Breeder info Feb 08 - Peter Waddington
(copyright Peter Waddington/Tategoi-koi Feb 2008)
Hirasawa Yoshiyuki, also known as ‘Marusei’ or ‘Seitaro’, is probably the second biggest producer of Koi in the world –second only to Hiroshima Sakai (Hiroji).
This man started out some 20 years ago and vowed to his two sons that he would become the finest Nishikigoi breeder in the world if they agreed to work for him in later years. The later years are now here and both his sons are still working for him!
It is said that he (Yoshiyuki) has over 500 mud ponds and I do not disbelieve this statement. I do know that he would be able to supply Nishikigoi in all grades, all sizes and all varieties at prices ranging from the very cheap to the extremely expensive.
The range of varieties available from Hirasawa is really incredible – he has just about every variety of Koi under the sun - except for only a few Showa. He is also a very nice man once you get to know him, but he always tends to keep his very special Koi hidden from view and not put on public display.
The actual varieties that can be found here are Kohaku, Sanke, some Showa, Kigoi, Beni-Goi, Aka Matsuba, Asagi, Shusui, Kujaku, Chagoi, Ochibashigure, Yamabuki, some Bekko, Kin Showa and many one-off Nishikigoi. All in all, a one-stop Koi shop –and in any quality one could desire!
His main base is in Utogi village (pronounced OOT-TOGI, not YOU-TOGI) in Yamakoshi, but he has now purchased a large new building in Araya village, near to ‘Choguro’ and has built many ponds inside, although they are very difficult to walk around –that is unless you have a good head for heights, which I do not!
It must also be mentioned that feeding all the Koi in over 500 mud ponds during the summer months must be a truly daunting task, and I’ve no idea how he can possibly manage to do it all in just one working day with only a staff of three to assist him.
The overseas ‘regulars’ to Japan can always be fond at this outlet and they return day after day to see the new stocks that come in from each new harvest.
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