Skip to content

US koi organizations: AKCA, AKJA and ZNA chapters

By the koi.wiki editorial team · Updated

Key facts: In the United States, the koi hobby is supported by several organizations, including the Associated Koi Clubs of America (AKCA), the American Koi Judges Association (AKJA), and the North American chapters of Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA America)[1][2][3].
Koi keepers in the United States are served by multiple national and regional organizations rather than a single governing body. The Associated Koi Clubs of America (AKCA) is a federation of local koi clubs that promotes keeping, breeding, appreciating and exhibiting koi, and publishes KOI USA magazine through a wholly owned subsidiary[1]. The American Koi Judges Association (AKJA), established in 2012, trains and certifies judges and supports standardized evaluation at U.S. shows[2]. Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA), the Japan-based international society, maintains a North American Regional District, ZNA America, along with numerous local chapters[3].These organizations overlap in membership and activity but differ in scope: AKCA operates as a club federation and magazine publisher, AKJA focuses on judge training and classification standards, and ZNA chapters connect U.S. hobbyists to the Japanese parent organization's history, judging criteria and show protocols[1][2][3][4].

Associated Koi Clubs of America (AKCA)

AKCA is a corporation whose stated purpose is to promote, create and enlarge the hobby of keeping, breeding, appreciating and exhibiting koi[1]. It operates committees covering finance, insurance, risk management, and a Koi Health Adviser (KHA) program that connects experienced keepers with hobbyists learning about koi care[1]. Annual club dues of $100 include automatic liability insurance covering member clubs in the US and Canada[1].AKCA also runs award programs such as the Koi of the Year contest, created so that individual member clubs can honor their best koi, along with a Champion of Champions award and a Club Koi Person of the Year award[1]. Its publishing arm, KOI USA Inc., is a for-profit California corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of AKCA that produces KOI USA magazine[1].

American Koi Judges Association (AKJA)

The American Koi Judges Association was established in 2012 to support standardized evaluation at U.S. koi shows and to provide education to hobbyists[2]. AKJA judges volunteer at shows, assist with the technical aspects of hosting a show, and offer educational seminars[2]. The organization's website lists judge biographies, instructions for requesting judges, current classification structures, and a listing of U.S. koi shows[2].AKJA currently recognizes classifications including Kohaku, Sanke, Showa, Utsurimono, GinRin, Doitsu, Tancho, Asagi/Shusui, Koromo/Goshiki, Bekko, Hikari Moyomono, Hikari Mujimono, Hikari Utsuri, Mujimono, Kawarigoi, and Longfin, though show organizers have flexibility to adapt this structure to local practice, with changes to be flagged to the head judge before a show[5]. AKJA also publishes a glossary of koi terminology used by judges and hobbyists[7].

ZNA America and its chapters

ZNA America is described as the North American Regional District of Zen Nippon Airinkai, the international society based in Beppu, Japan, with a stated mission to spread the hobby of koi keeping, improve husbandry techniques, and elevate appreciation of nishikigoi as living art[3]. ZNA itself evolved from a regional Japanese hobbyist movement into a national and international organization in 1968, and today has chapters in the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Brazil[3].The first U.S. chapter was formed in Southern California; sources differ slightly on the date, with ZNA America citing February 1973[3] and ZNA SoCal's own site citing July 1972[4], while ZNA SoCal's about page states the chapter started in 1972[8]. According to the official overseas chapter list published by Zen Nippon Airinkai in Japan, U.S. chapters include the Southern California Chapter, the Northwest Chapter (Northwest Koi & Goldfish Club), the Potomac Chapter (Potomac Koi Club), the Moto-Kara Koikai Chapter, the Northern Midwest Chapter, the Southern Koi Chapter (Southern Koi Association), the Northern California Chapter, the Tri-State ZNA Chapter, the Carolina ZNA Chapter, and a Rocky Mountain Chapter, under a U.S. District Chairman[6].

ZNA judging and organizational structure

Zen Nippon Airinkai organizes its work into divisions covering promotion and publishing, koi shows, international chapter management, koi keeping research and disease guidance, and appreciation and judge instruction, including judging seminars[9]. ZNA judges are expected to develop both technical ability to appreciate nishikigoi and personal conduct befitting a representative of the ZNA and their chapter, must obtain prior approval from their chapter president before judging a show, and must remain fair, impartial, and free from business dealings involving other people's fish[10]. A formal program defines tiers from Local Certified Judge up to Honorary Certified Judge, with application deadlines tied to council meetings[10].ZNA SoCal, the original U.S. chapter, holds monthly meetings on Sundays at member homes or koi dealerships and runs an annual koi auction, a holiday luncheon, and its own open koi show[8]. Its 2026 exhibitor registration packet describes a show with no competitive class for longfin koi and no separate Doitsu category — doitsu koi are benched with their scaled counterparts — along with major awards such as Grand Champion, Reserve Champion, and size- and group-based champions[11].

US koi shows and the AKJA show calendar

AKJA maintains a listing of scheduled U.S. koi shows, which for 2026 includes events such as the Central Florida Koi & Goldfish Show in Orlando, the Koi Club of San Diego show at Del Mar Fairgrounds, the ZNA SoCal Koi Show in Gardena, the All American Koi Show in Las Vegas, the Music City Koi Show in Nashville, the ZNA Carolina Koi Show in Raleigh, the Dallas Koi Show, the Greater Louisville Koi and Goldfish Society show, the Atlanta Koi Club Annual Show, the Rocky Mountain Koi Show and Aquatic Expo, the Miami Koi Show, the Idaho Water Garden and Koi Society show, the NMZNA Koi Show in Ellisville, the South Carolina Koi & Goldfish Show, and the Fresno Koi Show[12]. For general background on how such events are run, see Koi shows in the USA.

