And here are all the pictures and details of the winning koi from the 49th Niigata Nogyosai 2009

My initial intentions to arrive at the showground very early were somewhat thwarted by my late night last night, and I ended up arriving about 08:30.  I had been worried by the forecast of rain and the fact that I still needed to photograph many of the koi due to the late judging yesterday.

After the "firework" it was a mad dash back to the hotel to get changed and drive to Fukubikiya Onsen in Yomogihira for a very special appointment.  An invitation to dinner with Takigawa san (ZNA President) and his wife. 

After leaving the Niigata Nogyosai I headed off to find a good location along the Shinano river as tonight there was supposedly a  fireworks extravaganza.   The Shinano is the longest river in Japan at 155 miles long and tonight fireworks were to be let of along the whole length at 6pm. 

This morning something felt wrong.  I looked out of the window to a glorious sunny day and wondered if I had my dates mixed up.  Today was the Niigata Nogyosai which almost certainly signals heavy rain.