An Interview with James C – Koitrips client.

James first went to Japan on a buying trip many years ago, around 2003. In 2016 he came with koitrips.com for the very first time. James has been keeping high quality Koi for many years, from when he was living with his parents to owning his own home and pond.
we thought it would be a good idea to interview someone who has been keeping high class Koi and has been to Japan not with Koitrips in the past, this way you can get the differences by coming with Koitrips.
James came on a October buying trip with us in 2016. He came with a group of people he already knew and was looking for something specific. He had already bought a Koi direct via Quality Nishikigoi the previous spring, so he wanted to harvest his own Koi.

James, why did you decide to come to Japan with Koitrips?

I decided to make the trip to Japan with koi trips as I have known Tim for many years from when I was keeping Koi with my dad, I don’t think there is anyone in the UK with as much experience and knowledge of sourcing high quality Koi for the right money. I knew I would find what I wanted.
How was your experience getting to Japan? How was the process in getting the tickets arranged and hotels etc?
The experience was great travelled with a great set of lads and had a really good time from arriving at Manchester airport to arriving in Nagaoka. Best thing about the journey was a beer waiting for us in the Irish bar

The travel arrangements were all taken care of by Tim and Paul, all we had to do was ring up and pay can’t get any easier.

On the day, how was getting to Japan? From getting off the plane to the Hotel in Niigata?

When the day finally arrived, I was buzzing I couldn’t wait, we had an evening flight so had all day to get bits together and meet up with everyone at the airport. We had a short flight to Paris after a few beers in the airport of course. We had a bit of exercise in Paris as the gate for Japan was the total opposite end of the airport, everything after that was pretty much lights out till landing in Japan which worked well for me cause I’m not keen on flying. Landed in Haneada airport caught the Narita express and then onto the Shinkansen straight up to Nagaoka where we were greeted at the station to make the short 2-minute walk to the hotel. A quick change and of to the bar. Couldn’t have gone any better

Could you let us know what you thought of the hotel where Koitrips puts their clients? Was it nice?

On previous trips to Japan I stopped in the Grand but the Koitrips hotel was the New Otani which was perfect, everything you could possibly need nice sized rooms excellent toilets haha, breakfast was good anything you wanted. Would recommended to anyone going to Nagaoka.

What time do you leave the hotel to visit the breeders?

It was all in the itinerary…. most days around 8:30/ 9 meet in the lobby the earliest was around 5:30 I think for the Hiroi Seiji number 1 harvest which was unbelievable and well worth missing breakfast for. One of the highlights of the trip for me seeing 85/90cm Koi been carried up and down a very steep embankment with a small bridge involved. Some guys were running with the Koi.

How many breeders did you see in a single day?

The number of breeders would vary dependant if we were involved in harvesting the mud ponds but most days in excess of 10 a day. We visited the same one twice some days as new Koi were constantly coming in from the mud ponds.
Did koitrips find the Koi you were looking for?
I came to Japan looking for that special Sanke and I told Tim what I wanted it. Initially it was a Sanke to bring back and show in the UK that changed while I was there to a Sanke to keep there and develop as we found the perfect Sanke at Shintaro koi farm. I was itching to buy as soon as I walked in most breeders but Tim kept saying wait and I did and it paid off. That’s the experience and knowledge I needed. I can’t wait to see her in October

How did you find the harvests?

The harvests were incredible and to name a few we did Shintaro number 1 pond (which I can only describe as huge the biggest I have ever seen) Matsunosuke number 1 and sansai pond, Shintaro sansai and yonsai ponds, Hiroi Seiji number 1.
I was very nervous at first getting involved in the harvests some of these koi are worth thousands, but Saito san made me feel loads better when he told me if you drop 100,000yen so needless to say I didn’t drop any. The highlight of my trip was seeing my Showa harvested which I already had their growing at Shintaro koi farm. Saito san and all his family made us all so welcome, nothing was too much effort a great family.

How was the trip different to the previous time you visited Japan?

The trip with Koi trips absolutely blew my previous two trips out of the water so to speak. The group we went with I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as much in years, had some very funny times. A big thing on this trip for me was having fun and a laugh at evening which we certainly did on previous trips there was none of that it was kinda fend for yourself. The hospitality of Saito san and his family was something I will never forget we ate at his house every day for nothing endless amounts of food, drink and chocco pie 🙂
We even got taken out for Kobe beef at the expense of Saito san and his family.
The breeders we visited were whoever we wanted and nothing was too much trouble for Tim and Paul on previous trips we were limited to a handful of breeders so stocks were limited. I have already booked to go again and will always go with Koitrips to Japan. I just can’t see anyone coming close to giving me the experience that I had on 2016.

What was your favourite part of the trip of the Japan experience?

It is hard to single one part of the trip out because it was all enjoyable and every day was like been a kid in a sweet shop but if I had to say I would choice harvesting my own Koi from the mud was something that can’t be topped and to see how well she had developed I was over the moon. I would go as far as saying the best Koi I have ever purchased, and she is staying for another season.

Could you give us a brief few words on an average day in the mountains?

Very hard to put it in just a few words but normal day I would be up from about 5am just couldn’t sleep, would go and meet everyone for breakfast and make our way to the car for about 9ish and up to the mountains we headed. Most days was a different route into the mountains to call in different breeders we would always make sure we made dinner time at Saito sans house the best food in Japan. After dinner again headed out again searching for the special Koi most days we would get back to the hotel around 5ish have a few hours chill out and head out for some food and a beer. More often than not ending up in the Irish pub. 🙂

How did you find Koitrips for value for money?

The whole trip with Koitrips I found very reasonable, my previous trips I was just told a figure for everything which the dealer paid, and no doubt earns a lot of money from but Koitrips said this is the price of things and you pay for everything no commissions which I thought was very fair. Made it way more affordable and I had more to spend on Koi so win win.

Would you recommend koitrips for buying trips to Japan?

I would highly recommended Koitrips to anyone wanting to go on a buying trip to Japan the service was excellent the knowledge of the area the experience of many many trips to Japan themselves. The understanding of bloodlines from different breeders everything was spot on. Learnt so much in 10 days. Most importantly it was a good laugh never sat in silence which on my previous trips it wasn’t like that.

Anything else you would like to add?

Too much to mention but getting to go to major koi shows and then the show party joining in on Koi auctions (the famous Matsunosuke) actually getting into the mud ponds and harvesting the Koi you will not get this elsewhere.

I would just like to thank Tim and Paul for making it a very enjoyable trip and I will be joining again very soon 2018. Since getting back into the hobby they have done whatever they can to help me out and always managed to source the Koi I wanted at the price I wanted to pay. Anyone unsure on visiting Japan then give Koitrips ago you will not be disappointed.