Yamakoshi Mushigame is Koi Genesis because from those same ponds came Yamakoshi’s other world‑shaping legacy, nishikigoi—aka koi. Japanese Koi Farms began here in Yamakoshi.

For koi dealers, brokers, passionate collectors, and investors, the autumn harvest auctions at Japan’s top breeder farms mark one of the most anticipated chapters of the year.

Every autumn in Japan’s koi-breeding regions, the quiet mud ponds begin to come alive. Koi breeders—farmers in their own right—walk the mud-pond banks before sunrise, checking on their prized Nishikigoi and the condition of the ponds themselves.

Mud ponds are not ornamental. They are working agricultural ponds designed to grow koi the way rice fields grow crops: slowly, naturally, and with deep knowledge of the land.

Explore the Japanese tradition of Azukari: at Narita Koi Farm—where prized Nishikigoi remain under expert care, nurtured in Japan’s finest koi facilities until they reach their full potential.

In this interview with Manabu Ogata: Japanese Koi Master, we see why Japan, the birthplace of Nishikigoi, remains the center of excellence for the finest koi in the world.

This story is a data-driven project intended to present a clear picture of what Japan’s Global Exports of Nishikigoi looks like.