Hanako ...or The Essence of Life

Hanako, the scarlet koi
錦鯉
ca. 1751 – July 7, 1977


Eines Tages wollte ich es wissen, ich schaute nach dem ältesten Fisch der Welt...
Ihn fand ich zuerst...

One day I just wanted it t know, I looked for the oldest fish of the world...
This one I found first...

Fish in the Faroe Islands:
Orange roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus

Der älteste Fisch – der „ Methusalem der Meere“
Der Granatbarsch lebt in tiefem, kaltem Wasser und hat aufgrund dieser extremen Lebensbedingungen einen sehr langsamen Stoffwechsel. Der älteste Granatbarsch, der jemals gefangen wurde, war 149 Jahre alt. Da diese Tiere erst mit etwa 30 Jahren und mehr geschlechtsreif werden, dauert es sehr lange, bis sich die Population nach übermäßiger Befischung wieder erholen kann, wodurch der weltweite Bestand schon stark dezimiert wurde. (source)

When I looked for the oldest fish I found first an article stating that the oldest ever caught was an Orange Roughy, a perch species, of 149 years. This species, living in deep cold waters responsible for a very slowly metabolism, is said to become only sexually mature at 30 years which makes it difficult for the species to recover from overexploitation, the world population has been decreased dramatically.

149 Jahre hört sich gigantisch an, doch dann fand ich Hanako... -
149 years seems to be enormous...until I found Hanako...

"Die Legende besagt, dass ein Fisch namens Hanako, der älteste war, der auf der Welt lebte. Nachdem er 226 Jahre in Japan herumschwamm, starb der scharlachrote koi, was soviel wie ein Zuchtkarpfen ist, angeblich im Jahr 1977. Es heißt, dass über ihre Schuppen ihr Alter bestimmt werden konnte, eine Aussage, die heutzutage wissenschaftliche Gültigkeit besitzt. So wie ein Baum Lebensringe hat, haben Fischschuppen mikroskopische Bereiche, die saisonale Wachstumsmuster widerspiegeln-Fische fressen und wachsen mehr im Sommer; die Schuppenzonen, die den Winter spiegeln, sind schmaler ". -

"Legend has it that a fish named Hanako was the world’s longest lived. After swimming for 226 years in Japan, the scarlet koi supposedly died in 1977. It’s said that her scales determine her age, a statement that is scientifically valid today. Like tree rings, fish scales have microscopic zones that reflect seasonal growth patterns–fish eat more and grow more in summer; winter scale zones are narrower." (source)

Hanako gehärte mehreren Personen, der letzte war Dr. Komei Koshihara. Es gibt ein Zitat eines Wissenschaftlers, Herr Masayuki Amano, besagend:

"Diese 'Hanako" ist in noch einwandfreiem Zustand und schwimmt majestätisch in einer ruhigen Schlucht, die unweit vom Mt. Ontake (nahe Nagoya) hinabgeht. Sie wiegt 7,5 Kilogramm und ist 70 Zentimeter (ca. 30 cm) lang. Sie und ich sind die liebsten Freunde. Wenn ich sie rufe: "Hanako! Hanako! " kommt sie ohne zu Zögern vom Rand des Teiches zu meinen Füßen geschwommen. Wenn ich ihr leicht über den Kopf streichel, sieht sie ganz vergnügt aus. Manchmal gehe ich so weit, sie aus dem Wasser zu nehmen und sie zu umarmen. "-

Hanako was owned by several individuals, the last of whom was Dr. Komei Koshihara.

Once a scientist was quoted, Mr. Masayuki Amano, who said, “This ‘Hanako’ is still in perfect condition and swimming about majestically in a quiet ravine descending Mt. Ontake (near Nagoya) in a short distance. She weighs 7.5 kilograms and is 70 centimeters (roughly 30 in.) in length. 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.”

