“Nishikigoi”: Rekindling Domestic Interest in Niigata’s Iconic Ornamental Fish

Tanaka Kakuei feeding nishikigoi at his home following his election as head of the Liberal Democratic Party in July 1972. (© Jiji)

The Ojiya Nishikigoi Center in Niigata Prefecture hosted the event by former employees of the Dainichi Koi Farm.

Attendees included buyers from Germany, Belgium, and China.

Nogami Hisato, manager of Nogami Koi Farm.

Buyers send photos and videos of fish to overseas collectors in real time.

Young carp of the kijiro variety in a home aquarium.

Isa of Isa Koi Farm overlooks a pond containing two-year-old nishikigoi.

To prepare nishikigoi for exhibit at a show, they are kept in a large pond to allow them plenty of space to grow.

The entrance of Nishikigoi no Sato. Tickets are ¥520 for adults and ¥310 for elementary and junior high school students. The facility is around 10 minutes by bus from Ojiya Station on the JR Jōetsu Line.

Nishikigoi swimming in an outdoor pond will be transferred to indoor tanks once the weather turns cold in November.

In the viewing area, young children are entranced by nishikigoi.

Terraced paddies and ponds lit up during the inaugural pageant. (Courtesy Nagaoka Incorporated Association of Tourism and Conventions)

Nagaoka’s world-renowned fireworks display. (Courtesy Nagaoka Incorporated Association of Tourism and Conventions)

The entrance to an underground walkway near Ojiya Station is shaped like a nishikigoi.