How koi are judged
Key facts: Koi shows evaluate nishikigoi against standardized criteria such as body shape, skin quality, finish and pattern, with judging conducted by certified judges following protocols set by bodies such as the Zen Nippon Airinkai and the All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association.[1][2]
Koi shows are competitions where the beauty and care of nishikigoi are assessed by trained judges rather than by popular vote.[3] The All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association (JNPA) states that koi are judged on body shape, quality, and pattern, with body shape particularly emphasized.[3] In a more detailed breakdown, JNPA describes four criteria: body, quality, finish, and pattern.[1]Judging is typically performed from directly above the fish rather than from the side, since the koi must be assessed as a plump, well-balanced form viewed from a top-down angle, unlike a conventional beauty pageant where a slim profile is preferred.[5][4] Shows in many countries, including South Africa, are judged under ZNA standards, reflecting that organization's role in setting judging protocols since it began consolidating regional shows into the ZNA All Japan Show.[2][9]Body, quality, finish and pattern
According to the JNPA, body shape is the most important item, and importance increases with the size of the adult koi; judges look for no distortion, even body lines on both sides, and a plump, well-balanced amount of flesh from head to tail.[1] Quality refers to the clarity and uniformity of color — a thick red (hi), black ink (sumi), and white skin (shiroji) are valued when each color is uniform and clear.[1] Finish depends on the physical condition of the koi at the time of judging; a koi with shiny red or black color and a white background described as being "as beautiful as white porcelain" is said to have good finish.[1] Pattern is subject to individual preference, but JNPA notes that for Kohaku (紅白) round dots and three- or four-step patterns tend to be favored, while for Taisho Sanshoku (大正三色) shoulder ink (sumi) is often preferred.[1]JNPA's general Q&A material groups the criteria slightly differently, listing "body shape," "quality," and "pattern" as the three main criteria, with body shape singled out as particularly emphasized and a solid skeletal structure and plump body shape highly valued.[3]A secondary source, the US importer Kodama Koi Farm, similarly describes judges as looking at color, pattern, body shape, and overall health, and states that body shape is always the number-one priority, with a well-proportioned, symmetrical koi having a wide, deep body and tapered head considered ideal.[10]How criteria differ by variety
According to Kodama Koi Farm, judging emphasis shifts depending on variety classification. Kohaku are commonly judged on their red hi pattern and pure white shiroji; Tancho are judged on how round the single head marking (maruten) is along with shiroji quality; and Showa Sanshoku are judged on hi, shiroji, and sumi together.[11]Kodama Koi Farm also describes pattern-related terms used in show classification, including Maruten (a round marking on the head), Doitsu (scales confined to the lateral line and along the dorsal and ventral fins, see Doitsugoi), and Gin Rin, a glittering metallic sheen on the scales (see Kinginrin).[10] Show variety groupings at one dealer-run event included categories such as Asagi & Shusui, Hikarimono, Hirenaga, Kawarimono (including Bekko), Kinginrin, Kohaku, Koromo & Goshiki, Showa, Taisho Sanke, Tancho, and Utsurimono.[10]Butterfly koi (see Butterfly koi) cannot be judged using the traditional criteria applied to standard-fin nishikigoi. Their naturally slender conformation differs from the generously oval ideal shape expected under top-down viewing, and their fin-to-body ratio greatly exceeds the standards applied to ordinary koi. For these reasons, ZNA and the UK Koi Judges Association have disallowed butterfly koi from competitive judging, although the American Associated Koi Clubs of America reportedly created separate standards for judging them.[4]Judges and certification
In Japan and internationally, judging protocols trace back to ZNA, which developed show protocols and judging criteria as it consolidated regional Japanese shows into what is now the ZNA All Japan Show.[2] ZNA operates a tiered judge program with ranks including Local Certified Judge, Assistant Certified Judge, Certified Judge, and Honorary Certified Judge, each requiring applications submitted by set deadlines and approval from a Judge Qualifying Council, which ZNA describes as the only and final authority for approving judge status.[7]ZNA judges are expected to develop a respectable character, deep knowledge of nishikigoi, and a high level of appreciation ability, and to continue gaining koi-keeping experience.[7] Judges must obtain prior approval from their chapter president and the show chairperson before judging a show, follow the instructions of the show chairperson and head judge, act fairly and impartially, and refrain from behavior that could be seen as business dealings involving other people's fish.[7]In the United States, the American Koi Judges Association (AKJA), established in 2012, supports standardized evaluation at U.S. koi shows, maintains a listing of AKJA classifications and judges, and offers educational seminars to hobbyists.[6]How judging works on the show floor
