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Koi shows

By the koi.wiki editorial team · Updated

Key facts: Koi shows are competitive exhibitions where nishikigoi (錦鯉) are judged on body shape, quality and pattern, held by hobbyist and breeder organizations in Japan and around the world.[1]
According to the All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association (JNPA), koi shows are competitions where the beauty and care of nishikigoi are assessed, with judges weighing body shape, quality and pattern, and body shape receiving particular emphasis.[1] The JNPA holds numerous shows across Japan each year, including three major national competitions as well as regional District and Prefectural shows.[1]Outside Japan, koi shows are organized by national and regional clubs affiliated with bodies such as Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA), whose chapters today span Europe, South Africa, Australia, the Far East, South America and the United States.[3][4] Show formats, judging protocols and classification systems used at many of these events trace back to standards ZNA developed after consolidating smaller Japanese shows into the All Japan Show.[3]

Origins of the koi show

According to the JNPA, numerous koi shows were held by breeders, dealers and enthusiasts across Japan in the 1960s, but none represented the whole country, including the large-scale Niigata Koi Show and the West Japan Airinkai show.[2] A show held at the Takanawa Prince Hotel by the Tokyo Koi Club led figures from Tokyo and Niigata to discuss the need for a nationwide show and organization, and the first All Japan Nishikigoi Show was held in December 1968 at Hotel New Otani Garden Hall in Tokyo.[2] The All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association was then officially established during the second All Japan Nishikigoi Show in January 1970.[2]Separately, according to ZNA America and ZNA SoCal, Zen Nippon Airinkai began as a regional hobbyist movement in western Japan and became a national and international organization in 1968, with its first major show held in Beppu in 1966 under the earlier Western Nippon Airinkai, becoming a truly national ZNA show by its fourth edition in 1969.[3][4] ZNA states that it developed the judging criteria, classifications and show procedures used today at ZNA-sponsored shows worldwide.[3]

Judging and show classes

The JNPA states that nishikigoi entered in shows are judged on three main criteria: body shape, quality and pattern, with body shape — a solid skeletal structure and a plump form — particularly emphasized.[1] ZNA notes that its Appreciation & Judge Division is responsible for instruction in nishikigoi appreciation and judging and for holding judging seminars, while its Koi Show Division provides operation and advice for shows and competitions, including the All Japan Show.[6]Size categories vary by event. The All Japan Young Koi Show, for example, accepts entries from 12 cm up to 63 cm.[2] The International Junior Koi Show was created, according to the JNPA, because koi have gradually grown larger through improved breeding techniques, while many keepers now raise smaller koi suited to tank breeding; this show is limited to koi under 36 cm and first ran in 2013, growing to 46 participating countries and regions by its 10th edition in 2023.[2]Not all koi varieties are accepted in competitive judging everywhere: according to a secondary source, ZNA has for many years disallowed butterfly koi from competitive judging, and the UK Koi Judges Association also excludes them, although the American Associated Koi Clubs of America reportedly created standards for judging butterfly koi at its competitions as of 2006.[7] More detail on judging criteria and classes is covered on the pages for how koi are judged and show classes and size categories.

Major shows in Japan

The JNPA identifies three major national competitions: the All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show, the Nishikigoi All Japan Young Koi Show, and the International Junior Koi Show, alongside regional District Koi Shows in the Kanto and Kansai regions and Prefectural Koi Shows held in each prefecture; most of these events are free to attend.[1] Scheduled editions include the 57th All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show on January 30–31, 2027 at the Tokyo Ryutsu Center, the 43rd All Japan Young Koi Show on March 20–21, 2027 at Himeji Castle Otemae Park, and the 14th International Junior Koi Show on April 17–18, 2027 at Ojiya City Gymnasium Community Plaza in Niigata.[8]ZNA separately publishes a calendar of chapter-level shows held across Japanese prefectures, from Aomori to Oita, organized by local ZNA chapters with varying annual editions and dates.[9] Further detail is available on the pages for koi shows in Japan, the All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show, the All Japan Young Koi Show, the International Junior Koi Show, and the Niigata Nishikigoi Show.

Koi shows in the USA

According to the American Koi Judges Association (AKJA), scheduled 2026 US shows include 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's 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.[10] Shinkokai USA, the US branch of the JNPA, also lists USA and international koi shows on its site.[11] More detail is available on the pages for koi shows in the USA and the ZNA SoCal Koi Show.

Koi shows in the UK and Europe

Koi Judges UK, the organization formerly operating as the BKKS Judging Sub-Committee, lists a 2026 schedule including the Belgian ZNA Koi Show in Waregem, the European Koi Show at Het Hulsbeek in Oldenzaal, Netherlands, the National Koi Show at the Heart of England Conference & Event Centre, the Crouch Valley Open Show, the Scottish Koi Show, the North of England Koi Show, the ZNA Holland Koi Show in Appeltern, the Great British Koi Show at Newark Showground, the Mid Staffs Koi Show, the All England Koi Show at Kent County Showground, and the Birmingham & West Midlands Koi Society Young Koi Show.[12] Equivalent 2027 dates are also listed for several of these events.[12]

Koi shows in Asia

According to a 2008 press release, the 1st Asia Cup Koi Show was launched at the Singapore Expo from 2 to 4 May 2008 with participants from Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore, described at the time as the biggest koi show outside Japan, showcasing about 1,500 koi across 14 size categories and 16 varieties.[5] Judging involved 17 judges, including six senior judges from Zen Nippon Airinkai and six from the All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association (Shinkoukai), plus five judges from participating countries.[5] The same release estimated the Singapore koi market at about $25 million a year including re-exports, with Japan's koi exports estimated at about US$500 million.[5] See the pages on koi shows in Asia and the All Asia Cup Koi Show for more.

