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Koi clubs and associations

By the koi.wiki editorial team · Updated

Key facts: Koi keeping is organized worldwide through national and international clubs and associations that run shows, train judges, and promote nishikigoi (錦鯉) appreciation, ranging from Japan's Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA) and All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association (JNPA) to national societies in the Netherlands, United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia.[1][2]
Numerous organizations support the keeping, breeding, and exhibiting of nishikigoi (錦鯉), both in Japan and internationally. These range from the large Japanese bodies that set judging standards and hold flagship shows, to national hobbyist clubs that organize local meetings, auctions, and friendship exchanges.[1][2][9]Many national clubs maintain direct ties to Japan: several operate as official overseas chapters of Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA), while others are independent societies that cooperate with Japanese organizations and with each other through friendship awards at shows.[4][10]

Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA)

Zen Nippon Airinkai traces its origins to the Oita Airinkai, founded on 11 February 1962, with Zen Nippon Airinkai itself starting on 11 May 1968.[1] It was founded by Dr. Kuroki Takeo and has been authorized by the Japanese government as a Shadan Hojin (Corporate Juridical Person) since 1983 and as an Ippan Shadan Hojin since 2013.[1] Its stated purpose is to contribute to the enrichment of Japanese culture and the improvement of people's artistic sentiments by promoting nishikigoi keeping, guiding its appreciation, and pursuing its beauty.[1] Main activities listed by the organization include koi shows and competitions, study and research on nishikigoi, promotion and guidance of nishikigoi keeping, social services, international goodwill through koi, and publication of member magazines and books.[1]According to ZNA Southern California, ZNA evolved from a regional organization in western Japan into a national and international body in 1968, and began holding what is now known as the ZNA All Japan Show in 1969; this process led ZNA to develop the show protocols, judging criteria, and etiquette used across ZNA-sponsored shows today.[9] The organization's motto is described as "Friendship through scales," reflecting founder Dr. Kuroki's aim of building relationships among members internationally.[9] The first US chapter, ZNA Southern California, was started in July 1972.[9] ZNA today maintains overseas chapters and friendship clubs across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, including chapters in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.[4] More detail on the organization's structure and shows is covered on the page about Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA).

All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association (JNPA)

The All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association describes itself as a group of koi breeders and dealers, with about 520 members in Japan and abroad.[2] As of the end of June 2024, it reported 299 domestic members and 223 overseas members, for a total of 522.[3] Its stated main purpose is to enlighten and popularize nishikigoi culture and provide information relevant to the production, sale, and breeding of nishikigoi, both within Japan and worldwide.[2] The organization has also established a "koi breeder" qualification system identifying instructors with a high degree of breeding technique and appreciation.[2]JNPA was established as the All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association in January 1970 and was incorporated as a general incorporated association in May 2020.[3] Its chairman is Hanazumi Hideyo, Governor of Niigata, and its director is Mano Futoshi, who also serves as the organization's president in its public messaging.[3] The association is headquartered at the Nishikigoi promotion center in Ojiya City, Niigata.[3] JNPA holds three shows it describes as world-class every year: the All Japan Nishikigoi Show, the All Japan Young Koi Show, and the International Junior Koi Show.[3] Further detail appears on the page about the All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association (JNPA).

Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland (NVN)

The Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland (NVN) is listed by Zen Nippon Airinkai as its Dutch Chapter.[4] The club offers membership benefits including a magazine called "KOI," a pond advisory service known as the Koi Vijver Adviesdienst (KVA), a forum, courses such as a basic course on fish diseases, and discounts with partners.[11] Membership is advertised at 49 euros per year.[11]NVN organizes the Holland Koi Show each year, which the club describes as the largest koi show in the world, as well as a Young Holland Koi Show.[11] According to the organization, the Holland Koi Show moved to Appeltern as of an announcement dated 11 April 2024.[11] The club's knowledge base also includes an overview of koi varieties and information on parasites such as anchor worm (Lernaea), Chilodonella, Costia (Ichthyobodo), Gyrodactylus, fish lice (Argulus), Dactylogyrus, and white spot (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis), alongside water-value calculation tools.[11] More on the show itself is covered on the Holland Koi Show page.