Policy differences: butterfly koi

U.S. organizations have taken varied approaches to butterfly (longfin) koi in competition. Zen Nippon Airinkai has disallowed butterfly koi from competitive judging for many years, a position shared by the UK Koi Judges Association, according to a secondary source[13]. By contrast, AKCA reportedly created new standards for judging butterfly koi at its competitions as of June 2006, according to the same secondary source[13]. American shows that permit longfin koi usually enter them as a separate variety, and these entrants rarely win higher overall awards, though some shows feature “Best Longfin” categories split by size[13]. Consistent with the ZNA position, ZNA SoCal's own show rules state there is no competitive class for longfin koi[11]. See also Butterfly koi.

International judging ties

U.S.-based ZNA chapters exist within a wider international network. ZNA judges are deployed to overseas shows as part of the organization's International Division, which manages overseas chapters, friendship clubs, and judge exchanges[9]. One example of cross-organizational judging is the All Asia Cup, judged jointly by members of ZNA and the All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association (Shinkokai), an arrangement agreed between the two bodies' leadership, according to a secondary source[14]. A related event, the Asia Cup Koi Show, was judged by senior judges from both ZNA and Shinkokai alongside judges from participating countries, according to a 2008 press release[15].

Common questions

What is the difference between AKCA and AKJA?
AKCA is a federation of U.S. koi clubs that promotes the hobby and publishes KOI USA magazine[1], while AKJA, established in 2012, focuses specifically on training and certifying judges and standardizing show classifications[2][5].
Is ZNA America the same as ZNA in Japan?
ZNA America is described as the North American Regional District of Zen Nippon Airinkai, the international society based in Beppu, Japan, rather than a separate organization[3].
When was the first U.S. ZNA chapter formed?
Sources give slightly different dates: ZNA America states the first chapter formed in Southern California in February 1973[3], while ZNA SoCal's own pages cite 1972 or July 1972[8][4].
Do U.S. shows allow butterfly (longfin) koi to compete for top awards?
Policies vary; ZNA has disallowed butterfly koi from competitive judging, and some U.S. shows that permit longfin entries place them as a separate variety that rarely wins higher awards, according to a secondary source[13], a position reflected in ZNA SoCal's own show rules, which have no competitive class for longfin koi[11].
What classifications does AKJA use at shows?
AKJA recognizes classifications such as Kohaku, Sanke, Showa, Utsurimono, GinRin, Doitsu, Tancho, Asagi/Shusui, Koromo/Goshiki, Bekko, Hikari Moyomono, Hikari Mujimono, Hikari Utsuri, Mujimono, Kawarigoi and Longfin, though organizers may adapt the structure locally[5].

References

  1. ^ AKCA.org – Associated Koi Clubs of America | Koi clubs promoting the hobby of keeping, breeding and appreciating Japanese Nishikigoi, koi. web.archive.org. web.archive.org/web/20210423075352/http://www.akca.org/. Retrieved November 2026.
  2. ^ American Koi Judges Association (AKJA). American Koi Judges Association. akjajudges.com/. Retrieved November 2026.
  3. ^ About. Zen Nippon Airinkai America — znaamerica.com. znaamerica.com/about. Retrieved November 2026.
  4. ^ What is Zen Nippon Airinkai? – Zen Nippon Arinkai Southern California. znasocal.org. znasocal.org/a-homepage-section/. Retrieved November 2026.
  5. ^ AKJA Classifications – American Koi Judges Association (AKJA). American Koi Judges Association. akjajudges.com/akja_classifications/. Retrieved November 2026.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Glossary – American Koi Judges Association (AKJA). American Koi Judges Association. akjajudges.com/glossary/. Retrieved November 2026.
  8. ^ About Us – Zen Nippon Arinkai Southern California. znasocal.org. znasocal.org/about/. Retrieved November 2026.
  9. ^ Works and Activities of the ZNA Divisions | Zen Nippon Airinkai. Zen Nippon Airinkai. zna.jp/en/division-2/. Retrieved November 2026.
  10. ^ Judges | Zen Nippon Airinkai. Zen Nippon Airinkai. zna.jp/en/judge-2/. Retrieved November 2026.
  11. ^ ZNA SoCal 50th Annual Koi Show exhibitor registration packet (2026). znasocal.org. znasocal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-entrant-registration-1…. Retrieved November 2026.
  12. ^ US Koi Show – American Koi Judges Association (AKJA). American Koi Judges Association. akjajudges.com/us-koi-show/. Retrieved November 2026.
  13. ^ Butterfly koi (Wikipedia). Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_koi. Retrieved November 2026.
  14. ^ Jureren tijdens de 11e All Asia Cup - Besems.eu. besems.eu. besems.eu/2018/04/13/jureren-tijdens-11e-all-asia-cup/. Retrieved November 2026.
  15. ^ 1st Asia Cup Koi Show press release, 29 April 2008. yumpu.com. yumpu.com/en/document/view/47645378/1st-asia-cup-koi-show-inaugural…. Retrieved November 2026.