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Igarashi Koi Farm- Kin Kikokuryu:The sensational new variety
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There is a Koi show called Nogyosai
once
a year (the end of October) in Niigata
where
all the breeders will enter their Koi.
This
is one of the three biggest Koi shows
and
very authoritative. It is Kin Kikokuryu
of
Mr. Seiki Igarashi that obtained the
most
attention at the Nogyosai 2000.
Mr. Seiki Igarashi created Kin Kikokuryu.
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| Mr. Seiki Igarashi and Mamoru Kodama,chairman
of Miyoshiike |
Ojiya city is the center of Nishikigoi breeding.
Mr.Igarashi has his big farm deep in the
mountains about 10 miles away from Ojiya
city. He breeds many varieties including
Gosanke (Kohaku, Sanke and Showa.) He started
breeding Koi with his father, Yoshiichi,
when he was 17 years old in 1966. Now he
has 35 years of- breeding experience. When
he started Koi breeding, there were about
6000 breeders in Niigata, but now there are
only 200. This means Nishikigoi has been
an artwork. If you were not able to breed
more beautiful Nishikigoi than anybody else,
nobody would buy your Koi and you could not
survive. Mr. Igarashi has been working hard
in this competitive world.
To be recognized as Nishikigoi breeder, there
are only two ways: either you breed the most
beautiful Nishikigoi or you created a new
variety that nobody has ever bred. Some 32
years after he started breeding Nishikigoi,
he became recognized as an authority by completing
"Kin Kikokuryu." Now let's have
a closer look at Kin Kikokuryu that he finally
completed.
What is Kin Kikokuryu?
Kin Kikokuryu originated from Karasugoi.
Through all the process of Magoi ? Karasugoi
? Hajiro ? Doitsu Hajiro ? Kumonryu ? Kikokuryu,
Kin Kikokuryu was finally completed. In this
process, every variety is indispensable.
For example, though nobody knows who developed
Karasugoi from Magoi, if he did not succeed
in the completion, the variety of Kin Kikokuryu
would never be developed. Koi breeders realize
their duty and make efforts while respecting
the great achievements of their seniors.
We must understand that the stupendously
long period and breeders' efforts make beautiful
Nishikigoi possible.
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| (Pic1)Mr. Igarashi's Kin Kikokuryu caused
a big sensation in Nishikigoi world. |
Kin Kikokuryu of Mr. Igarashi
Kin Kikokukryu (pic 1) was entered at the
40th Nogyosai in 2000 and astonished and
impressed everyone. The mysterious beauty
consisted of shinning tanned pattern on the
skin of Nezu Ogon was unforgettably beautiful.
Because it has the blood of Karasugoi, it
has Sumi on the entire body including mouth,
head and fins. That creates the stout and
distinguished atomosphere. Also, because
of the Sumi , the Hi pattern looks shinning
tanned and matches well with the skin of
Nezu Ogon. The pattern is three steps. It
is a wonderful design. The high level pattern
and grave-looking is highly appreciated.
Also, it is interesting that his Kin Kikokuryu
has different versions even if they are brothers
and sisters. They are categorized into six
groups. The first type is (A). This is Kikokuryu.
Because Kin Kikokuryu was developed based
on Kikokuryu, it is natural that Kikokuryu
appears. What is unique is that type (B)
appeared. This is the point of Igarashi's
Kin Kikokuryu. In other words, we can summarize
that Igarashi Kin Kikokuryu is type (A) and
type (B) mixed in various versions. Please
look at type (D). It is obvious that it has
the characteristics of both type (A) and
(B). And when it loses shine, type (E) appears.
They are beautiful. The Japanese Koi hobbyists
like this kind of Koi that has the atomasphere
of "Sabi." ( Koi that is not gorgeous
but rather quiet and still beautiful.) Type
(E) and (F) are what Mr. Igarashi tries to
breed.
Like this, his Kin Kikokuryu are categorized
into mainly 6 groups. One of the reasons
of the popularity is that Kin Kikokuryu has
various versions and gives the hobbyists
choices.
Now let me look at each type in details.
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| Type(A) |
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| Type(B) |
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| Type(C) |
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| Type(D) |
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| Type(E) |
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| Type(F) |
Type (A) Kikokuryu
It is common sense that Sumi does not appear
well on platinum body. But Mr. Igarashi's
Koi has strong Sumi on the platinum body.
Sumi and platinum are divided clearly. This
is ideal. The tips of pectoral fins shin
well. You may wonder why Kikokuryu come out
of Kin Kikokuryu. To tell the truth, because
he uses Kikokuryu as a male parent, this
makes sense.
Type (B) Kin Kikokuryu
This is the very new type in Koi world. It
is very mysterious how this type of Koi appeared,
but Mr. Igarashi made the mystery realized.
It is a very interesting type and we expect
many beautiful Koi will be developed from
this type.
Type (C ) Kin Kikokuryu
This is the type of mixing type (A) and (B).
As Mr. Matsuo put Hi on Kumonryu to create
Beni Kumonryu by mixing Kohaku and Kumonryu,
Mr. Igarashi tried to put Hi on Kikokuryu.
Because Kikokuryu is a metallic Koi, it was
difficult to put good Hi and Sumi. And after
a lot of efforts, he finally succeeded in
putting good Hi and Sumi. Originating from
this type, beautiful Kin Kikokuryu has been
bred.
Type (D) Momiji
This is type (C ) without shine. Mr. Igarashi
named it "Momiji." It has various
colors from yellow to red just like autumn
tints (eMomiji' in Japanese). This is an
interesting and attractive Koi to Koi collectors.
At Koi shows, it will go under the category
of Kawarimono.
Type (E) Kin Kikokuryu
Type (C ) has mainly one large step. In type
(E), the pattern becomes more refined. The
pattern is as important as in the other varieties.
Two Koi in the picture both have good pattern.
This coloration may look weak, but it is
what this type originally has. So this is
OK. Also, Sumi appears on the entire body
from its head to tail section. This is an
important factor of this variety. Please
remember this as the characteristic of Kin
Kikokuryu. This type sometimes looks very
similar to Kujyaku, but this Sumi is the
clue to tell them apart.
Type (F) Kin Kikokuryu
This type resembles Kujyaku very much. But
in a closer look, the entire body has Sumi
unlike Kujyaku. Hi coloration is beautiful.
The pattern is excellent. Among the two Koi
in the picture, the one on the right has
better pattern. Then, how about with Picture
1. The picture (F) has better designed pattern.
But Picture 1 has stronger Sumi on the body
like face and pectoral fins and emphasizes
the character of picture 1. Therefore, Picture
1 is better. At Koi shows, we judge not only
the beauty but also characters that the variety
originally has. Among the two Koi, though
Koi (F) has better pattern, Picture 1 shows
the character of Kin Kikokuryu better. |
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