Breeders’ Interview:

Matsue Nishikigoi Center Takahiro Iitsuka and Hiroaki Iitsuka (Shimane)

The goal is “New Matsue Kohaku”

Advancing into uncharted territories(Part2)

“Sensuke” was once synonymous with Matsue Koi Center and held a pivotal position. However, under the leadership of President Takahiro Iitsuka and Executive Director Hiroaki Iitsuka, they are no longer confined to the “Sensuke” framework but are dedicated to cultivating unique “Matsue Kohaku”.

Having amassed extensive experience nationwide, they completely overhauled their koi parent koi approximately 7-8 years ago. With their sights set on the pinnacle, they aimed to clinch the All Japan Championship. “As long as it’s feasible, our ultimate goal is the championship,” stated Managing Director Hiroaki. Notably, in recent years, they’ve elevated the proportion of in-house bred parent koi, fostering a more conducive environment for championship aspirations. Following a 16-year interval, we revisited them for another interview, and this time, we profoundly sensed their unwavering devotion to “Matsue Kohaku.”

Setsuren and Hakuto’s genes will be the focus in the future.

goal is to set the industry standard

ー What is the lineage of “Hakuto” a main strain along with “Setsuren”?

Hiroaki: There was a koi named “Tohka” that was a child of “Haruka”, Hakuto is a child of Tohka. So, it follows the lineage of “Gyokurin”.

ー Haruka was one of the last of the previous generation of broodfish, wasn’t she? And Hakuto is her grandchild.

Hiroaki: That’s right. There are many fish with Hakuto’s bloodline among this year’s tosai. Among the parent koi we’re currently using, they’re on the older side of the lineage. This year, we used several of Hakuto’s offspring as male parents, so there’s some new blood introduced. We’re crossing Hakuto’s bloodline with Setsuren’s offspring, trying to create a new pattern. These fish are growing incredibly fast. However, there’s still room for improvement in terms of quality, so we’re aiming to breed fish that are a bit thicker while preserving the good qualities.