At a show benched under ZNA standards in South Africa, a secondary account describes watching a benching session as informative, noting that seeing a Kohaku, Sanke, or Showa "scored on pattern, conformation, and skin quality" in person can teach more than extended independent reading.[9]Show rules can specify how judging is conducted procedurally. At the ZNA SoCal Chapter show, the format is described as "open koi show 'English' style judging" with each participant assigned their own tank, and observers are permitted to watch judging but may not communicate with judges or record audio or video during the process.[8] The same rules state that entries are checked for injuries, parasites, and disease before being allowed to compete, that koi exposed to koi herpesvirus (KHV) are not eligible, and that only judges, club officers, and show staff are allowed in the internal judging ring while koi are being judged.[8] The entry committee is described as the final authority regarding classification and size, and the decision of the judges and/or entry committee is stated to be final.[8]Size classes and the scale of judging
Koi are judged within size categories rather than against the full range of entries at once, since according to Kodama Koi Farm size is only one of several factors determining value and large size is not required to win.[10] General size categories cited by the same source ("bu" classes) range from Under 15 cm up to 75 cm and above; further detail is covered on the page about show classes and size categories.[10]At the ZNA SoCal show, entrants' tanks are capped using a fish-load point formula tied to size, in which larger koi (for example 90 cm and above) count for more points toward the per-tank limit than smaller koi, so tank composition partly reflects how many and how large fish are being judged together.[8]Associations shaping judging standards
Judging criteria and show protocols in Japan have been shaped primarily by two organizations: the Zen Nippon Airinkai, which established judging criteria and classifications used at ZNA-sanctioned shows worldwide, and the All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association, which runs major competitions in Japan including the All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show, the All Japan Young Koi Show, and the International Junior Koi Show, as well as regional district and prefectural shows.[2][3]In the United States, the American Koi Judges Association supports standardized judging at U.S. shows outside the direct ZNA structure, while ZNA chapters such as ZNA SoCal also run their own sanctioned shows under ZNA rules.[6][8]Common questions
What are the main criteria used to judge koi?
Why are koi viewed from above when judged?
Can butterfly koi be judged in traditional koi shows?
No; ZNA and the UK Koi Judges Association have disallowed butterfly koi from traditional competitive judging because their slender conformation and larger fin-to-body ratio do not fit standard criteria, though the American Associated Koi Clubs of America reportedly developed separate standards for them.[4]
How does someone become a certified koi judge?
Within ZNA, judges progress through ranks such as Local Certified Judge, Assistant Certified Judge, and Certified Judge, submitting applications by set deadlines, with the Judge Qualifying Council as the final approving authority.[7] In the United States, the American Koi Judges Association also maintains its own judge listings and classifications.[6]
Are koi judged against all other koi at a show, or only similar koi?
Koi are judged within size classes and often within variety categories, since size alone does not determine a win and judges assess color, pattern, and body conformation within comparable groups.[10]
Related koi topics
References
- ^ Examination criteria - All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. jnpa.info/en/show/examination/. Retrieved November 2026.
- ^ What is Zen Nippon Airinkai? – Zen Nippon Arinkai Southern California. znasocal.org. znasocal.org/a-homepage-section/. Retrieved November 2026.
- ^ Q&A - All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. jnpa.info/en/qa/. Retrieved November 2026.
- ^ Butterfly koi (Wikipedia). Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_koi. Retrieved November 2026.
- ^ Asia's love of koi (AFP, May 2008). thingsasian.com. thingsasian.com/node/2605.html. Retrieved November 2026.
- ^ American Koi Judges Association (AKJA). American Koi Judges Association. akjajudges.com/. Retrieved November 2026.
- ^ Judges | Zen Nippon Airinkai. Zen Nippon Airinkai. zna.jp/en/judge-2/. Retrieved November 2026.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 2026 SA National Koi Show: Durban North dates, times, and entry | Minurphy Tarpaulin. Minurphy (show sponsor). minurphy.co.za/blog/sa-national-koi-show-2026-durban. Retrieved November 2026.
- ^ Preparing for Koi Competition and Tips for Winning Koi Shows. Kodama Koi Farm (koi dealer). kodamakoifarm.com/koi-show-competition-tips-preparation/. Retrieved November 2026.
- ^ What is a Nishikigoi? - Koi Fish History Explained and Meaning. Kodama Koi Farm (koi dealer). kodamakoifarm.com/what-is-nishikigoi-history-meaning/. Retrieved November 2026.