Momotaro 'Azukarigoi' 2009 (Keeping Koi)
Koibito Japan manages the keeping (or in Japanese, 'Azukari') of koi in Japan for many of our customers. We went to Momotaro today to take photos and catch up with some of our customer's koi...
We are highlighting 8 fish below which are being kept at Momotaro Koi Farm...
GR Kohaku 3 yrs, 65 cm (2 yrs, 51 cm)
GR Kohaku 5 yrs, 80 cm (4 yrs, 74 cm)
P-Sanke 3 yrs, 68 $cm (2 yrs, 60 cm)
Sanke 3 yrs, 65 cm (2 yrs, 57 cm)
Sanke 'Momoka' 4 yrs, 72 cm (3 yrs, 67 cm)
Sanke 'Ryu-X 2' 6 yrs, 91 cm (5 yrs, 84 cm)
Showa 3 yrs, 62 cm (2 yrs, 54 cm)
Maruten Sanke 6 yrs, 89 cm (5 yrs, 84 cm)
All of the above fish are really striking in their own right, but out of these 8 keeping fish, the koi called P-Sanke, Momoka and Ryu-X 2 have really come on leaps and bounds.
'P-Sanke' was kept in the 1500 ton pond over the summer along with both GR Kohaku pictured below. Traditionally, 1500 ton pond has been reserved for growning Jumbo koi, but this summer Maeda San decided to try the pond with smaller koi...2, 3 and 4 yr olds. The pond has produced some good results.
Comparing the photos of this and last year, you can really see good sumi development in several places with 'P-Sanke', with new sumi coming through, and sumi that was already present really tightening-up and becoming nice and glossy. The overall skin quality of this koi was excellent when purchased last year, it has really developed well into a beautiful 3-sai koi. Koibito Japan really were the very first people to be offered a chance to sell this koi. At the time of viewing 'P-Sanke' as a 2 year old, Maeda san had shown it to no-one else.
Another koi kept indoors this summer was 'Ryu-X 2'. This koi is related to 'Ryu-X', (see last photo below), was a famous Sanke bred by Momotaro Koi Farm and sold by Koibito Japan to Mr. Giel van Alphen of DeScheper. 'Ryu-X' was Superior Champion at the 2006 ZNA Koi Show, and nominated Top 5 in the All Japan Koi Show the same year.
'Ryu-X 2', grew an amazing 7 cm from 84 cm to 91 cm indoors in Momotaro's 100 ton conditioning pond over the summer. This koi is only 6 years old, and still has plenty of time to build a strong body. Comparing photos, you can see the sumi all over the body is still progressing well, and damage on one of the scales on it's shoulder has all but healed. The body has also built a little more volume that last year. With another year or two in the careful hands of Momotaro's Maeda San, and his staff, we really hope this koi can be something very special in the future.
FInally, on to koi which were kept in the mudponds...Sanke 65cm, Showa 62cm, and 'Momoka' 72cm. Of all of these koi, the one that really catches your eye the most is 'Momoka'. The gracious lines of this koi, are quite breath-taking. From sashi to sumi, there are improvements all over.
The first plate of beni after the maruten has picked up a delightful spot of sumi of the left hand side, which hopefully develops on through to 5-sai. On the opposite side of the same plate of beni the sumi has subsided a little and tighted up at the same time. Looking on the back you can really see how the sashi has retracted under the glossy shiroji that covers the whole body. Following through to the dorsal fin, you can also see some interesting spots of sumi developing. The final odome section at the tail has also seen the last sopt of sumi really gloss over, producing a very pleasing line for your eye to follow when viewing this koi.
The development of the Momotaro Sanke has been very special this year for our customers, hopefully you will be seeing some of these koi in shows in 2010, and in years to come. Congratualtions to all the owners of these wonderful koi!
