Japan Buying Trip – Day 6: Reflections on an Extraordinary Autumn Journey

As we settled into our seats on train heading back to Tokyo I reflected on a photo that popped up on my phone—a memory from two and a half years ago. Woody and I  bumped into each other by chance at Maruhiro, both exploring Japan on separate trips.

This time, we travelled together and the journey home was a good chance to reflect on a week that has been full of discovery, learning, and some truly exceptional koi.

Watch Woody from Koi In The UK's day 6 vlog here:

Watch directly on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/_B-SkIUsTz8?si=RX1v4jJBCkM0cHFR

Watch all his content on his youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@KoiintheUK

Autumn in Japan: A Different Kind of Magic

My previous two visits here were winter trips—Niigata takes on the look of a magical winter wonderland with practical difficulties as the farms buried under deep snow, with some fish house's really tricky to drive to - and some not possible to visit. This time, Japan greeted us with warm, golden autumn days. The mountainsides were splashed with changing leaves, fish houses were buzzing with fresh harvests, and dealers from all over the world descending on the area.

 

It felt alive in a totally different way—vibrant, colourful, and full of movement.

A Trip Fuelled by Broodstock Ambition

This journey had a very particular purpose:
to strengthen and expand our broodstock for Goshiki, and look for new breeding lines at Byer Koi Farm.

Some of our best-selling varieties today originate from broodstock purchased during that same trip when I first bumped into Woody at Marudo, such as our Goshiki line.

This year I came with intent to expand our rosta of Goshiki breeding stock so we can produce them in larger quantities.  And also to review opportunities for Aragoke and leaving space for inspiration, perhaps something new.

Highlights From the Farms

There were lots of stand out moments with the breeders.  here are just a few highlights.

Yamamatsu – A Conversation to Remember

A standout moment was the time spent with Yamamatsu. He is a breeder utterly dedicated to doing things his way.
While many breeders now focus on fast-developing sumi to meet market demand, Yamamatsu holds firm to his own aesthetic—slower, larger blocks of sumi with a traditional, ink-like depth.

He personally showed us his tategoi Nisai and Sansai, explaining his artistic thinking as if he were walking us through a gallery. That level of openness and passion is rare, and I left deeply inspired.

Koshiji – Insights Into Complex Breeding

Another superb conversation came from Koshiji's farm manager, who walked us through the breeding lines behind their Doitsu Metallic Ochiba

I asked him about improving certain traits in our own breeding, and his response was wonderfully grounding—acknowledging that they face the same challenges we do.

He demonstrated how wildly varied the fry can be from a Doitsu Metallic spawning—an enormous genetic palette compared to something like Shiro Utsuri, where you simply keep the black fry after a week.

It’s reassuring to know that even the masters wrestle with the same puzzles.

Marujyu – Exceptional Kohaku

Right at the start of the trip, on “Day 0”, we visited Marujyu again. Shigeru walked us through what he considered to be their best Kohaku, and it was breathtaking.
The beni was thick, bright, and almost backlit—glowing in a way that’s impossible to capture on camera. Seeing koi of that calibre up close is something I’ll never take for granted.

Goshiki, Goshiki, and More Goshiki

One of the major goals this trip was to strengthen our Goshiki lines, and that mission was thoroughly accomplished.

At Hiroi, we found a tank of individually priced elite males—pricey, but exceptional—and I nearly cleared the whole tank of Goshiki, leaving only one behind. Their bodies, colour, and beni quality were outstanding. I picked up five, giving us five strong shots for future breeding.

And then there was Koda.

What a picking session.We found a vein of remarkable fish:

• Doitsu Goshiki

• fully scaled variants

• a wide selection of tanchos and gin rins too

• two Sansai for the farm (including a top-drawer Doitsu Showa and a stunning Tancho Kujaku)

It was one of the most enjoyable and rewarding selections I’ve ever done.

Goshiki – Four New Females

Another objective was to bolster our Goshiki females line up. At Ozumi Ikarashi, I secured four high-quality female Goshiki, each one full of potential.

The Food, the Fish Market, and the Simple Joys

It wouldn’t be a true Japan blog without mentioning the food.
7-Eleven sandwiches, fruit-and-cream bread creations that shouldn’t work but absolutely do, and a spontaneous visit to the fish market—every meal here seems to have its own charm.

It’s these small details that round out the whole experience.

Seeing My Own Boxes, at the Source

A surprisingly meaningful moment came when I saw my early autumn harvest purchases being packed and shipped back to the UK.

Because Amanda and I pack and ship boxes every week at the farm, standing there watching the Japanese breeders doing the same—moving boxes with my own shipping label—felt like a perfect closing of the circle.

Looking Ahead – The Next Trip

Will I be back? Absolutely.

Next time, I plan to:

• get to Sekiguchi earlier in the week

• focus on quality female Showa

• continue strengthening our broodstock

• and bring back even higher-grade fish for our customers.

Every trip here is different, and that’s part of the magic.

Final Thoughts

This autumn buying trip has been one of the most rewarding I’ve ever had.
From outstanding breeder conversations to discovering new broodstock, to picking some of the most exciting fish I’ve seen in years for our koi shop—Japan delivered on every level.

Thank you for following along with the updates.

More videos, photos, and individual koi highlights will be shared over the coming weeks.