This was originally named after a famous shrine in Minaminigoro village and was, at first, used to raise Yamabuka Ogons but the owner then of the Koi farm (Mr. Minoru Mano) started to ask around to other breeders and farms as to what their favourite Koi varieties would mean to them – and the reply ALWAYS came back as ‘KOHAKU’ so this is what he decided to really concentrate on. He asked the other breeders what they required in their stocks and the replies came back as ‘GOOD BODY’, DELICATE AND ‘SOFT’ SKIN AND COLOUR, and ‘FORM’!
Kohaku are still the most valuable of Koi bred today, so Mr. Mano started out on his breeding task in the time between 1965 to 1970 in order to produce Kohaku of the highest quality possible.
On my first visit to Yamakoshi in1977, we stopped by to inspect the Dainichi Koi farm briefly – but back then I did not know the name of the farm and it was ‘heaving’ with absolutely superb tosai Kohaku. I recall asking Mr. Mano the price of his tosai to which he replied ‘WHICH ONE?’ and there must have been 6,000 Kohaku in the pond! – I think it was then when I realised that there was a SERIOUS learning curve in Koi for me ahead!
Mr. Mano had never been involved with Nishikigoi before in his life and younger days but he was born in Minaminigoro village and gladly took tuition from the father (now deceased) at Izumiya and another farm, which I cannot remember the name as, but maybe Tamuraya Koi farm, also in Minamigoro village.
Mr. Mano sadly died of leukaemia some years back and I attended the funeral alongside Ed Aremia from Belgium. It was a very sombre event, and a lavish funeral where many tears were shed.
Dainichi, today, has a name which goes alongside Toshio Sakai and Hiroji Sakai – there is really nothing that separates them because they are the real masters!
The business today is run by the eldest of the three brothers – Futoshi Mano who is accompanied by his younger brother Shigeru Mano who speaks excellent English. Dainichi only produce Kohaku; Sanke and Showa varieties and have 250,000 square metres of mud ponds.
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