It is now widely recognized that the mountainous area of Yamakoshi in Niigata is the birthplace of Nishikigoi around 200 years ago. What made it grow to become the amazing industry that it is today, is the dedication of the people willing to keep these fish and the unique conditions in this area that allow koi to be breed and grow. With the highest concentration of koi breeders anywhere in the world it is not surprising that countless numbers of koi dealers and hobbyist's visit this area every year. Once you have arrived here you need to be able to work with people who can supply you with koi and offer you a shipping service to your destination wherever that may be in the world. We who are part of JKX can do exactly that for you. MARTIN SYMONDS has been coming to this area of Japan buying koi since 1982. Over the last 27 years he has shipped fish to most parts of the world and 100’s of customers have visited Japan with him over these years. Martin has written numerous articles over the years for all the leading Koi Magazines in the world. Martin’s company in the UK in the 1990’s was the largest importer of Japanese koi to the UK. Apart from this he has over the last 27 years had fish farms and koi businesses in Europe, Israel, Hong Kong and America. Towards the end of 1999 he made the decision to move and live in the area of Ojiya, Niigata working closely with the breeders and learning everything about koi. In 2000 he started Koi Master Class with other leading koi dealers and koi magazines. The aim was to give hobbyists a chance to learn about koi appreciation from the top breeders and also give a closer look at Japanese culture as well. Now, Koi Master Class is celebrating its 10th Anniversary and this years spring class will be held from 3rd – 10th April 2010. Over these years many of the breeders and their sons have visited him in the UK and even a UK Koi Master Class was held with the breeders Sakai, Kazuto Ikarashi, Maraju Tanaka and Aoki taking classes. And sons from Tanaka and Yamazaki spent 1 year each working and learning English at his farm in the UK. Martin’s first home in Ojiya was actually in the mountains at Mushigame until later moving back into Ojiya. He has judged at the All Japan Koi Show and run English lessons and KHV seminars for the breeders in Ojiya it self. Unfortunately he was present in his apartment on the 23rd October 2004 when the earthquake devastated the area. The JKX house and office was destroyed. Over the weeks that followed he was helping to supply food and fuel to breeders in the area and was involved in the helicopter rescue of koi from breeders ponds left stranded in the mountains. And with in 3 weeks after the earthquake he managed to get customers into the area to buy koi to support the breeders at this time. This long-term association has lead to a very close business and friendship with the breeders and people in this area. Which continues today and allows people visiting JKX to benefit from his close ties. RENE VILLELA is the other member in JKX. Originally from Central America he has lived in Japan for the last 17 years. He is married to the eldest daughter of the late Tokuzo Miya of Miyaishi Koi Farm. And worked as general manager for them at their wholesale company FA Miyaishi, which supplies dry goods to koi breeders throughout Japan. Rene was an obvious choice for Martin Symonds to help him with JKX and for the last 10 years has worked with him and at FA Miyaishi. But this year he will now be working full time in JKX. He speaks Japanese, English and Spanish. And now over all these years his close working ties with the breeders now benefit customers coming with JKX. BREEDERS - Our Console list has over 22 breeders. We work closely and offer koi from many of the breeders here. These include Aoki, Shinoda, Kaneko, Hosokai, Yamazaki, Otsuka, Sakai, Marudo, Oofucci, Miyatora, Seki Ikarashi, Yagengi, Kazuto Ikarashi, Hirasawa, Kase, Tanaka to name a few. Throughout the year and when people visit us we can visit any of the breeders in this area. Of course we work closer to some than others because we know that they work to the high standards we set ourselves at JKX. HEALTH - The health of their koi is paramount to all breeders. Like all types of livestock farming new diseases are appearing all the time and for the koi industry KHV (koi herpes virus) is the latest one to be a serious threat to the koi world. Here in Niigata all the breeders work very closely with the Inland Water Research Station, the Government run centre having their fish tested regularly throughout the year for KHV and SVC plus any other diseases. Mr. Koike also oversees this work; he is the leading fish veterinarian here in Niigata and is responsible for issuing the majority of all health certification when koi are exported from Niigata to the world. He has over 30 years experience of doing this. What makes our relationship with him so strong is that he is the uncle of the late Tokuzo Miya so part of the Miyaishi family. There can be no 100% guarantee with any fish health, but what we can say is that here in Niigata everybody is working hard together making sure that koi health is the number one priority. PACKING - Once we receive your order or you have completed your buying trip, we arrange all the packing, health certification and shipping to your nearest destination point in the world. All packing is done at each breeder’s farm, so no breeders fish are mixed at any time, they are placed onto a temperature controlled truck which is waiting to take them to Narita Airport in Tokyo. All this is done under the supervision of Mr. Koike and members of JKX. At JKX we feel, whether you visit us for one day, one week or even longer, you will quickly realize why JKX can be the best partner for your business with Japanese Niigata koi.

