Living Jewels
-Monthly Newsletter from Japan Koi Online-

2004/2/29.VOL.010.HTML

Dear Valued Members,

How are you?

I want to begin this e-newsletter with an apology. In the last issue, we offered 10 autographed certificates when purchasing a copy of the book, Kokugyo. They were gone very quickly. However, thanks to one customer, we were kindly informed that there was a complication in our new online ordering system. After talking with other customers, I noticed that many of them were not able to order the book online for the same reason.

Because of this problem, I asked my father to send me 10 more autographed certificates. As an apology, I would like to offer these 10 this month, too. This is the final 10 certificates we have. After this, unless you find him at a seminar or other event, you will not be able to have his signature. So be sure to place your order quickly. I will bet that they will fly out the door just like last time.

Also, I have GREAT NEWS for everybody. We were finally able to negotiate lower rates with Fedex. Since we started to ship Koi with Fedex in 2001, they have raised their rates by 10-13%. For example, it was $104 from California to the East Coast by priority overnight. Now, the current pricing schedule, for a 35 lb. box is $119.61 which includes fuel surchages. While Fedex kept raising their fees, we struggled to hang in at the old rate because I came to this country to offer beautiful Japanese Koi at a more reasonable price. Raising your shipping costs are the last thing I wanted to do. I finally was able to meet with a Fedex representative, here in my office. I explained how much our customers enjoy our Koi and that we MUST negotiate a DECREASE in the Fedex shipping fees, any increase was not acceptable.

Now we can ship Koi to the East coast for $95 instead of the 2001 rate of $104, nor their current price schedule of $119.61. The new rate will be effective as of March 1st. I hope this will make our Koi and service more affordable and enjoyable.

Thank you again for reading our e-newletter.

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<<Contents>>

Koi Auction Updates
Products of this month-Kokugyo/ Manda Fu
Kodama's Niigata Diary-Koi's trip from Japan
News- Fedex new rate / Kokugyo Vol. 2

Koi Auction Updates

More than 9684 Koi auctioned since 2001

< Pick Up!! Pick Up!! Pick Up!! Pick Up!! Pick Up!! Pick Up!! Pick Up!! Pick Up!! Pick Up!! >
			Closing from 19:00 (Pacific time) on 2/29
			-->Go to Auction Now!!
< Pick Up!! Pick Up!! Pick Up!! Pick Up!! Pick Up!! Pick Up!! Pick Up!! Pick Up!! Pick Up!! >

Products of this month

The last 10author's signature paper

Kokugyo
-Bible for Koi lovers-
Personally Autographed by Author
Autograph
& Company's Seal

Kokugyo

Mr. Galen Hansen, M.D. (Certified Judge of Associated Koi Clubs of America) says in KOI USA "all of the AKCA judges highly recommend that you purchase Mr. Kodama's new book, Kokugyo. We feel this is a must have book that any koi lover can not do without. Mr. Kodama is so knowledgeable, enlightening all of us to new information and easy to understand approaches to understanding Koi." (KOI USA Vol.27) This is a bible for all the Koi lovers.

My father, Mamoru Kodama, autographed on high quality paper. His actual calligraphic signature with his company's seal stands out. This will make your book more valuable and original.

If you purchase Kokugyo book now, we will attach this limited edition of Kodama's signature. Unfortunately, we have only 10. So please order NOW.

This is the last chance to get his autographed paper. Please do not miss it. If you again have trouble placing an order online, please e-mail your order to order@japankoionline.com

More details & Order

Be ready for the season with MANDA FU!

MANDA FU
Fu, a traditional Japnese food, is developed exclusively for Koi. This digestible food is very gentle and the best for Koi that have just experienced the long fasting period.
Manda Nishiki, added growth activating ferment, also promotes health and lustrious color.
Made in Japan

More details & Order

Order at Japankoionline.com

Kodama's Niigata Diary

The shipment of Nishikigoi

Mamoru Kodama

Founder CEO of Miyoshiike
Author of Kokugyo, considered as a bible for Koi lovers.
Also contributes an article on breeder's profile every KOI USA

Today, I would like to report how Koi are shipped from our place to JKO

.
I knew the world of Nishikigoi 40 years ago and I began to work in it.
In those days, I put Nishikigoi in a wooden box that was set up on the inside with tin and transported it by train from Niigata to the head office.
Now I put Nishikigoi in a plastic bag which I put oxygen in and then transport them..
However, there was not such a method in those days.
Therefore, the transportation of Nishikigoi occured during a period of the winter when Nishikigoi did not use most of the oxygen.
We can carry Nishikigoi to the far-off U.S.A. and just about anywhere now because we can use plastic bags and oxygen now.
So, we can do a quick transportation now that it is so much more convenient.

Mr.Takayama treats Nishikigoi politely and carefully

At 4:00 a.m., it is still dark outside.
There are many boxes in front of the head office with many Nishikigoi in it.Today is a shipping day of Nishikigoi to JKO.
Mr. Takayama prepares many beautiful and bouncing Nishikigoi in a swimming pool, and he puts all of them in the vinyl bags.
The water temperature on this day is 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Nishikigoi have had to wake up early in the morning and seem to be surprised!
Mr. Takayama has been engaged in this work for 12 years. He puts ten Nishikigoi in each plastic bag.

Mr.Kawai

Mr. Kawai fills up the plastic bag with oxygen.
Because Nishikigoi can be startled by the sudden input of oxygen, he is diligent to work carefully.
Mr. Kawai loves Nishikigoi and music.

Mr.Kawai puts Nishikigoi in the box.

After the bags are filled with oxygen, He puts the Nishikigoi in a corrugated cardboard box that is used for them exclusively.
When the Nishikigoi are put in the corrugated cardboard box, after having come out of their comfortable pond, they can feel very tense.
Therefore, they treat Nishikigoi carefully and slowly as they are prepared for their journey.

Because it is pitch-black in the box this helps the Nishikigoi to settle down.

The outside became bright gradually.

All the boxes with Nishikigoi are loaded into a truck, and then they are carried to Nagoya Airport.
The Nishikigoi arrive at JKO in California 24 hours later.
Nishikigoi are quarantined for health safety after their arrival for a time period of one month.This quarantine and inspection is very important to the health care of Nishikigoi.
When the quarantine and testing is complete and the Nishikigoi receive their clean "bill of health" then and only then are they approved and safe to be offered on our Internet auction.
In this way, wonderful Nishikigoi that have been sent from Japan are shown approximately one month later at the JKO site.

News

NEW Fedex lower rate will be effective as of March 1st
Thanks to your supports, we managed to have enouch volume of shipments to negotiate the fee.

Kokugyo Vol. 2 is almost complete and will be out in April.
Since Kokugyo Vol.1 was published 2 years ago, the book has been a bible for serious Koi hobbyists. Now my father complied hundreds of pictures, knowledges and experience to complete Kokugyo Vol. 2. We have spent years again to complete this project. I will talk more in details in the next newsletter.