All Japan Ranchu Show 2004 Revisited Part 1
 

Today I would like to take you back to the beginning of November 2004 at Hibiya Park, Tokyo (near to the Imperial Palace) to revisit the All Japan Ranchu Show or the AJRS 2004. This series of pictures will take you back to the behind the scene look of the Show and also to show our friends and colleagues during their most exciting time of the year. You will see pictures starting from the departure from Mr.Mita's crew from Aichi to travel to Tokyo. This serie of pictures were originally produced by Mr.Nattavudh Ruengwaes, who is a personal student of Mr.Mita in ranchu, and posted first at the Ranchushop.com and I have revised the presentation for all members here. My most sincere thanks to Mr.Somyos of the ranchushop.com and Mr.Nattavudh for their most generous and valuable contribution.

As I have mentioned before these pictures that you are about to see are taken by Mr.Nattavud Ruengwaes (Mr.Mita's personal student in ranchu, picture in the first picture below) and the Manager of the Thai Table Tennis Team and Association. Mr. Nattavud went to Japan to visit Mr.Mita and also to accompany him to the AJRS 2004. As all of us probably knew already, that it was Mr.Mita's best year, ever. So you can say that this serie of pictures has a very happy ending for Mr.Mita. You will also see pictures of Mr.Kashino, Mr. Okada, and Mr.A (Chonburi) who also accompanied his Sensei to Tokyo, too. Furthermore, there will be pictures which were taken through the barrier during the judging of the ranchu during the Show. Those of you who have seen the DVD or VCD of the AJRS 2004 before will find it very interesting because you will have a chance to peek behind the curtain and find out how the judges go about doing their business. Last but not least, you will be able to see pictures of some of the lovely fish on hand for the competition. These ranchu represent the most beautiful ranchu you will see any where.

Hope that you will enjoy the picture show.

In Part 1, I would like to present Mr.Mita's journey to the AJRS 2004 and ultimately towards his crowning glory.

The first few pictures are of the arrival by Mr.Nattavudh to visit Mr.Mita in Aichi (Nagoya Airport). The next picture will be at Mr.Mita's house. You will see his fish prior to being taken out of the pond and being prepare for the trip to the AJRS 2004. The temperature is almost 20 celcius, which represents beginning of Winter.

Mr.Mita at the AJRS 2004
 

Since they will be driving such a long way at very early in the morning, Mr.Mita's team will have to get ready ahead of time and get the ranchu ready to travel the evening before the competition (and also prepare the food and all too :) ). The following set you will see Mr.Mita ranchu, his management of the ponds and his ranchu in order to prepare and select the ranchu that he will send to compete the following day. After the selection of the fish is done, you will see Mr.Mita and Mr.Okada taking pictures and checking the pictures of all the ranchu before packing. This is the rule in the entering of the AJRS competition, you will have to present the picture of each of the fish along with the ranchu for identification purposes. You wil also see a picture of Mr.Nattavudh with the ranchu that have been packed and ready for the important journey very, very early the next morning.

The first picture left, below, you will observe all the fish that Mr.Mita had prepared for the AJRS 2004. Try to remember some of them, because you are going to meet them again, but as Champions.

AJRS 2004 Part 1 - Mr.Mita's Journey
 

The first picture of this set you will find Mr.Mita preparing dinner for every one the night before the Show. He is quite a cook in his own right.

The next picture, 3.15 am, 3 November 2004, the whole Mita crew leaves for the Show. The group picture is of Mr.Mita, Mr.Nattavudh and Mr.Okada. The last picture is of the Hibiya Park in Tokyo and the Show area for the AJRS 2004.

AJRS 2004 Part 1 - Mr.Mita's Journey
 

The first picture is to give a comparison for you from the morning shot to the shot when the Show let the crowd in the observe the fish after judgment.

This set of picture you will see Mr.Mita entering the fish for the AJRS by showing the fish to the Classification Judge for inspection.

The next picture is of all the participants of the Show relaxing in the Park waiting for the Show to start.

The next is a picture of Mr.Ishikawa opening the Show.

And the last picture is a group picture of (from left to right): Mr.Mita, Mr.Okada (back), Mr.Kashino, Mr. Katou, Mr. Nuttavudh, and Mr.Jatupon or A (Chonburi).

The fee for the AJRS :- Entry fee 7,000 yen, 2,000 yen per fish, and the winners will have to pay extra about 10,000 yen for their fish to be taken pictures of and presented in the Kingyo Densho, by Mr.Fumitoshi Mori of the Pisces Publication.

Hello Pat,

Very interesting photos taken behind the scenes !

Soon, I will show some of the photos I made at the AJRS 2004. This will give the AJRS 2004 seen from another side !

Regards,

Geert Coppens

AJRS 2004 Revisited - Mr.Mita's Journey
 

Sorry about that, had to rush off before I could finish posting. I have seen the pictures that Geert has kindly posted for all of us to enjoy and they are truely wonderful. Geert pictures are the perfect accompaniment to these series of photos. I will now continue with Mr.Mita's journey to the AJRS 2004.

The first picture of this set will be our friends peeking over the fence to watch the judges in action. Mr. A is particularly keen to take the necessary pictures to shows the behind the scene of the judges. He has bought a special camera just for the task.

The second picture shows that, the other Japanese breeders are also anxiously awaiting and peeking too. :p As when the judges are at work, it's time to eat the meal that were prepared earlier. Dig in guys.

As the winners arrive to be presented, the crowds start to gather. The Japanese enthusiasts are very keen on carefully learning about each of the winners. If your fish get to be presented in the Show, it's already a great honour. The year 2004 had altogether 56 Oya, 56 Nisai, and 76 Tosai presented at the AJRS. The number of ranchu that showed up to be registered were about 150 Oya, 250 Nisai, and around 600 Tosai. Over a thousand fish, imagine that many beautiful ranchu.

AJRS 2004 Revisited - Mr.Mita's Journey
 

First let me say sorry to Geert for having borrowed his picture to complete this set of pictures of my presentation. Hope that you do not mind.

This set of picture is the happy ending of Mr.Mita in this presentation. The first picture is the picture of Mr.Mita's East Ozeki (1st) for the Nisai Class. The second picture (as presented by Geert) is the West Ozeki Oya of Mr.Mita, as well. (You could refer back to the earlier picture to check out these ranchu in the last thread and check out this fish from the morning before at Mr.Mita's house.) These represent two Grand Titles for Mr.Mita for 2004. These titles have brought great honour and recognition to the long years that Mr.Mita have labored hard in his beloved hobby.

The next picture is the picture of the ranchu that did not make it to be the Show. They are awaiting their owners to collect them. I would like to direct your attention to these fish, they are still beautiful in my book and any where else in the world, they would probably be Champions in their own right. The next picture is of the ending after all the fish have been collected. And the last picture is of the Mr.Mita and Mr.Nattavudh with Mr.Mita AJRS Trophies. Bravo, Mr.Mita. :D

AJRS 2004 Revisited - Mr.Mita's Journey
 

These are the last two pictures of part one of my presentation. The first picture is of Mr.Mita's parents in awe of the honour presented to Mr.Mita from the AJRS 2004. The last picture is of Mr.Mita reporting the day's accomplishment to his friends every where, including to the Ranchushop.com. Thank you Mr.Mita for the lovely pictures and hospitalities.

Please stay tune for part 2.