#Dr. Koshihara

[thepastisalreadywritten]

Hanako with her owner, Dr. Komei Koshihara

Hanako ("flower girl") was a remarkable koi fish that lived for 226 years.

In 1966, Professor Masayoshi Hiro from Nagoya Women’s University's Laboratory of Animal Science dedicated two months to meticulously ascertain Hanako's age.

Like the method of counting rings in tree trunks to determine a tree's age, a fish's age is deduced by counting the rings on its scales.

These rings, discernible only under a microscope by an expert, reflect the seasonal variations experienced by the fish.

A broader ring indicates the summer season, when a fish typically consumes more food and experiences accelerated growth.

Conversely, a narrower ring suggests the winter months, marked by a slower metabolism in the fish.

Through this technique, Hanako was determined to have been born approximately in 1751 and lived until 7 July 1977.

Remarkably, upon examination of the other koi fish sharing the same pond with Hanako, it was found that they too were all centenarians, with each surpassing 100 years of age.

Her owner, Dr. Komei Koshihara, called her “his dearest friend.”

Hanako has the unbeaten title of longest lived freshwater fish in recorded history.

She lived through two world wars and nine (9) different Emperors of Japan.

[ougougougoug]

I think it's a tragedy that this is going around without this quote from Hanako's last owner, Dr. Komei Koshihara:

“She and I are dearest friends. When I call her saying 'Hanako! Hanako!' from the brink of the pond, she unhesitatingly comes swimming to my feet. If I lightly pat her on the head, she looks quite delighted. Sometimes I go so far as to take her out of the water and embrace her.

"At one time a person watching asked me whether I was performing a trick with the carp. Although a fish, she seems to feel that she is dearly loved, and it appears that there is some communication of feeling between us.

"At present my greatest pleasure is to go to my native place two or three times a month and keep company with 'Hanako'."

source

So I can confirm, Hanako was well loved.

Imagine being the last owner of Hanako, that 226 year old Japanese koi that was spawned in 1751 and died in 1977. A fish that outlived 7 emperors. A fish that survived the Second World War. And she dies in your care. I would never recover.

[terminalkat]

For those of you that don’t know, Hanako was a koi born in 1751, and she died in the yeah 1977 at the age of 226!! I learned this and I just- I had to draw her.

Her caretaker reportedly used to call her and pet her and hug her. She knew him and there was a connection that was so very deep! His family had cared for her for generations.