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Article
January/February 2005
Genjiro Koi Farm-
Genjiro Koi Farm breeds with the pure blood of Sadazo Sanke.
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| Mr.
Takashi Kobayashi, The fourth owner of Genjiro Koi
Farm |
This time, I visited the Genjiro Koi Farm with its history
of four generations (Genjiro, Tetsuji, Hirokichi, and Takashi).
The current owner of Genjiro is Mr. Takashi Kobayashi, who
is 52 years old, and an excellent breeder. I asked him about
his Sanke today.
Kodama:
Everybody knows your excellent Taisho
Sanke. Why do you call it "Sadazo Sanke of Genjiro"
instead of "Genjiro Sanke"?
Kobayashi:
As you know, Sadazo Sanke came to appear 50 years agoand
the bloodlineproduced many excellent Koi. At the same
time, breeders competed to use them as parents. As the result,
it raised the level of beauty in Taisho Sanke variety.
Sadazo Sanke contributed a lot to Koi industry. Each breeder
used
Sadazo Sanke to improve his/her Koi. But nobody preserved
the pure line as is and nobody produces Sanke with the
pure lines of Sadazo Sanke for both parents. At this point,
I
do not know anybody but myself.
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| Genjiro
cedar 300 years old |
Kodama:
Many excellent Taisho Sanke of the Dainichi Koi Farm have the Sadazo blood.
Kobayashi:
Yes. It is not too much to say every Taisho Sanke produced
in Japan has Sadazo blood. I do not believe no other
bloodline contributed so much to the improvement of
Taisho Sanke
as Sadazo Sanke. Of course, as you said, the greatest
contribution was the bloodline was connected to Dainichi
Sanke. But
during
the 50 years, the Sadazo blood is getting thinner and
thinner at any breeders.
Kodama:
I think it is more than just "thin." I think the traces
of Sadazo blood are completely gone.
Kobayashi:
Every breeder introduced strength of Sadazo in order to
improve his Koi. And of course, the introduced blood will
be thinner and thinner over generations. But I am different.
I breed Sanke using the "pure blood Sadazo Sanke" for both
of the parents. "Pure line of Sadazo Sanke must not exterminate
for Nishikigoi industry." "Genjiro preserves the bloodline
of Sadazo Sanke." This is the mission I succeeded from
my father, Hirokichi.
Kodama:
Respectful thought.
Kobayashi:
Because the blood of Sadazo Sanke is pure and precious,
I purposely call them “Sadazo Sanke of Genjiro” instead
of “Genjiro Sanke.”
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| *pic3 Pure Sadazo Sanke - Parent Koi |
Kodama:
I see. How thick is the blood?
Kobayashi:
This is direct from the first generation. So the line
is the purest you can get. 55years ago, my father, Hirokichi
Kobayashi, purchased 10 Tosai from Sadazo in Nigorisawa.
He made the original parents out of the 10 Koi and had
bred until 1990. Unfortunately, the parent died for the
accidents.
But their child is here on Picture 3. This Koi is our parental
Koi now. This is descended in a direct line from Sadazo
Sanke. I believe no Koi in Niigata have purer Sadazo blood
than
this Koi.
Kodama:
I see. It is terrific.
It other words, this Koi is a grand child
of original Sadazo Sanke in Nigorisawa.
Kobayashi:
Exactly. I guarantee nobody breeds Sanke with
the pure Sadazo Sanke. This Koi on picture 6 won at All Japan
Nishikigoi Show. This Koi shows the characteristics of “Sadazo
Sanke” very well.
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| *pic6 Sadazo
Sanke won at All Japan Koi show. |
Kodama:
Crossing bloodlines is very frequently done in the Nishikigoi industry. It is very rare to have such a pure bloodline.
Kobayashi:
Yes, I agree. This is why I do not call my Sanke “Genjiro
Sanke.” Because I want to preserve the precious line,
I call them “Sadazo Sanke.”
Kodama:
I think your thought is right. It is very significant
to preserve the pure blood in such an industry where
crossbreeding is frequently done. It may be important
to use the "Sadazo Sanke" instead of the "Genjiro Sanke."
I think it helps to preserve and introduce the pure Sadazo
Sanke to the world.
Kodama:
Would you please share with us the characteristics of the Sadazo Sanke you breed?
