It is difficult to state, with total accuracy, how the varieties we know today were actually
produced. As mentioned most records have been lost, the owners having no idea that their pastime would become so popular in years to come. Early Nishikigoi chronicler Dr. Matsui states that Asagi (see picture to the right) were first produced in the Takezawa area of Niigata in the early 19th Century and breeders all seem to agree that Asagi were the ‘first’ variety ever produced. He further states that Kohaku 
(see picture to the left) were also produced in the same area at approximately the same time, but many breeders in the area dispute that Kohaku were around so early. However most agree that the Kohaku line, as we know it, was stabilised around 1930 by Tomoin in Niigata. Dr. Matsui and many breeders agree that Taisho Sanke was originated around 1915 and the breed stabilised in later years by Mr. Kawakami (‘Torazo’).
More records state that non-metallic Matsuba varieties were firs
t produced in the early 1900’s; Ki-Utsuri (see picture to the right) around 1921; Shiro Utsuri in 1925 and, during 1927 Mr. Hoshino produced Showa varieties
from Ki-Utsuri and Kohaku. This variety was only stabilised as recently as 1960 by Kobayashi in Niigata.
Mr. Akiyama, who imported the Carp from Germany 
mentioned earlier, produced Shusui (see picture to the left) by cross breeding Asagi with German Carp during 1913. Dr. Matsui says that Mr. Akiyama confided to him that ‘Shusui’ appear naturally in a random spawning of German Carp i.e. some produce red bellies. It is also interesting to note that the original meaning of Shusui was ‘Mr. Akiyamas’ own blue Carp’ – it now translates as ‘Autumn Water’ as a result of many simplifications in Japanese writing over the years.
In Niigata, at around the time of the birth of Hirogoi, there were two strains of Magoi present, one known as ‘Tetsu Magoi’ – a brown-ish black Carp, and the other known as ‘Asagi Magoi’ – a blue-ish black Carp. Tetsu Magoi produced some ‘Matsuba-type’ varieties (non-metallic) during a natural spawning and, when some Asagi Magoi lost black colour due to age, the ‘Asagi’ features appeared. The very few ‘Matsuba’ and ‘Asagi’ produced were kept as pets, the others salted and sold. The interbreeding of the ‘Matsuba’ from Tetsu Magoi and the ‘Asagi’ produced from Asagi Magoi resulted in very limited numbers of fry which were red-orange giving ‘Higoi’ and yellow giving ‘Kigoi’. By breeding Asagi varieties with Higoi and Kigoi from Tetsu Magoi fry, this eventually produced some ‘Aka-Matsuba’ and ‘Ki-Matsuba’ varieties.
At around the same time, in a natural Magoi spawning, some ‘Kinbo’ and ‘Ginbo’ were produced showing a slight lustre on the dorsal fin. These were later bred with ‘Fuji’ – a very early variety of ‘Shiro Muji’ which had a slight lustre on its head (resembling Mt. Fuji). As a result, a small percentage of the spawning produced some metallic versions of Kinbo and Ginbo, resulting in ‘Kin-Kabuto’ and ‘Gin-Kabuto’. These two strains were bred with ‘Chagoi’ from Tetsu Magoi to produce very limited numbers of the first ‘Matsuba-type Ogon’ which was simply known as ‘Ogon’. ‘Ogon’ were then crossed with Kigoi mentioned earlier, to produce ‘Yamabuki’, these were then spawned with Kohaku and some ‘Yamabuki-Hariwake’ appeared.
As far as the true Matsuba Ogon is concerned, breeding during the early 1960’s with two types of Ogon produced some ‘Nezu-Ogon’. These were bred back to ‘Ogon’ parents and some of the fry produced Kin Matsuba and Gin Matsuba.
As recently as 1965 the first ‘Purachina’ (see picture to the left) 
appeared from an unknown breeder in the Utogi area of Niigata after he bred his own Yamabuki male with a female ‘Fuji’ loaned from the Miyakoya Company. During 1970, some offspring were sold to Mr. Itaru Suda in Kowada. The Yamazaki Company then purchased breeder stocks from Suda and cross-bred them with Shiro Muji ‘Dia’ (an all white, non-metallic Koi with random ‘Dia’ or ‘Gin-Rin’ scales) – soon afterwards ‘Gin-Rin Purachina’ appeared. Most metallic varieties were all developed in and around the Ojiya area of Niigata by Aoki, Yamamatsu (Matsunosuke), Hirasawa and Suda.