South African Koi Keepers Society (SAKKS)

The South African Koi Keepers Society (SAKKS) is listed by Zen Nippon Airinkai as its South African Chapter.[4] According to SAKKS, the society was founded on two principles: to promote friendship and to disseminate information on koi and koi keeping.[7] In 1988, members Chris Neaves and Dr. Neville Marais researched and compiled manuals on "Management, Health and Medication" and "Nutrition" for SAKKS members, which were later combined into a single guide; Neaves subsequently produced an expanded "Health Guide."[7]SAKKS also designates a Special Variety for its shows each year; for 2025 this was Koromo, following the nominated special variety announced for the ZNA International Show in Japan in November.[7] Readers can learn more about this variety on the Koromo page.

Judging bodies: AKJA and Koi Judges UK

In the United States, the American Koi Judges Association (AKJA) was established in 2012 with the stated mission of supporting the koi-keeping hobby through standardized evaluation at U.S. koi shows and education for hobbyists.[5] AKJA judges volunteer at shows to judge koi, assist with the technical aspects of hosting shows, and offer educational seminars; the organization also publishes judge biographies, judge classifications, and a listing of U.S. koi shows.[5] More on American organizations appears on the page about US koi organizations.In the United Kingdom, Koi Judges UK describes itself as the former BKKS Judging Sub-Committee (JSC).[6] Separately, the British Koi-Keepers Society (BKKS), which had provided support for UK koi clubs and organized the National Koi Show for 50 years, announced on its website that the society has closed and that it is not currently inviting new memberships, while noting a forthcoming National Koi Show website.[12] Further detail on UK organizations is covered on the UK koi organizations page.

Other national clubs

Entries in this section

Common questions

What is the difference between ZNA and JNPA?
Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA) is a Japanese organization authorized as an Ippan Shadan Hojin focused on promoting nishikigoi keeping, judging standards, and international chapters, founded by Dr. Kuroki Takeo.[1] The All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association (JNPA) is composed of koi breeders and dealers and focuses on production, sales, and breeding information, holding its own set of annual shows.[2][3]
Is the Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland affiliated with ZNA?
Yes, the NVN is listed by Zen Nippon Airinkai as its Dutch Chapter.[4]
What happened to the British Koi-Keepers Society?
According to its own website, the British Koi-Keepers Society (BKKS) has closed after 50 years, is not currently inviting new memberships, and a separate National Koi Show website was expected to launch.[12]
How large is the JNPA?
As of the end of June 2024, JNPA reported 299 domestic members in Japan and 223 overseas members, for a total of 522.[3]
Which show does the NVN organize?
The NVN organizes the Holland Koi Show, which it describes as the largest koi show in the world, along with a Young Holland Koi Show; the main show moved to Appeltern as announced in April 2024.[11]

References

  1. ^ What’s ZNA | Zen Nippon Airinkai. Zen Nippon Airinkai. zna.jp/en/about-en/. Retrieved November 2026.
  2. ^ About All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association - All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. jnpa.info/en/about/. Retrieved November 2026.
  3. ^ Message from the President / Overview of the organization - All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. jnpa.info/en/about/profile/. Retrieved November 2026.
  4. ^ Zen Nippon Airinkai Overseas Chapter / Friendship Club List | Zen Nippon Airinkai. Zen Nippon Airinkai. zna.jp/en/zen-nippon-airinkai-overseas-chapter-friendship-club-list/. Retrieved November 2026.
  5. ^ American Koi Judges Association (AKJA). American Koi Judges Association. akjajudges.com/. Retrieved November 2026.
  6. ^ Koi Judges UK | The former BKKS JSC. Koi Judges UK. koijudges.uk/. Retrieved November 2026.
  7. ^ SAKKS – National – South African Koi Keepers Society. South African Koi Keepers Society. sakks.co.za/. Retrieved November 2026.
  8. ^ Australian KOI Association. akakoi.com.au. akakoi.com.au/. Retrieved November 2026.
  9. ^ What is Zen Nippon Airinkai? – Zen Nippon Arinkai Southern California. znasocal.org. znasocal.org/a-homepage-section/. Retrieved November 2026.
  10. ^ 49th Sydney Koi Show 2026 results (Sydney Koi Show). Sydney Koi Show. sydneykoishow.com/admin/photoresultsnew.toy?eid=206700. Retrieved November 2026.
  11. ^ NVN – Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland. Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland. nvn-koi.nl/. Retrieved November 2026.
  12. ^ British Koi-Keepers Society (home page notice). bkks.co.uk. bkks.co.uk/. Retrieved November 2026.
  13. ^ Eventos – Associação Brasileira de Nishikigoi. Associação Brasileira de Nishikigoi. abn.org.br/eventos/. Retrieved November 2026.