Kobayashi:
Please look at picture 3 and 6. They explain you the
characteristics well. The first is the Hi layer. As
you can see, Hi layer is very thick. And because Hi
is thick, Hi color becomes strong. And because Hi is
thick, it is not easily influenced by water quality
of the pond. This is a very strong line.
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| *pic3 Pure
Sadazo Sanke - Parent Koi |
Kodama: I see.
That is why your koi has a thicker hi plate and stronger colors than other lines.
Kobayashi:
The next is Sumi. At first, it appears in a shape of small
balls. In addition, it is top quality Sumi that is deeply
rooted inside the body. Lacquer tableware is famous in Japan.
Sumi of my Koi has strong lacquer black as if the black
lacquer was painted over more than 10 times. This is the
characteristic.
Kodama:
I see what you mean. Your sumi definitely carries luster.
Kobayashi:
Of course, there is a weak point in “Sadazo Sanke” of
Genjiro. That is that they do not grow big because it carries
the blood from 50 years ago. Nowadays, growth more than 80
cm (32 in.) is highly demanded.
Kodama:
Yes, we have been improving koi for them to grow bigger and bigger. It might be natural that the Sadazo Sanke is not likely to grow big because it is carrying the characteristics of 50 years ago.
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|
Staff at work |
Kobayashi:
We have had 36 All Japan Koi Shows. And the condition to
be the grand champion is to grow more than 80 cm (32 in.).
The grand champion from Matsunosuke was more than 1 m (40
in.). Because winning the title requires the size, breeders
in Niigata have improved the variety to get the size, introducing
the blood of “Sadazo Sanke that has good Hi and Sumi
quality.”
Kodama:
As the result of it, the blood of the Sadazo Sanke got thinner.
Kobayashi:
Yes. It is important to raise Koi large and win grand champion
but I, unlike other breeders, pursuit for “the pure
beauty” rather than the growth.
Kodama:
You decided to preserve the beauty of the Sadazo Sanke.
Kobayashi:
Yes. Improving Nishikigoi is to introduce good points and
beautiful features of each bloodline to each other. It is
difficult to keep the beauty forever “at the moment
when the beautiful Koi appear.” This Sadazo Sanke reached “its
highest point of beauty” 50 years ago. And breeders
crossed the Koi that reached “the highest point” with
other bloodlines based on their ideas and desires. Thanks
to that, such a great line as “Dainichi Sanke” was
created. It is very important. But at the same time, I think
we should preserve “the beauty that reached the highest
point.”
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| Beautiful
view from Genjiro Koi Farm |
Kodama:
Wonderful idea. Beauty of Koi can be improved by mixing
with other lines and varieties. But there is also a chance
that the good points and beauty level turn for the worst.
I believe that it is very critical for the industry to preserve
the beauty when it reached the point like your Sadazo Sanke
and I strongly support your idea.
Kobayashi:
Thank you. I am the fourth generation since my great
grand father started this business and I would like to
keep the
tradition and achievement that he, grandfather and father
has made.
Kodama:
I am sure you will have more and more customers.
Kodama:
Now, please tell us about your production.
Kobayashi:
About the Sanke, I have two pairs.
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| Mr.
Kobayashi feed Koi. |
Kodama:
How many can you produce from them?
Kobayashi:
I can get about 600,000 fry. I select 200,000 and release
them to6-7 ponds. By fall, I cull them three times
and keep about 2000 of them.
Kodama:
Every year?
Kobayashi:
Yes. I breed only the 2 pairs because I also breed other
varieties like Kohaku, Showa, Kujyaku, Kikusui etc..
Kodama:
In other words, you breed only 2000 direct descendants of the Sadazo Sanke every year.
Kobayashi:
Yes. I can breed more if I want. But if I want to breed good quality koi, I must be very strict in culling.
Kodama:
How do you sell the 2000?
Kobayashi:
Well, about half for Japan and the other half for the outside world.
Kodama:
So that means you export only 1000, doesn't it?
Kobayashi:
Yes. They are very precious; please take care of them well.
Because I export them to Europe, Asia and the US, there are
usually only 300 for the US market. Very valuable.
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| Mr.
Kobayashi checks 2 year-old. They are going to be exported
to the US. |
They
start packing Koi at 4AM in the morning. |
Genjiro
Koi now departs to the US. |
Kodama:
I agree. I will do my best to introduce the preciousness
and the value of your Sadazo Sanke. Thank you
very much for
your time today.
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