Koi shows in Australia, South Africa and Brazil

The Australian Koi Association (AKA), formed in 1981, has around 300 members and holds shows, displays and exhibitions as part of its activities, and maintains relationships with other Australian clubs including the Koi Society of Australia and the Koi Society of Western Australia, as well as international organizations such as the South African Koi Keepers Society.[13]The South African Koi Keepers Society (SAKKS) coordinates a National structure and announces a Special Variety each year for all SAKKS koi shows, following the nominated Special Variety announced for the ZNA International Show in Japan in November.[14] For 2025, SAKKS designated Koromo as its Special Variety.[14]ZNA America notes that ZNA chapters exist in Brazil among other countries, reflecting the organization's international reach into South America, though specific Brazilian show names are not detailed in available sources.[4]

Organizations behind koi shows

Several organizations sanction or coordinate koi shows internationally. ZNA's divisional structure includes a Koi Show Division responsible for operation and advice on shows and competitions, and for the All Japan Show specifically, as well as an International Division that manages overseas chapters, arranges judge exchanges, and promotes nishikigoi worldwide.[6] The JNPA likewise organizes Japan's major national shows and publishes schedule information through its monthly magazine, Monthly Nishikigoi.[1]In the United States, Shinkokai USA operates as the JNPA's US branch and lists active members and koi show information, though some of its pages, such as guidance on keeping nishikigoi, are listed as still in development.[15][16] More on these bodies is available on the pages for Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA), All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association (JNPA), US koi organizations, and UK koi organizations.

Entries in this section

Common questions

What are koi judged on at a show?
According to the All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association, koi are judged on body shape, quality and pattern, with body shape — a solid skeletal structure and plump form — given particular emphasis.[1]
What are the three major national koi shows in Japan?
The JNPA names the All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show, the Nishikigoi All Japan Young Koi Show, and the International Junior Koi Show as its three major competitions, alongside regional District and Prefectural shows.[1]
Are butterfly koi allowed to compete in koi shows?
According to a secondary source, Zen Nippon Airinkai and the UK Koi Judges Association have historically excluded butterfly koi from competitive judging, while the American Associated Koi Clubs of America reportedly introduced standards for judging them as of 2006.[7]
Is entry to Japanese koi shows free?
The JNPA states that most of its competitions, including the District and Prefectural shows, are free to attend.[1]
Where can I find upcoming koi show dates?
Sources with published schedules include the JNPA's show schedule page for Japan[8], the ZNA show calendar for Japanese chapter shows[9], the American Koi Judges Association's US show list[10], and Koi Judges UK's schedule for the UK and Europe[12].

References

  1. ^ Q&A - All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. jnpa.info/en/qa/. Retrieved November 2026.
  2. ^ History of Nishikigoi show - All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. jnpa.info/en/show/history/. Retrieved November 2026.
  3. ^ What is Zen Nippon Airinkai? – Zen Nippon Arinkai Southern California. znasocal.org. znasocal.org/a-homepage-section/. Retrieved November 2026.
  4. ^ About. Zen Nippon Airinkai America — znaamerica.com. znaamerica.com/about. Retrieved November 2026.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Works and Activities of the ZNA Divisions | Zen Nippon Airinkai. Zen Nippon Airinkai. zna.jp/en/division-2/. Retrieved November 2026.
  7. ^ Butterfly koi (Wikipedia). Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_koi. Retrieved November 2026.
  8. ^ Schedule of the Nishikigoi Show - All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. jnpa.info/en/show/schedule/. Retrieved November 2026.
  9. ^ Show Calendar | Zen Nippon Airinkai. Zen Nippon Airinkai. zna.jp/en/show-calender/. Retrieved November 2026.
  10. ^ US Koi Show – American Koi Judges Association (AKJA). American Koi Judges Association. akjajudges.com/us-koi-show/. Retrieved November 2026.
  11. ^ Koi Shows - Shinkokai USA Official Website. Shinkokai USA (JNPA). shinkokaiusa.com/koi-shows. Retrieved November 2026.
  12. ^ Koi Shows – Koi Judges UK | The former BKKS JSC. Koi Judges UK. koijudges.uk/koi-shows/. Retrieved November 2026.
  13. ^ Australian KOI Association. akakoi.com.au. akakoi.com.au/. Retrieved November 2026.
  14. ^ SAKKS – National – South African Koi Keepers Society. South African Koi Keepers Society. sakks.co.za/. Retrieved November 2026.
  15. ^ How to keep Nishikigoi - Shinkokai USA Official Website. Shinkokai USA (JNPA). shinkokaiusa.com/how-to-keep-nishikigoi. Retrieved November 2026.
  16. ^ Nishikigoi Genealogy - Shinkokai USA Official Website. Shinkokai USA (JNPA). shinkokaiusa.com/nishikigoi-genealogy. Retrieved November 2026.