Interview with Motoyoshi Aoki from AO Aokiya

Aiming for visually appealing aragoke.

— How do you feel about the evaluation of Kouryu, which won the championship at the All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show? 

Aoki: It’s great that one of Kawarigoi was evaluated as a variety.

If it had recognized beauty, it wouldn’t need to get awards, but as it’s still a relatively unknown variety, receiving an award is an opportunity for everyone to get to know it. And that’s how it got featured in magazines.

— Do you also get the impression that the period and criteria for evaluation have changed?

Aoki: Yes, especially, as I have been a Kawarigoi specialist, I feel that way. So, I want to keep creating koi that no one has ever seen. When I succeeded in creating BeniKikokuryu, I considered whether we could achieve it with a koi with scales next. That’s when BeniGinga was born. Ginrin Metallic Goshiki won the top prize for variety in the recent Young Koi Show. It makes me fascinate and holds a lot of dreams. It makes me excited and hopeful.

— Are you also planning the new Kawarigoi?

Aoki: I’ve been challenging various breeds and working on appearing black on a yellow body. I’ve been crossing Hariwake with Kumonryu for years, but yellow and black don’t seem to go well together, and I haven’t produced a good one.

— I’m looking forward to being introduced to the new yellow variety. By the way, Kouryu has a nickname, “King Ghidorah”, right?

Aoki: Narita (Narita Koi Farms Japan) introduced that koi as “King Ghidorah” on Facebook. I’m not sure how widely that name has spread, but if there were nicknames like “Godzilla” from Ikarashi Koi Farm, it would make it easier for everyone to imagine. Also, “GoldenCorn” from Taniguchi in Hiroshima (Taniguchi Koi Farm). It’s just the perfect name for that koi – like calling it “Godzilla” because it’s black and “King Ghidorah” because it’s yellow. For Kawarigoi, ease of imagery is also essential.

— As introduced in part one, Ikarashi Koi Farm also produces a koi named Kouryu. Did you discuss it with each other?

Aoki: No, we didn’t. But since Toshinobu (Ikarashi Koi Farm) occasionally visits, we’ve had conversations, such as ‘It would be nice if aragoke became popular. When he became famous with “Godzilla,” I thought it was yellow, so “King Ghidorah” (Kouryu), and that’s how it felt.

— What was the reaction from customers?

Aoki: It’s fine if a koi got an award at the koi show, as they are beautiful. But not all of them are like that, and since it’s still a new variety, it’s hard to say. Some people may not find aragoke to be beautiful. I want to change gradually the perceptions. To achieve this, Producers need to create an appealing aragoke. 

— Your Benikikokuryu is famous, but will you change its scales to aragoke?

Aoki: Yes, that’s true. However, the risk is high. In the case of this koi (Photo 5), if it’s predominantly yellow, the contrast with black scales makes the aragoke itself a beautiful pattern. In terms of BeniKikokuryu, the pattern is crucial. It’s challenging to achieve a good pattern with a well-aligned aragoke. There’s also the concern that aragoke might interfere with the pattern. Still, I keep challenging myself to create new varieties as a new type of Nishikigoi.