Tokyo/Ojiya/Isawa/Hiroshima/Minuma Bound PSKoi Winter 2021

[Russell Peters]

This is a video of our chef making a Sushi "rose". The picture shows the final product under a light.

[Russell Peters]

We did a little drinking, consumed some Saki and beer, but we left around 11pm and I went back to the hotel. The hotel was a small local hotel and, as it turns out, the hotel was empty. The owner and the staff had already planned to take the day off when Mike booked a room for me. There was no one there but they left the front door of the hotel open and my key was sitting on the front counter. I got into my room and was planning to do some posting when I realized I could not sign in to the WiFi because everything was in Japanese so I could not find a password. So...that is my story and I am sticking to it as it could have nothing to do with the alcohol that was consumed.

[Russell Peters]

I went to Omosako Koi farm next. He is located in a town South of Fukyama and between Hiroshima City and Kure but closer to Kure. It is a nice drive, a little bit over and hour, and his farm is nestled in the hills. It is very easy to miss as the roads, close to his farm, are very narrow and windy. It is nice going to farms in the middle of nowhere as it is just so peaceful and enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, being in Ojiya surrounded by people , and traffic, at Koi farms is not a bad way to spend the day either.

I got to see Mark Corser's Shiro, Zulu Princess, and she has bulked up and grown. She's a brute at about 33".

[Russell Peters]

In the same tank were a lot of very large Koi, including these two. A Kujaku and Goshiki. They seemed to be in the 36" range so I asked Takayoshi Omosako and he smiled and said, "I have a Kujaku over 1 meter". Looking at his Goshiki they don't seem to be too far behind. I mentioned that he must have the largest Goshiki and Kujaku in the industry and I got a simple answer.
"Yes".

[Russell Peters]

It has always been very difficult to get alot of Kujaku Tosai from Omosako as they are in demand. A couple of years ago I got 6 or 7 and they sold right away. Last year I wasn't able to get any. I thought that there might be some nice Nisai to look at so I had him pull a couple. These are 18" to 20" Nisai females. The skinny one is just that, skinny, but will become a behemoth. Wide head and a very long body and she could be one that gets to 36". It didn't surprise me at the cost so she is going to be staying there for someone else to buy.

[Russell Peters]

I was able to pick up a few Kujaku Tosai but did not have time for individual pictures as I spent a lot of time picking Shiro Utsuri Tosai. It was almost 5pm when I finished with the Shiro so I didn't want to impose any longer.

[Russell Peters]

One of the Koi that Omosako has, that is debated highly in the US, is the Tancho Shiro Utsuri. Every year I buy some and post them and get arguements how it just isn't possible as once it has Beni it is a Showa.

I spent the day at Omosako going through some tanks of Tosai. In the Shiro Utsuri Tosai tanks he had Tancho. Right across from that tank was a tank full of Showa Tosai. In the Showa tank I saw some Tancho Showa. At that point, since both Takahiro and Takayoshi were there, I pointed to the Shiro tankd and said " Tancho Shiro" and then pointed to the Showa tank and said
"Tancho Showa". They both smiled and said "YES!" like I had just won the jackpot. I then told them that no one in the US believes this to be true, I am sure I was exaggerating as there must be one person in the US that believes this, and that it is an arguement I have every year. They said "please keep telling every one the difference".

What is the difference? Well, true Shiro Utsuri are NOT failed Showa, in fact they come from Hi Utsuri. Shiro Ustsuri are bred from Shiro Utsuri. Therefore any Tancho that come from them are Tancho Shiro Utsuri. I have asked a few breeders about this and they say that Shiro Sumi is not the same as Showa Sumi. The argument is always "well, Shiro are a two color fish and Showa are a three color fish so how can you call it a Tancho Shiro? By definition is has to be a Tancho Showa." It is simple, breeders don't over think it, if it comes from a Shiro Utsuri spawn then it is a Tancho Shiro Utsuri.

Call it what you will but I think Omosako has something here...Tancho Shiro Utsuri

[Russell Peters]

I bought a Shiro Utsuri Tosai for myself. Excellent body and shine.

[KurtG]

I have one dark and one lightly patterned SU from Omosako. How much of pattern development is chance? I don't even see any sumi in the one you chose.

[Russell Peters]

I have one dark and one lightly patterned SU from Omosako. How much of pattern development is chance? I don't even see any sumi in the one you chose.

I don't know but look at the body on this one.