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Archive for the 'Industry Profiles' Category

Nov 16 2009

Some Images from the 2009 ZNA show in Izumosano, Japan

Published by millermt under Industry Profiles, Travel, Views of the industry

Below are a few images from the 2009 ZNA show which ended yesterday. The ZNA is an international koi hobbyist organization which was founded in Japan but now has chapters all over the world, including one in Portland, Oregon. Enjoy the pictures.

: The trophies

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Nov 13 2009

Japan 2009: Niigata – Agritourism and Koi Kichi

Published by millermt under Industry Profiles, Travel, Uncategorized, Views of the industry, animal husbandry

I’m in Japan again to continue learning about the Japanese Koi industry. I’m currently in Niigata, generally considered to be the birthplace of Nishikigoi (koi) keeping and production. What began as rice framers rearing carp as an additional food source in small rural villages has evolved into a major industry that rivals rice production and brings hobbyists and dealers from all over the world to this mountainous area of Japan. This is now an industry that really caters to the international markets. I’ve read that 80% of the koi produced in this area are exported out of Japan. Further a thriving sub-industry has developed catering to the international koi dealers and their customers, the koi Kichi (Koi crazy), that travel to this area every year to view and purchase nishikigoi, a unique example of agritourism. Below are a few images that illustrate the extent to which nishikigoi have become part of the landscape here in Ojiya city and the surrounding countryside especially as the local breeders and the small communities have developed an infrastructure to cater to the visiting koi kichi.

: Bowling koi

: Outside one breeders facility, Marusaka, in the mountains

: Catching up koi for bowling

: Entrance to the International Nishikigoi Center

: fry pond in the mountains

: Gardens at the International Nishikigoi Center

: Nishikigoi Gift Shop

: Nishikigoi Gift Shop

: Entrance to a tunnel under the street in Ojiya City

: Entrance to tunnels under the street in Ojiya City

: A manhole cover in Ojiya City. Yes, a manhole cover!!

: The Center of the Nishikigoi world – sign outside the International Nishikigoi Center (the koi museum)

: Dr. Tim at a local koi breeders facility in the mountains

: Dr. Tim at the Koi Museum

: Ponds for valuable koi are indoors on the second floor. Note to wood supports on the trees. This is to prevent breakage during the heavy winter snows.

: Why we are here!! Some hungry tosai (1 year olds)

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Nov 09 2008

Observations: The world of Koi in Japan – ZNA All Japan Show

Published by millermt under Industry Profiles, Travel, Views of the industry, biosecurity

I’ve travelled to Japan to spend a week visiting a number of koi breeders around Niigata and Hiroshima and to attend the ZNA All Japan Nishikigoi (Koi) show. I was invited by Tony Prew and Arthur Hixon of Oregon Koi Gardens to travel with them on one of their annual buying trips. My travel was very generously sponsored by Gil and Jan Gilman of Peaceful Ponds.

I arrived in Narita international airport last night on a flight from Hawaii (more about that part of the trip later) and met Tony. We then caught a train into Tokyo. From there we traveled on the Shinkasen (the Bullet Train) to Nagaoka. Then a one of Tony Prew’s friends, a local breeder, Mr. Hoshino met us and drove us to our hotel in Ojyia City. After a good night’s sleep and some breakfast we were off to the Koi Show.

This show is the ZNA All Japan Koi Show. It is in its 44th year and is the premier show for hobbyists in Japan.

One feature that I found interesting was their solution to the Japanese style vs the English style koi show. For those of you that are not familiar with these terms in a Japanese style show all the fish in the same size class and variety are generally placed in the same tank for judging. This method presents some serious risks to the fish in terms of potential disease transmission in that you are mixing fish from different sources with potentially unknown health histories. The solution to this problem was the English style koi show in which all fish from the same owner are placed together in one tank regardless of size and variety. This presents a problem for the Judges as they cannot compare all of the fish of the same class side-by-side. They must circulate between all of the tanks. However, the risk of disease transmission is significantly reduced provided people keep their hands out of the water and all equipment is adequately disinfected between tanks and measures are taken to reduce the risk of splash between tanks.

The the solution the Japanese have now developed is to hold the fish in bags for judging where they are grouped by size and variety. Once they are judged the bags surfaces are disinfected and the fish are transferred to tanks allocated to each owner in the English style fashion. These plastic bags apparently have an improved optical quality that allows the judges to adequately assess the fish. Further, the fish that I observed appeared to be quite calm and in general I did not see many fish with overt signs of stress. An interesting solution. I will be curious to see how this method pans out over the next few years.