedersvisitourstore:Mr.Isa,Matsue,Marudo,Otsuka,Dainichi,Taniguchi,Omosako,GonjiroandMinuma.Theyallkindlyagreedtocomedespitetheirbusyschedules,andthecustomerswerealsoquitehappy.Forcustomers,therearenotmanyopportunitiestotalkatlengthwithbreeders.Ogiku:Ithoughtitwouldbeagoodopportunityforthecustomers.IoriginallykeptNishikigoiasahobby,soIunderstandthefeelingsofenthusiastswhowanttoaskbreedersvariousquestions.Saleseventwithbreedersinattendance.5 ## Page 06 ![Page 06の画像](https://img01.ebook5.net/nishikigoi/1q3OHs/contents/image/book/medium/image-000006.jpg) 【ページ内のテキスト情報】 Insidetheindoorpond.Thereareatotalof11pondsonbothsidesofthewalkway.40-tonpondFirstencounterwithNishikigoiwasinkindergarten.Isawthe‘realthing’andwascaptivatedbyNishikigoi.ItiswellknownthatOgiku-sanwasa‘Nishikigoiboy’.WhenwasyourfirstencounterwithNishikigoi?Ogiku:Inkindergarten.AtthattimeIkeptkillifishandgoldfishandthoughtitwasinterestingtokeepfish.Atthattime,butonlyinsummer,therewasashopnearmyhousethatsoldgoldfish,Koiandriverfish,andtheysoldcheapKoi.Ibroughtthemhomeandkeptthemwiththegoldfish,whichIthoughtwasinterestingbecauseKoigrowfaster.SoIaskedmyfathertobuildmeapond.ThatwaswhenIwasthreeorfouryearsold.Butmyfathersaidhecouldn’tbuildapondbecausehewasn’tinterestedinKoi.Atthattime,therewasahardwareshopnearourhouse,andIdon’tknowwhy,buttherewasasocalledgourdpond,aboutthesizeofatatamimat,onsale.SoIaskedmyfathertodigaholeinthegarden,filleditinandstartedkeepingKoi.Later,whenIwasinthesecondyearofprimaryschool,Ithink,IwastakentovisitarelativewholovedNishikigoi.Hehadapondofabout20tonnesandkeptbeautifulNishikigoiforKoishows.IwasimpressedbyalltheamazingKoiandhowbeautifultheywere.IwantedtopaintKoi,soIaskedtheuncletoletthemswiminatub,andhescoopedupsomeYamatonishikiandIpaintedalldaylong.ThenmyunclegavemeaNishikigoi,sayingthatifIlikedNishikigoisomuch,hewouldgiveittome.WhenItookithomeandputitinmypond,theotherKoilookedlikelow-classones,andonlyonewasgorgeous.Sothat’swhenyousawtherealthing.Ogiku:IfIhadn’tseentherealthing,ImightnothavebecomesopassionateaboutNishikigoi.Goingtothatunclewastheturningpointinmydestiny.WhenIwasinthesixthgrade,IalsoenteredKoishows.6 ## Page 07 ![Page 07の画像](https://img01.ebook5.net/nishikigoi/1q3OHs/contents/image/book/medium/image-000007.jpg) 【ページ内のテキスト情報】 The25-tonpondisrelativelynew.PlacewhereKoiaredisplayedatsalesevents.HowlongdidyoukeepthematGourdPond?Ogiku:Uptothesixthgradeofelementaryschool.WhenIwasinthesixthgrade,wedecidedtorebuildthehouse.Actually,atthattime,thebreedingwasatastandstill.ThiswasbecausetheKoiweredyingfromacidrain.Theywouldgetsickereverytimeitrained,soIthoughtitwouldbeimpossibletokeeptheminthesmallGourdPondwithitslowwaterlevel.SowhenIwasinthesixthgradeandthinkingaboutmakingthepondbigger,Ifoundsomeplywoodandabluetarpaulininthejanitor’sroom,andasthejanitorsaidhedidn’tneedthem,Itookthemandmadeanimpromptupondofabouttwotons.Thenmyfathersaidthatitlookedbadtohavesomethinglikearubbishbininthegardenwhenwehadjusthadanewhousebuilt.SoIaskedhimtobuyaproperFRPpond,andwhenIwasinjuniorhighschool,heboughtmea1800x900x900FRPtank.Ogiku:Intheend,IthoughtthatwaterqualitywasimportantforraisingKoi.Ihadbeenusingasimplefiltrationtank,butIthoughtthatwasn’tenough,soinmythirdyearofjuniorhighschoolIaddedWakishimizu.Afterthat,thewaterqualityimproveddramatically.ButwhenIputintheKoi,thewatergotcloudyagain,soIaskedthekoishopwhatwaswrong,andtheysaiditwasbecausetherewasn’tenoughbiologicalfiltration.SoIsavedupmyNewYear’smoneyandboughtasecond-handbiologicalfiltrationtankfor10,000yen.AfterIsetupasystemwheretheWakishimizuwaterispassedthroughthebiologicalfiltrationandreturnedtothepond,theKoistoppeddying.Irealisedthatifthewaterqualityisgood,theKoiwon’tdie.ThenIwantedtogetagoodKoi.Upuntilthen,IhadbeenbuyingKoifor500yenor1,000yen,butonceIstartedtobeabletolookafterthemwell,IwantedtogetaKoithatcost5,000yen.IalsobecameinterestedinKoiwithpotential.Thefacilitieshaveimprovedalot.Ogiku:TherewasaspecialistmagazineforNishikigoithatcametodoafeatureonmebecausetheyheardIhadaninterestingmiddleschooler.OnmydaysoffwhenIwasinmiddleschool,Iwouldcycletothreeplaces:NomotoKoiFarm(Konan-ku,YokohamaCity),FutazukaNishikigoiCenter(same),andHayashiNishikigoiCenter(Zushi).DidyouhaveyourownmethodofbreedingKoibythen?Mydreamforthefutureistobecometheownerofakoishop.Istartedworkingpart-timeataNishikigoishopwhenIwasinhighschool.Fromwhenyouwereachild,youhadadreamofrunningaKoishopinthefuture,didn’tyou?Ogiku:Yes.WhenIwasinfirstgrade,theteacheraskeduswhatourdreamswereforthefuture,andwhiletheotherkidsweresayingthingslike‘pilot’or‘traindriver’,Isaid‘theownerofaKoishop’.7 ## Page 08 ![Page 08の画像](https://img01.ebook5.net/nishikigoi/1q3OHs/contents/image/book/medium/image-000008.jpg) 【ページ内のテキスト情報】 Everyonemusthavethought‘what’saKoishop?’.Ogiku:BecomingtheownerofaKoishopwasavaguedreamIhadsinceIwasinelementaryschool.Ineverthoughtaboutdoinganyotherkindofwork.However,myparentswerebothofficeworkersandIwasanonlychild,soasparentstheynaturallywantedmetogetajobatabigcompany.SowhenItoldthemIwantedtoworkwithKoiaftergraduatingfromhighschool,theywereagainsttheidea.Theytoldmetogotouniversityandstudyforfouryearsfirst,andthenIcouldthinkaboutit,butIdidn’tlikestudying,andevenifIdidgotouniversity,Ithoughttheywouldprobablytellmetogetajobatapropercompany.Intheend,Itooktheuniversityentranceexamsbutdidn’tpassthemonthefirsttry,soIhadtorepeattheyear.SoIwenttocramschoolforamonthortwo,butafterthatIjuststartedworkingpart-timeatTokyoAquariumFishwhilesayingIwasgoingtocramschool.IthoughtthatifIwenttouniversityandgotajob,IwouldneverbeabletobecomeaKoishopowner,soIdecidedtochangemyplansonmyown.Soyoustartedworkingpart-timeatTokyoAquariumFishasaKoishopworkerforthefirsttime