Page 23 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 9

WELCOME TO JAPAN

THE HOMELAND OF

NISHIKIGOI

Martin Symonds of Japan Koi Export (JKX)
guides you through the items you need to
consider when making your visit to Japan.

Martin Symonds has been visiting and buying Koi in
Japan since 1981. Since then he has shipped 10,000’s
of Koi worldwide and 100’s of Koi enthusiasts have
joined him on buying trips in Japan. He started living in
Ojiya City and Mushigame back in 2000, working
closely with the breeders there. Over the last 37 years
THE AUTUMN his close relationship with the breeders and with
SEASON Japanese culture has become unique. He started Japan
Koi Export (JKX) in 2002 with his associate Rene Villela,
HARVESTING they now ship and offer buying trips to dealers and
hobbyists from all over the world who would like to buy
HAS BEGUN Koi throughout the year with them in Niigata. They run
the popular Koi Masterclass in autumn and later this
year will see them launch KoiVisionTV, and Martin is
writing his book ‘Carp to Koi’. Martin has always been
fascinated by the breeders’ histories and in this series
of articles writes about how the breeders started and
now run their Koi companies.
The autumn season harvesting has begun and is one
of the busiest times for breeders. Without doubt
whether you come in the autumn or the spring and
you’re a serious Koi collector or a keen hobbyist one
of your top ten things to do on your ‘Bucket List’
should be to visit Japan, not just to see some
amazing Koi, but also to experience Japan itself.
But how easy is it to do?
Questions I get asked the most by people when they
are thinking of coming here are: “Is it really worth
coming to Japan to select Koi and how expensive is it
The deal is agreed and a
happy customer admires to do that? Will the Koi be cheaper? When is the best
his high quality Sanke. time to come?” In my mind the most important factor
00 23