It is now widely recognized that the mountainous area of Yamakoshi in Niigata is the birthplace of Nishikigoi around 200 years ago. What made it grow to become the amazing industry that it is today, is the dedication of the people willing to keep these fish and the unique conditions in this area that allow koi to be breed and grow.

With the highest concentration of koi breeders anywhere in the world it is not surprising that countless numbers of koi dealers and hobbyist's visit this area every year.

Once you have arrived here you need to be able to work with people who can supply you with koi and offer you a shipping service to your destination wherever that may be in the world. We who are part of JKX can do exactly that for you.

MARTIN SYMONDS has been coming to this area of Japan buying koi since 1982. Over the last 27 years he has shipped fish to most parts of the world and 100’s of customers have visited Japan with him over these years. Martin has written numerous articles over the years for all the leading Koi Magazines in the world.

Martin’s company in the UK in the 1990’s was the largest importer of Japanese koi to the UK. Apart from this he has over the last 27 years had fish farms and koi businesses in Europe, Israel, Hong Kong and America.

Towards the end of 1999 he made the decision to move and live in the area of Ojiya, Niigata working closely with the breeders and learning everything about koi. In 2000 he started Koi Master Class with other leading koi dealers and koi magazines. The aim was to give hobbyists a chance to learn about koi appreciation from the top breeders and also give a closer look at Japanese culture as well. Now, Koi Master Class is celebrating its 10th Anniversary and this years spring class will be held from 3rd – 10th April 2010.

Over these years many of the breeders and their sons have visited him in the UK and even a UK Koi Master Class was held with the breeders Sakai, Kazuto Ikarashi, Maraju Tanaka and Aoki taking classes. And sons from Tanaka and Yamazaki spent 1 year each working and learning English at his farm in the UK.

Martin’s first home in Ojiya was actually in the mountains at Mushigame until later moving back into Ojiya. He has judged at the All Japan Koi Show and run English lessons and KHV seminars for the breeders in Ojiya it self.

Unfortunately he was present in his apartment on the 23rd October 2004 when the earthquake devastated the area. The JKX house and office was destroyed. Over the weeks that followed he was helping to supply food and fuel to breeders in the area and was involved in the helicopter rescue of koi from breeders ponds left stranded in the mountains. And with in 3 weeks after the earthquake he managed to get customers into the area to buy koi to support the breeders at this time.

This long-term association has lead to a very close business and friendship with the breeders and people in this area. Which continues today and allows people visiting JKX to benefit from his close ties.

RENE VILLELA is the other member in JKX. Originally from Central America he has lived in Japan for the last 17 years. He is married to the eldest daughter of the late Tokuzo Miya of Miyaishi Koi Farm. And worked as general manager for them at their wholesale company FA Miyaishi, which supplies dry goods to koi breeders throughout Japan.

Rene was an obvious choice for Martin Symonds to help him with JKX and for the last 10 years has worked with him and at FA Miyaishi. But this year he will now be working full time in JKX. He speaks Japanese, English and Spanish.

And now over all these years his close working ties with the breeders now benefit customers coming with JKX.

BREEDERS - Our Console list has over 22 breeders. We work closely and offer koi from many of the breeders here. These include Aoki, Shinoda, Kaneko, Hosokai, Yamazaki, Otsuka, Sakai, Marudo, Oofucci, Miyatora, Seki Ikarashi, Yagengi, Kazuto Ikarashi, Hirasawa, Kase, Tanaka to name a few. Throughout the year and when people visit us we can visit any of the breeders in this area. Of course we work closer to some than others because we know that they work to the high standards we set ourselves at JKX.

HEALTH - The health of their koi is paramount to all breeders. Like all types of livestock farming new diseases are appearing all the time and for the koi industry KHV (koi herpes virus) is the latest one to be a serious threat to the koi world. Here in Niigata all the breeders work very closely with the Inland Water Research Station, the Government run centre having their fish tested regularly throughout the year for KHV and SVC plus any other diseases. Mr. Koike also oversees this work; he is the leading fish veterinarian here in Niigata and is responsible for issuing the majority of all health certification when koi are exported from Niigata to the world. He has over 30 years experience of doing this. What makes our relationship with him so strong is that he is the uncle of the late Tokuzo Miya so part of the Miyaishi family.

There can be no 100% guarantee with any fish health, but what we can say is that here in Niigata everybody is working hard together making sure that koi health is the number one priority.

PACKING - Once we receive your order or you have completed your buying trip, we arrange all the packing, health certification and shipping to your nearest destination point in the world. All packing is done at each breeder’s farm, so no breeders fish are mixed at any time, they are placed onto a temperature controlled truck which is waiting to take them to Narita Airport in Tokyo. All this is done under the supervision of Mr. Koike and members of JKX.

At JKX we feel, whether you visit us for one day, one week or even longer, you will quickly realize why JKX can be the best partner for your business with Japanese Niigata koi.

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