?Ogiku:No,I’dbeenworkingpart-timeatTokyoAquariumFishsinceIwasinhighschool.Ididn’ttellanyonebecauseschooldidn’tallowit(lol).YouwentallthewayfromYokohamatoGinzaonSaturdaysandSundays?Ogiku:Yes,ittookoveranhourbytrain.Iwasahighschoolstudent,butIwaspaid1,000yenanhour,whichwasreallygood,butassoonasIgotpaid,I’dsay‘I’lltakethisKoi’...ItwasalmostlikeIwasbeingpaidinkind(lol).HowlongdidyouworkatTokyoAquariumFish,includingyourtimeathighschool?Ogiku:IthinkIwasthereforaboutthreeyears,untilIwas20.DidyoulearnalotaboutKoiandbusinessthere?Ogiku:Yes,Idid.IlearnedfromthepresidentofTokyoAquariumFish,MrShimizu,howtoattractcustomersbyholdingsaleseventsanddisplayingawiderangeofinterestingKoifromvariousbreeders.Atthetime,whenjumboTosaiwerenotyetbeingdistributedintheKantoregion,Mr.Shimizuwouldgotovariousplacestobuythem,suchasOgataKoiFarm,wherehewouldbuyjumboTosai,orhewouldgotobreederswhowereusingKoifromtheSakaiKoiFarmorTakedaKoiFarminHiroshima,oroldparentkoifromtheDainichiKoiFarm,andsoon.SoIwasabletoseeKoifromalloverthecountryinGinza.Ihadmanygoodcustomers,andwhenIdeliveredtotheirhomes,IwasabletoseethechangesintheKoiIhaddeliveredtheprevioustime,whichwasalsoalearningexperienceforme.IlearnedtherethatKoichangedependingonhowtheyarekeptandwhattheyarefed.Openedbusinessattheageof21,alsoengagedinproductionworkinNiigata.PurchasedpromisingKoiatlowcost.Ogikuwasintroducedinamagazinewhenshewasinjuniorhighschool.SoaftergraduatingfromTokyoAquariumFish,thehistoryofYokohamaNishikigoireallybegins,right?8 ## Page 09 ![Page 09の画像](https://img01.ebook5.net/nishikigoi/1q3OHs/contents/image/book/medium/image-000009.jpg) 【ページ内のテキスト情報】 MudpondsinYamakoshiTakesawa.MudpondsinYamakoshiTakesawa.MudpondsinYamakoshiTakesawa.MudpondsinMatto.Ogiku:Ididn’tgraduate,Idroppedout(laughs).ThefirsttimeIstartedwaswhenIwas21,Iputaroundpoolinthegardenofmyparents’house(inTomioka-nishi,Kanazawa-ku,YokohamaCity)andputupasignsaying“YokohamaPondMaintenance”,theforerunnerofYokohamaNishikigoi,andIranitforabouttwoyears.Afterthat,IranafacilityinNishishiba,KanazawaWard,forabout10years.Thatfacilitywasaboutaquarterthesizeofthecurrentone.ThenImovedhere(Akuwanishi,SeyaWard,YokohamaCity)andit’sbeenalmost19yearsnow.WhenIfirststartedoutatmyparents’house,IwasstudyingproductionataplacecalledSeitaroinUragara(OjiyaCity),andIalsorentedapondandgrewSankeforabouttwoyears.SoMr.Ohgiku,theNishikigoidealer,wasalsoinvolvedinthebreedingwork?Ogiku:Ithoughtthatyoucan’tbecomeaNishikigoidealerwithoutknowingtheproductionsideofthebusiness.SoyoucommutedtoNiigataduringthebusyseason?9 ## Page 10 ![Page 10の画像](https://img01.ebook5.net/nishikigoi/1q3OHs/contents/image/book/medium/image-000010.jpg) 【ページ内のテキスト情報】 