FAQs About Nishikigoi (Koi Fish)
Search our FAQs below or use the sidebar to navigate through our frequently asked questions about koi appreciation, Japanese culture, and the history of this wonderful hobby. Thanks for your interest and visit us often!
Japanese Koi Culture
There is a big koi club in Japan called the Japan Nishikigoi Association, and the first chairman of the club, Mr. Kimiaki Koshihara, coined the phrase “living jewels.”
Japanese culture is represented by many symbols. The Nishikigoi is the national fish of Japan, and it is called Kokugyo.
There are only 200 breeders. 40 years ago, there were almost 6,000 breeders. These remaining 200 breeders survived the tough competition and were able to provide beautiful and unique Koi. These breeders are all excellent and have their own representative varieties.
Black carp in natural rivers and ponds evolved to white, red and blue carp by chance. The blue lineage carp eventually became the Asagi.
Yes. In breeding Asagi, koi which had lost all the blue and had red left only on the belly and pectoral fins. By crissing these koi carefully, the Kohaku developed.
Yes. There are three requirements to be the best breeding site, location, society and people. In terms of location, Niigata is excellent. It has excellent clay and water quality and the natural surroundings are wonderful. It is also home to a research center to study koi disease. There are about 200 breeders in Niigata that support and compete with each other to reed more beautiful nishikigoi.