Und auf wikipedia (dt.)...
Koi können sehr alt werden. Wenn die Wasserparameter und Teichhygiene stimmen, werden sie bei guter Haltung durchschnittlich 50 bis 70 Jahre alt. Oftmals erreichen Koi jedoch wegen schlechter Teichbedingungen keine 10 Jahre. Vereinzelte Exemplare können ein noch weitaus höheres Alter erreichen. Die maximale Lebenserwartung liegt bei über 200 Jahren.

Eine Hauptrolle spielt der Koi in Doris Dörries Spielfilm Der Fischer und seine Frau (2004).

In "Columbo Likes the Nightlife" (deutscher Titel "Die letzte Party") (2003) liefern Koi den wesentlichen Hinweis auf den Verbleib der Leiche.

And on wikipedia (engl.)...
"Koi average "maximum longevity" is listed as 47 years old."

"Koi are an omnivorous fish, and will eat a wide variety of foods, including peas, lettuce, and watermelon. Koi food is designed not only to be nutritionally balanced, but also to float so as to encourage them to come to the surface. When they are eating, it is possible to check koi for parasites and ulcers. Koi will recognize the persons feeding them and gather around them at feeding times. They can be trained to take food from one's hand."

And here an extract from an interesting radio broadcast speech in Japan with Dr. Komei Koshihara on 25.05. 1966

"There did not exist in this world any such country as the United States of America yet at the time when this carp was born. It was 25 years later that America made public the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It is very interesting to think that during the long years that this carp has continued to live, a country by the name of the United States of America came into existence and has built up her present culture of high standard."

"The life length of all living things has been allotted by God, and humanity cannot do anything about it. Such large animals as cows and horses can live 30 to 40 years at the most, while so small an animal as a carp has a life span say 60 years, and very rarely he can live till he is one hundred years old.

It is said that the life of all living things is sustained by lipoid, nucleic acid and protein that are contained in each of their cells. These are called under the generic name "essence of life." If so, I should think we should analyze the cells of a carp that can live so long, to know how much lipoid, nucleic acid and protein, the essential components of the body, are contained in them and what property these essences have. Then we may probably be able to recompose the cells of the human body in the fashion of a carp's cells. When the research is completed, it will become possible for human beings to live as long as 200 years. This is the age in which man is not only trying to bring about a nuclear revolution by the development of atomic energy but aspining to travel through the vast space by means of rockets.

I should heartily desire that man should put an end to his crazy attempt to destroy humanity by atomic explosion and should devote himself to the revolutionary feat of extending human life, after the example of the First Emperor of the ancient Shin Dynasty, instead of being absorbed in the vain attempt to reach the moon."

And here a list of old koi's mentioned in the same 1966 speech, mentioning beside Hanako 5 other koi's at old age...

1. Hanako (scarlet) - 217 years old; born in 1st year of Horeki (A.D. 1751); in the preceding year there arose an internal feud in the Kaga Clan; and the birth was 25 years before the Declaration of Independence of America.
2. Aoi (white with red spots on belly) - 170 years old; born in 10th year of Kansei (A.D. 1798); in the same year Norinaga Motoori published "Kojiki-dan",Juzo Kondo discovered Island of Etoroff, and Napoleon went on his Egyptian campaign.
3. Chikara (bluish black) - 155 years old; born in 10th year of Bunka (A.D. 1813); in the same year Kumpei Gamo died, Stevenson invented the steam engine, and in the following year Bakin takizawa published "Nanso Satomi Hakken-den".
4. Satoru (white with black spots on back) - 151 years old; born in 14th year of Bunka (A.D. 1917); in the same year an English ship visited the port of Uraga. Death of Gempaku Sugita.
5. Santa (black with an indented scar on the face) - 141 years old; born in the 10th year of Bunsei (A.D. 1827); in the same year Sanyo Rai published "Nihon Gaishi". Great Fire of Yedo in the following year.
6. Yuki (white) - 141 years old; born in the same year as "Santa".

Sources:
- Hanako the oldest koi/KCP International 26.10.2011
- The Story of Hanako/Transcript of radio broadcasted speech of Dr. Komei Koshihara on 25.05. 1966
- Koi on wikipedia, dt. hier
- Hoplosthetus atlanticus - OrangeRoughy- on wikipedia, dt. hier