Legendary
Breeder Profiles.
Meet the masters behind the world's most prestigious Nishikigoi bloodlines.
Dainichi
Koi
Farm
Dainichi Koi Farm, founded in Ojiya, Niigata, by Minoru Mano and run by his sons, breeds Kohaku, Sanke and Showa; All Japan champions 1991 and 2007.
Sakai
Fish
Farm
Sakai Fish Farm in Mihara, Hiroshima, whose founder Ichiroji Sakai began breeding carp around 1890, is known for Kohaku and Sanke.
Okayama
Momotaro
Koi
Okayama Momotaro Koi in Okayama City, established in 1984 and run by Daisuke Maeda, is known for Kohaku, Sanke and Showa.
Omosako
Koi
Farm
Omosako Koi Farm in Kure, Hiroshima, founded by Ryuzo Omosako in 1960 and led by Takayoshi Omosako, is known for Shiro Utsuri and Kujaku.
Marusei
Koi
Farm
Marusei Koi Farm in Kawaguchi, Niigata, founded in 1960 by Seitaro Hirasawa, is known for Hi Utsuri, Chagoi, Karashigoi and Asagi.
Marudo
Koi
Farm
Marudo Koi Farm in Nagaoka, Niigata, run by Dainichi-trained Hisashi Hirasawa, specialises in Showa and also breeds Kohaku, Sanke and Chagoi.
Isa
Koi
Farm
Isa Koi Farm, founded 1970 in Ojiya, Niigata, breeds mainly Showa Sanshoku and Kohaku; its Showa are known as Isa Showa.
Murata
Koi
Farm
Murata Koi Farm in Uonuma, Niigata, run by Shinji Murata, focuses on the Kohaku variety.
Konishi
Koi
Farm
Konishi Koi Farm, a Hiroshima breeder founded in the Taisho era by Kakuichi Konishi, now led by Joji Konishi, is known for Karashigoi, Shusui and Kujaku.
Izumiya
Koi
Farm
Izumiya Koi Farm in Minaminigoro, Ojiya, Niigata breeds Yamabuki Ogon, Gosanke and Aigoromo; now run by fourth-generation Ryu Mano.
Hiroi
Koi
Farm
Hiroi Koi Farm (Yozaemon/Conias) of Oguriyama, Ojiya, Niigata, founded 1938, is run by twin brothers Kazuyoshi and Nobuaki Hiroi and known for Goshiki.
Aokiya
Koi
Farm
Aokiya Koi Farm in Katakai, Ojiya, Niigata, founded 1972 by Haruo Aoki, where Kikokuryu appeared from a Kumonryu x Kikusui cross in 1993.
Otsuka
Koi
Farm
Otsuka Koi Farm in Ojiya, Niigata, founded in 1962 and run by Yoshikazu Otsuka, is best known for Asagi and Goshiki Sanke and Showa.
Shinoda
Koi
Farm
Shinoda Koi Farm in Ojiya, Niigata, founded in 1952 and run by Masanori Shinoda, is known for Hi Utsuri, Ginrin Showa and Doitsu koi.
Sakazume
Koi
Farm
Sakazume Koi Farm in Niigata, run by Shinsaku Sakazume, is known for Koromo — Aigoromo, Budo Goromo and Sumi Goromo — and Kohaku.
Sekiguchi
Koi
Farm
Sekiguchi Koi Farm in Minami-Uonuma, Niigata, founded by Kosuke Sekiguchi and run by Masayuki Sekiguchi, is known for Showa and Pearl Ginrin.
Kaneko
Koi
Farm
Kaneko Koi Farm, founded 1961 in Nigorisawa, Nagaoka, Niigata, mainly breeds Kujaku and Shiro Utsuri; run by Yasuaki Kaneko.
Kanno
Koi
Farm
Kanno Koi Farm in Mushigame, Yamakoshi (Nagaoka, Niigata), founded early 1970s by Hiroshi Hirasawa, is known for Goshiki; also breeds Sanke and Showa.
Hosokai
Koi
Farm
Hosokai Koi Farm of Ojiya, Niigata, founded 1971 by Shoichi Hosokai and run by his son Masaru, is known for award-winning Asagi and Goshiki.
Maruyama
Koi
Farm
Maruyama Koi Farm in Yamanashi, opened in the 1960s by Gensuke Maruyama and now run by Futoshi Maruyama, is known above all for Kohaku.
Oofuchi
Koi
Farm
Oofuchi Koi Farm, also called Fukasawa Koi Farm, in the Nagaoka area of Niigata, is known for Kujaku, Shusui and Sanke.
Ikarashi
Koi
Farm
Ikarashi Koi Farm, founded 1962 in Mushigame, Yamakoshi (Niigata) by Kazuto 'Sen'nin' Ikarashi, breeds large Gosanke and Ginrin Aragoke.
Koshiji
Koi
Farm
Koshiji Koi Farm, founded 1969 by Kiyoshi Kase in Nagaoka, Niigata, created the Ginga and Beni Kumonryu varieties and breeds Kikokuryu and Showa.
Chogoro
Koi
Farm
Chogoro (Yamacho) Koi Farm in Kawaguchi, Niigata, breeds mainly Platinum Ogon from a line its founder began around 1965.
Beppu
Fish
Farm
Beppu Fish Farm (株式会社別府養魚場) in Iyo City, Ehime, on Shikoku, in business since 1961, produces Kohaku, Sanke and metallic koi.
Okawa
Nishikigoi
Center
Okawa Nishikigoi Center in Okawa City, Fukuoka, founded by Toshiaki Tanaka in 1964, is known for Shiro Utsuri and Sensuke-line Go-Sanke.
Suda
Koi
Farm
Suda Koi Farm in Ojiya, Niigata, run by Kazutaka Suda, is one of the few Japanese breeders of long-fin (butterfly) koi, and is known for Ginrin.
Teradomari
Koi
Farm
Teradomari Koi Farm in Nagaoka, Niigata, run by Kiichi Hoshino, specialises in Ginrin Kohaku and its own 'Teradomari ginrin'.
Yamasan
Koi
Farm
Yamasan Koi Farm, owned by Manabu Yamazaki in Kawaguchi, Niigata, is known for long-fin (butterfly) koi and Lemon Hariwake.
Hoshino
Koi
Farm
Hoshino Koi Farm is the historic birthplace of the Showa Sanshoku variety in Niigata, continuing a legacy of elite Gosanke breeding.
Isawa
Nishikigoi
Center
Isawa Nishikigoi Center in Fuefuki, Yamanashi, founded 1969 by Toshio Sakai, co-developed the Matsunosuke Sanke bloodline.