Ogiku:Yes,Iwouldstaythereforaboutaweekatatime.Atthetime,therewasn’tmuchwork,soIdidvariousthings,suchasworkingpart-timeatagardeningshoptolearnlandscapingtechniques.Afterthat,yousetupashopinNishishiba,KanazawaWard,right?Ithinkyouwerestillinyourearly20satthetime,butdidyouhaveenoughmoneysaveduptobuildanindoorpond?Ogiku:No,Ididn’t(laughs).Ionlyhadalittlemoneysavedupfromworkingasagardener.That’swhyIbuiltthepondintheshopmyself,usingblocks.Eventhoughyouhadyourownshop,youwerestillaboutthesameageasanewmemberofsociety,andyoudidn’thavemuchexperience...I’msuresomecustomerslookeddownonyou.Ogiku:Itwasreallytough.Itwasalsodifficulttogooutandbuystock...Nowthebreedersareintheirsecondgeneration,butwhenIfirststartedout,Iwasdealingwiththeirfathers,soitwashardtobuytheKoiIwanted.AndwhenItriedtoselltheKoiIhadbought,thecustomerswouldlookdownonme.YokohamaCup;KoisoldinJulyandbredinspring-fedponds;contestheldinOctober.Iheardthatyouwereyoungandhadnoexperienceatthetime,soyouthoughtaboutwinningaprizeataKoishowtomakeyournameknown.Ogiku:That’sright.Whetherit’sgoodorbad,it’sstilltheyardstickbywhichkoishopsareevaluated.ButIdidn’thavethefundstobuygoodKoi,soIthoughtaboutwhatIcoulddo.Atthetime,thereweren’tmanypeoplefromoverseascomingtoJapan,soKoifromoutsidetheGosankewerecheap,soIdecidedtofocusonShusui,whichIliked.IhappenedtobeongoodtermswiththeYamajyuKoifarm(Yamakoshi),whichspecialisedinShusui,soIthoughtthatifIwonaprizewithaKoifromthere,mynamewouldbecomewellknown.Whatotherplacesdidyoubuyfromatthetime?Ogiku:IwenttotheHigashiyamaAgriculturalCooperativemarket,MarudoKoifarm,andtherewerealsodirectsaleseventsbeingheldinvariousvillagesatthetime,soIwouldbuytheKoiIliked.Atthetime,Ionlyhad30,000yenor50,000yentospend,andevenifItriedmyhardest,Icouldonlyaffordabout100,000yen,soIcouldn’tgotothebigKoifarmsyet.ThepopularNishikigoiseminar.Mr.Ohgikuexplainsthegrowthprocessofeachvariety,etc.Atmarketsandvillagefairs,hewouldfindKoithatlookedliketheywoulddowellinthefutureandbuythemcheaply.Ogiku:That’sright.Iwouldbuythemforaround10,000or20,000yenandthensellthemon.Atthattime,aKoiIhadsoldpreviouslywontheKokugyoPrize(Photo1).IwasstillgoingtoSeitaro’splace,andIwassellingtheminNiigata,borrowingSeitaro’sgarden.AcustomerwhohappenedtobepassingbyboughtoneoftheKoi,anditwontheKokugyoPrize.ItwasthefirsttimethataKoiIhadsoldhadwontheKokugyoprizeatSekiguchiKoiFarm10 ## Page 11 ![Page 11の画像](https://img01.ebook5.net/nishikigoi/1q3OHs/contents/image/book/medium/image-000011.jpg) 【ページ内のテキスト情報】 Showa.IthinkIhadputapriceof30,000yenonit,butthecustomersaiditwastooexpensive(laughs),soIgavethemaKoiworth10,000yenasaservice,soitwasactually20,000yen.Ithinkthecustomerkeptitforabouttwoyears.Theywereveryhappywithit,andthat’showIstartedtogettoknowthem.TheyboughtaprettygoodKoi.Afterthat,wegraduallystartedwinningprizesatKoishows,andourreputationspread,andwestartedgettingcustomers.Wewerealsoadvertisingatthetime,soIthinkthathadaneffecttoo.YokohamaNishikigoiisknownforitswidevarietyofKoi,fromtheGosanketoKawarigoi,butisthiswidevarietyyourpreference,orisittheneedsofyourcustomers?Ogiku:It’smypersonalpreference(laughs).IwantedtomakeitakindofNishikigoidepartmentstore,aplacewhereyoucouldgoandfindallsortsofKoi.Recently,thenumberofGosankehasincreased,butwhenIwasyounger,Icouldn’taffordtobuythembecausetheyweresoexpensive.IcouldgetSankebecausetheyweremadeatSeitaro’s,butIhadtogotothebigcompaniestobuyKohakuandShowasanshoku.Atthattime,Mr.HisashiHirasawaoftheMarudoKoifarmwasverykindtome,andhisfatherwasalsoverykind.WhenIsaidthatIdidn’thaveanymoneyandaskedifhecoulddosomethingaboutit,hesaid,‘Allright,that’sfine.That’swhyIhavethelongestrelationshipwithMarudo.Aftertworelocations,thestoreisnowinitscurrentlocation.Maintenanceworkandmonthlysalesarethemainpillarsofthebusiness.Andthenyoumovedtoyourcurrentlocationin2005,right?plaints,soIthoughtitwouldbedifficulttocontinuebusinesshere.Then,whenIwaslookingforanewlocation,Ihappenedtofindthisplaceforsale.Idecidedtotakeoutaloanandgiveitago.Creatinganindoorpondofthisscalewasarealturningpoint.There’salsoaparkinglotwithspaceforover10cars.(1)30thAllJapanNishikigoiShow45buKokugyoPrizeBreeder:SekiguchiKoiFarmHandler:YokohamaNishikigoiOgiku:Thelargestpondholds40tonsofwater,andtherearealso25-ton,15-ton,andtwo10-tonponds,aswellassix6-tonponds.Outsidethereisa25-tonquarantinepondforthingslikecaringforKoithathavebeenboughtin,andit’sdesignedsothattruckscaneasilypullupalongside.Ogiku:ThenumberofcustomersgraduallyincreasedattheNishishibashop,andmostofthemcamebycar,buttherewasnoparkingspace,sotheyhadtoparkonthestreet.Ashousesstartedtobebuiltaroundtheshop,westartedtogetcom-Ofalltheplacesyoulookedat,thiswasthebest?Ogiku:Atthetime,yes.WhenIboughtthisplace,Ichoseitbecausetheneighbourstoldmetheydrankwellwater,soIthoughtitwouldbegood.However,11 ## Page 12 ![Page 12の画像](https://img01.ebook5.net/nishikigoi/1q3OHs/contents/image/book/medium/image-000012.jpg) 【ページ内のテキスト情報】 (2)35thAllJapanNishikigoiShowBestinvarietiesBreeder:SakaiKoiFarmHandler:YokohamaNishikigoi(3)37thAllJapanNishikigoiShow70buKokugyoPrizeBreeder:GonjiroKoiFarmHandler:YokohamaNishikigoi(4)42ndAllJapanNishikigoiShowSakurachampion&BestinvarietiesBreeder:MiyaishiKoiFarmHandler:YokohamaNishikigoi(5)43rdAllJapanNishikigoiShowBestinvarietiesBreeder:SakaiKoiFarmHandler:YokohamaNishikigoi(6)45thAllJapanNishikigoiShow80buBotanprize&BestinvarietiesBreeder:MiyaishiKoiFarmHandler:YokohamaNishikigoi(7)44thAllJapanNishikigoiShow75buMaleKokugyoprizeBreeder:MarudoKoiFarmHandler:YokohamaNishikigoitheamountofwaterwasnotenough.Itwasfinefortoppingup,butitwasreallyhardtofillthepondaftercleaningit.IguessIdidn’tdoenoughresearchonthat.Iftherewasmorewater,IcouldmaketheKoibiggerandmorebeautiful.Doyoualsousetapwatertomakeupforthelackofwater?Ogiku:Yes,butthetapwaterisexpensive,andthewatertemperaturerisesinsummer,soit’shardwork.That’swhywefocusonmudponds.Thisyear12 ## Page 