Dinner with the Japanese Judges....

Yes I had dinner with the Japanese judges. During the dinner what transpired centre on linking up with Hammamatsu and Numazu breeders and establishing of study groups. Question on the ranchu calendar by month in Japan and who attend ranchu study group and how big study group and how and what the Japanese does in study groups. Also asked was the strength of all the different kais and how big are Hammamatsu and Numazu vs the other players from other regions.

Question on ranchu hierachy and who is who and their seniority in the All Japan Ranchu Association. Also asked was the Nichiran Standard and where can we find the documents on Nichiran Standard. I produced the Japanese article that was forwarded by bro Tong of Godfish2U of Thailand and asked whether that article is the Nichiran Standard...I was told that it is a skeleton explanation of the Nichiran Standard and the Nichiran Standard is explained in one of the Japanese ranchu book.

I also learned that although Master Ijima is the mentor of Ozawa San, Ozawa San does not use Master Ijima fishes in his breeding....according to him as translated by Hanajima San..Ozawa will use Kageyama in one side of his breeding...so to say like if he uses his own female, he will use Kageyama male to match and vice versa. In the past he might used Master Ijima fishes in his breeding, but currently he doesn't.

When I probed Master Yatake and Master Ito Nobuo about whom they respect the most amongst all the Japanese breeders, I was given a very thoughtful education on the "life cycle" of Japanese breeders. Breeders started off as youth learning the rope of ranchu husbandry and by the time they are in their 20's in age, some will embark on serious ranchu breeding/keeping and showing. The best age for breeders to excel are in their 30's and if they are good by their 40's they would have put their footprints amongst the great Japanese ranchu breeders. By their 50's onwards, ranchu breeders' breeding intensity will be on their decline as age and energy will not make intense breeding sustainable. There are exception to the general rule and names like Master Ono and Master Kashino were mentioned as older breeders who are still producing quality fishes. Probed on the "Star" breeder of the moment that is on everybody's lip, Master Yatake mentioned Master Suzuki Kazuo as the "happening" of the moment...Master Suzuki Kazuo's fishes are very well sought after....I totally agree.

I am always very appreciative of those who treated me well and I will reciprocate. This dinner was an invitation which I was very reluctant to accept...there was no intention on my part of knowing the judges for personal gains. For the record I did groomed the below Yatake and Ozawas for the competition, but I withdrew them (for the record) after I attended the dinner with Judges Yatake and Ozawa. I was persuaded to attend because the Hosts told me.... opportunity like this are hard to come by and  hobbyists  must try to learn as much as possible through this type of engagement. Further the Hosts persuaded me to attend as they feel I am the right person to probe the Japanese Masters on "conducting of workshop and study group".I shared what transpired at the dinner and leave readers to think for themselves all those rumours floating around. I am resign to the fact that my ranchu journey have changed.... it will still be enriching albeit less in the public eyes.

My Yatake San ranchu



Current picture...this piece was not shown at ASRS tho she swim great....so those spies need not speculate!!



Ozawa Female....in"spied" of her beauty not shown at ASRS 2010

2011 Spawn C @ 58 Days....almost given up for dead as after the PP treatment for Costia, the head all tapered and way under size....