During the early 1960’s, many Koi appeared with wild silver reflective scales on the side of the body only. In later years Mr. Uedera, in Hiroshima Prefecture, developed Gin-Rin varieties from Niigata ‘Dia’ stocks, even today Niigata breeders use the term ‘Dia’ in preference to ‘Gin-Rin’.
As a point of interest we are informed, from several sources that the first Hi-Utsuri
fry (see picture to the right) appeared in a Takezawa mud pond due to a flock spawning which occurred after one female Aka-Bekko had been washed out of one mud pond as a result of heavy rain and was swept into an adjoining mud pond when spawning took place.
Nishikigoi as we know them today did not appear overnight, the breeders of the 19th Century and their descendants today have patiently strived to produce their dreams, each year getting one step nearer to their goal, only to find the goal posts move one step farther away each year! If one looks at pictures of Koi in the early Japanese Koi books, the Koi that were acclaimed as the best in the world at the time would hardly qualify for fishing pond grade today!
The first book produced for the Japanese market on Nishikigoi was as recently as 1966by Dr. Kuroki. Before this book became available there were no printed references for enthusiasts and countless confusion arose in most aspects of the hobby in Japan. In the following year a lavish book was produced by Mr. Miya of the Miyakoya Company entitled ‘The 100 Best Nishikigoi’; today this book is extremely valuable for collectors of Koi memorabilia. However, when one browses through the book, it is easily apparent that the then best Nishikigoi ever produced would not even receive ‘Third in Variety’ awardstoday in the smallest Koi show held in the UK! So much have standards improved in the past thirty years or so.
Today, however, Niigata Prefecture is still the world centre for high grade Nishikigoi production and, during late October, when the Ojiya Show is held, all the hotels in the area are booked solid with Koi enthusiasts and dealers from all parts of Japan, and in recent years, from many other parts of the globe. This is the time of year when all mud ponds have been harvested after the Summer growing period and the best Koi are exhibited in a two day event for all to see.
There are several other important Koi producing areas in Japan today, notably Hiroshima, Isawa, Shizuoka, Saitama, Kyushu and Toyama as well as many smaller areas, yet the breeders of Niigata still remain at the top of the tree for high class Koi production. When asked why these breeders still choose the Niigata area to produce their stocks in a climate of uncomfortable Winters, we are presented with a multitude of reasons. Some say the Niigata water is the best in Japan; others say the Niigata mud is the best for growing strong Koi; others say the competition from 900 breeders in a 50 square mile area produces a strong competitive instinct to produce better stocks each year. Whatever the reasons are, and it may well be a combination of answers, the facts remain that the most famous names in Koi breeding choose to remain in Niigata. Names that are sacred to the serious enthusiast, Dainichi, Matsunosuke, Isumiya, Miyatora, Igarashi, Jinbei, Torazo, Maruju, Yamaguchi, Hoshikin, Hosoki, Tanaka, Suda, Hiroi Seiji and many other high grade breeders who seem to produce better stocks every year.
Importance of ‘The Mud’, Niigata clay is replenished before the Summer growing season for fry. After a few seasons the mineral values within the clay have been exhausted by the fry grown in previous seasons. It is also a real fact that Niigata rice is renowned throughout Japan as the best rice in the world, reasons for this are given that the mud and water quality is responsible. In every instance the bloodlines and parent stocks favoured by Koi breeders throughout Japan are all from Niigata origins:-
- Kohaku lines from Manzo, Tomoin, Sensuke, Yagozen and Dainichi
- Taisho Sanke lines from Matsunosuke, Sadazo, Torazo, Kinchinai, and
- Showa parents from Kobayashi, Maruju and Seijuro.
As far as Shiro Utsuri are concerned, few would doubt that Sakai and Omosako in Hiroshima produce the finest examples of this variety today, however the original parent stocks used to produce them were all from Niigata.