13 ![Page 13の画像](https://img01.ebook5.net/nishikigoi/1q3OHs/contents/image/book/medium/image-000013.jpg) 【ページ内のテキスト情報】 we’veincreasedthenumberofmudponds.YokohamaNishikigoiownsmanymudpondsinNiigata,doesn’tit?WhatelsecanyousayischaracteristicofYokohamaNishikigoi?Ogiku:Evenifyouopenakoishopandwaitforcustomers,theydon’tcome.So,inordertoearnastableincome,IthoughtIhadtoputmoreeffortintotheworkofmanagingcustomers’pondsandfacilities.Atfirst,IsoldKoiinmysparetime,apartfromthemanagementandmaintenancework.However,astheamountofworkinvolvedinmanagingandmaintainingthepondsgraduallyincreased,Inowspendalldayfrommorningtoeveningvisitingcustomers’ponds,andonbusydaysImayvisitasmanyasfivecustomers’homes,soIcanhardlystayintheshop.That’swhyIonlyopentheshoptwiceamonthforsales.Inadditiontothesalesevents,youalsoholdvariouseventstohelppeopleenjoyNishikigoi.DidyoustartthenowverypopularNishikigoiseminarsasawayofgivingsomethingbacktoyourcustomers?Ogiku:IwasoriginallyaKoienthusiastmyself,soIstartedthiseventwiththeideathatitwouldbenicetohavesomethinglikethis,orthatIwouldliketovisitaKoishoplikethis.You’vealsobeenrunningtheIkeagetourtoNiigatawithcustomersforquiteawhilenow,haven’tyou?Ogiku:That’sright.Atfirsttherewereonlytwoparticipants,butthenumbergraduallyincreased,andatonepointwewerehiringaminibustotakepeoplethere.Shusui,whopopularisedthenameofYokohamaNishikigoi.WonprizeswithawidevarietyofKoi,andeventheoffspringoftheparentKoiheprovidedalsowonprizes.I’dliketoaskyouabouttheKoithathavewonprizesatKoishowssofar.Ofcourse,theShowathatyoumentionedearlier,whichwontheKokugyoPrizeforthefirsttime,butIthinkthatthisShusui(Photo2)canalsobesaidtobeanimportantKoiforYokohamaNishikigoi,can’tit?Ogiku:That’sright.ThiswasaKoiIboughtatthefirstauctionIattendedattheSakaiKoifarm,anditwasareallygoodShusui.IthoughtI’djustbuythisoneandgohome,becauseIdidn’tneedanyoftheGosankethatday.Atthattime,onlydomestickoishopscametobuy,soitwasmucheasiertobuythanitisnow,butitwasstillveryexpensiveforaShusuiatthetime.Itcausedquiteastirattheauction.SoIboughtitandputitondisplayatmyfirstsale,butnooneboughtitbecauseitwassoexpensive.SoIkeptitinmymudpondsanditgrewup,andIputitonthecoveroftheDecember2002issueofthemonthlymagazineNishikigoi.ThenIgotacallfromRyuzo,thepreviouspresidentofNaritakoifarm,askingifIwouldsellhimthatShusui.SoIwenttodeliverittoNarita.Afterthat,Mr.TsubamotoNoriyukiownedit,didn’the?Ogiku:Yes,hedid.ItwontheBestinvarietiesprizetwiceandwasevenfeaturedinthenewspaper,soMr.Tsubamotowasverypleased.Afterthat,IsoldsomemoretohimthroughMr.Narita.ThisShusuiwasofferedbyMr.TsubamotoasaparentkoitohelpwiththerecoveryofNiigataPrefecture,theplacewhereitwasbred,aftertheChuetsuEarthquake.ThesecondKokugyoPrizeKohaku(Photo3)wasboughtbyacustomerfromShigaPrefecture,wasn’tit?Ogiku:ThisKoiwassoldataninternetauction.ThisAigoromo(Photo4)wasalsoanimpressiveKoi.13