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Niigata Nishikigoi Show

By the koi.wiki editorial team · Updated

Key facts: The Niigata Nishikigoi Show (新潟県錦鯉品評会) is a prefectural koi exhibition held in Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture, where koi raised by producers from across the prefecture are judged and displayed[1].
The show is organized annually and held at a gymnasium venue in Ojiya City, the municipality long associated with the origins of nishikigoi (錦鯉) breeding[1][3]. According to Ojiya City, the 65th edition of the show took place over two days, November 8 and 9, at the city's General Gymnasium Community Plaza[1]. The event drew 469 koi entered by producers from within the prefecture and attracted 1,010 visitors over the two days[1].Ojiya City states that it produces roughly 45% of the nishikigoi raised in Niigata Prefecture, and that the city holds shows twice a year: a spring event for overwintered tate-goi (立て鯉) and an autumn show, called the "Zenkoku Norin Suisan-sai Sanka Niigata-ken Nishikigoi Hinpyokai," for outstanding koi from across the prefecture[4].

History and Context

Ojiya, together with the nearby Yamakoshi area, is described by sources as the birthplace of nishikigoi, where color mutations first appeared among food carp (真鯉) kept in the Edo period in what was then called Nijūmuragō (二十村郷)[2][5][3]. The All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association notes that in the 1960s the "Niigata Koi Show" was already a large-scale event, though it was not considered fully representative of the whole country, which contributed to the eventual founding of the national All Japan Nishikigoi Show in 1968[6][7]. A koi that won the Minister's Award at the 7th Niigata Nishikigoi Show in 1967 was later put on special display at a Tokyo koi show, an episode cited in the association's account of how the national show movement began[6].According to the US importer Kodama Koi Farm, a separate autumn event in Niigata called "Nogyosai," held at the end of October, is considered one of the three biggest koi shows and is described as highly authoritative within the industry[8]. The koi-producing region around Niigata was also seriously affected by the 2004 Chūetsu earthquake, which registered an intensity of Shindo 7 and recorded a peak ground acceleration of 1,500 gal at Ojiya, prompting evacuation orders in Ojiya and Yamakoshi due to landslide-dam flooding concerns[9].

Format and Scale

At the 65th Niigata Nishikigoi Show, judges were organized into five groups to assess the entered koi during the morning of the first day, with an awards ceremony held on the second day[1]. Ojiya City reports that the show displayed koi exceeding 100 cm (about 3.3 ft) in length, and that visitors were drawn to the beauty of their patterns and their size[1]. A chagoi (茶鯉) measuring 102 cm won the show's Jumbo Award, drawing particular attention from attendees[1].The All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association notes separately that koi shows in general are judged on three main criteria: body shape, quality and pattern, with body shape—reflected in a solid skeletal structure and plump body—given particular emphasis[10].

Awards

Venue and Attendance

The 65th show was held at the General Gymnasium Community Plaza in Ojiya City over two days, drawing 1,010 visitors[1]. Ojiya had an estimated population of about 34,704 as of 2019, according to Wikipedia, and is located on the Echigo Plain in an area known for heavy winter snowfall[3]. The city is also home to the Nishikigoi no Sato (錦鯉の里), a dedicated koi park and exhibition hall where visitors can view koi year-round and learn about the history, varieties and husbandry of nishikigoi[4].Beyond the November show, Ojiya City describes a spring event, the "Echigo Ojiya Tate-goi Hinpyōkai," for koi that have successfully overwintered[4]. The All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association, headquartered at its Nishikigoi Promotion Center in Ojiya, also separately holds the International Junior Koi Show at the Ojiya City Gymnasium Community Plaza each spring as one of its three major national events[11][12]. Niigata City has also hosted international events such as the World Nishikigoi Summit at the Toki Messe conference hall, according to the Japan Koi Shows calendar[13].

Common questions

How many koi were entered in the 65th Niigata Nishikigoi Show?
According to Ojiya City, 469 koi raised by producers within Niigata Prefecture were exhibited at the 65th show[1].
What award did the overall champion koi receive?
The overall grand champion, a Kohaku, received the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the 65th Niigata Nishikigoi Show[1].
Where is the Niigata Nishikigoi Show held?
The 65th edition was held at the General Gymnasium Community Plaza in Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture, over two days in November[1].
Is the Niigata show the same as the Nogyosai show mentioned by koi dealers?
According to the US importer Kodama Koi Farm, "Nogyosai" is a separate autumn koi show held in Niigata at the end of October and is considered one of the three biggest koi shows; it is referenced as distinct from the specific Ojiya City show documented by the municipal government[8][1].
How large was the biggest koi at the show?
A Chagoi measuring 102 cm (about 3.3 ft) won the show's Jumbo Award, according to Ojiya City[1].

References

  1. ^ 第65回新潟県錦鯉品評会が開催されました（11月8日・9日） - 小千谷市ホームページ. Ojiya City. city.ojiya.niigata.jp/soshiki/kikakuseisaku/nishikigoi202511.html. Retrieved November 2026.
  2. ^ Introduction of Nishikigoi - All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. jnpa.info/en/nishikigoi/. Retrieved November 2026.
  3. ^ Ojiya, Niigata (Wikipedia). Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ojiya,_Niigata. Retrieved November 2026.
  4. ^ 錦鯉の里 - 小千谷市ホームページ. Ojiya City. city.ojiya.niigata.jp/site/kanko/nishikigoinosato.html. Retrieved November 2026.
  5. ^ Introduction of Nishikigoi - Shinkokai USA Official Website. Shinkokai USA (JNPA). shinkokaiusa.com/introduction-of-nishikigoi. Retrieved November 2026.
  6. ^ History of Nishikigoi show - All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. jnpa.info/en/show/history/. Retrieved November 2026.
  7. ^ History of Nishikigoi show - Shinkokai USA Official Website. Shinkokai USA (JNPA). shinkokaiusa.com/history-of-nishikigoi-show. Retrieved November 2026.
  8. ^ Kin Kikokuryu: The sensational new variety. Kodama Koi Farm (koi dealer). kodamakoifarm.com/sensational-variety-kin-kikokuryu/. Retrieved November 2026.
  9. ^ 2004 Chūetsu earthquake (Wikipedia). Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Chūetsu_earthquake. Retrieved November 2026.
  10. ^ Q&A - All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. jnpa.info/en/qa/. Retrieved November 2026.
  11. ^ Schedule of the Nishikigoi Show - All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. jnpa.info/en/show/schedule/. Retrieved November 2026.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Japan Koi Shows 2026 | KOI JAPAN. japankoi.jp. japankoi.jp/en/koi-shows/2026. Retrieved November 2026.