The ‘boom year’ for Koi in Japan was 1965 when the hobby really made an impact on the Japanese public. At that time around 3,000 breeders in all areas could literally sell all their production very easily to the eager home market. It is known that, during the early 1960’s, the Japanese public would buy Koi for reasons such as:- the colour was the same as their favourite flower; the Koi only had one pectoral fin; the Koi had a big head etc. etc. – in short they bought them because they were cute!
Today the breeders are reduced to around 1,200, the main reason being that volume sales of regular grade Koi no longer have the volume buyers to purchase this kind of stock. The swing, since 1965, has been towards the small percentage of high grade stocks produced and today, as the hobby becomes more international and knowledge increases accordingly, the enthusiasts become more and more discerning in their purchases.
The remaining breeders understand the demand all too well and the competitive urge to produce the best is high. Obviously many more Koi have to be destroyed today during culling purely because they have no commercial value which means the fewer, albeit far better Koi produced, are more expensive. It is, therefore, the enthusiasts who dictated the increased price of Koi from the breeders by urging them to make more severe culls.
Contrary to popular opinion, the price of high grade Koi increases every year due to the higher standard of quality produced, whilst the price of general grade stocks seems to decrease accordingly, which substantiates the supply and demand situation at the present time.
As far as the amateur side of the hobby goes in Japan today, it is extremely strong indeed with Zen Nippon Airinkai, the largest Koi Society in the world, serving it’s home members as well as members from many other parts of the globe. It produces a monthly magazine ‘Nichirin’ which also has an English text version and supports and encourages Local Chapter Shows in many parts of Japan. There is also a large independently-produced monthly magazine entitled ‘Rinko’ which is excellent and also available in English text. Each year the ZNA National Show is held in late November at different venues throughout Japan.
The All-Japan Nishikigoi Dealers Association hosts its annual Show in Tokyo during January, entries at this event can exceed 5,000 of the most incredible Koi in Japan and is well worth a visit. Of course, there are some collectors in Japan at the very top end of the hobby with enormous collections of very famous Koi, one is Mr. Anabuki who produces a large calendar each year to display some of his champion Koi. Another is the legendary Mr. Kato, who, it is said, has around 90 mud ponds in many areas of Japan to grow his Koi during the Summer months.
There are a few myths that surround Nishikigoi that have added to the mystique and which have escalated over the years.
- The average lifespan of Nishikigoi is around 25 to 30 years, kept in good conditions. An early book mentioned a Higoi known as ‘Hanako’ which died in the late 1970’s, and was reputed to have been around 200 years old! This was assumed by counting ‘growth rings’ on a scale put under a microscope, in the same way as growth rings on a tree are counted. This method of determining the age of Carp has long since been discounted as a total inaccuracy as rings appear on scales when water temperatures reach around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, during Spring and Autumn. Water temperatures can fluctuate up and down at these times of the year and this temperature an be reached many times which produces more rings. Hanako may well have been a very old lady indeed, but I doubt if she would have reached her 50th birthday before passing away; still it is a fascinating story!
- The largest Nishikigoi ever produced is a subject that comes up from time to time. In truth, very few Koi, in relationship to the millions produced, have reached the one metre mark. Of the few that have exceeded 1 metre, many are male Koi, usually very slim and often deformed in some parts of the body; varieties are usually Asagi, Chagoi, Kin Kabuto, and Hikari-Muji etc. etc. According to many Japanese breeders, the largest Nishikigoi produced to 1988 was a Kigoi which measured 105cms.
- Another question often asked by newspaper reporters and sensation seekers is ‘How much?’ – this is far more difficult to answer as few buyers of very expensive Nishikigoi wish it to be generally known how much was paid or, in some cases, where the funds came from. Also very few very expensive Nishikigoi are purchased without two or three unwanted ones being taken back in ‘part-exchange’. In view of this, the ‘witnessed’ purchase prices paid for some very expensive Nishikigoi will certainly not reflect many higher prices that have been paid in private transactions. In open transactions there are prices that have been paid up to around 50,000,000 yen – very expensive indeed, but certainly not millions of pounds as many seem to believe.
