Putting Effort into Maintenance in Recent Years

A Love for Koi and a Hobbyist Spirit Remains Even Now

― I think the social situation and the age groups of hobbyists have changed since the early days of founding. While high-priced koi have become harder to sell domestically, what are your thoughts on the direction of the business?
Hojo: Being a koi shop, selling koi is the best thing, and it brings in decent profit, but koi are hard to sell these days, so I feel like we’re covering by doing repairs and maintenance on spring water units and such. Lately, though I’m a koi dealer, in a sense, I’m more of a handyman or repairman. I also get asked to clean ponds. Even I think, “I’m moving around a lot in this heat!” (laughs)
― Being a koi dealer isn’t just about selling koi and being done with it, after all.
Hojo: That’s right.
― Is that related to the aging of your customers and such? Since they can no longer do it themselves…
Hojo: Of course that’s a factor. On the other hand, there are many people who have just started and don’t know anything at all, so they want me to teach them.
― The response there is important, isn’t it? It’s not just about whether they become a regular customer, but also whether they continue with koi depends heavily on the initial response.
Hojo: Yes. So, as I’m often told by my wife (Keiko san) and my son, I make sure to go immediately when called by a customer.
― Are there trends in the koi that sell?
Hojo: Large koi are particularly difficult. Conversely, for people who come to the shop after searching on the internet, small koi are popular. The number of first-time customers is increasing.
― Speaking of small koi, there was a time when Kiryu Nishikigoi Center held an event, a show limited to bagged koi.
Hojo: The upper size limit was 33 cm, and it was called the “KIRYU BABY KOI SHOW.” I was thinking about ways people could enjoy koi even in small spaces, and the idea came to me around the time I happened to purchase the house across the street and renovated it to become part of the shop. It was also partly because expensive, large koi were becoming harder to sell, and since my regular customers were getting older, they couldn’t lift big koi and handling them was tough.
― When you were holding the “KIRYU BABY KOI SHOW,” quite a few young people came, didn’t they? Also, because the prices were within reach. Since there are quite a few people coming to buy small koi, I guess that trend continues even now.
Hojo: There are people who quit koi due to age, but new people are also increasing. Recently, maybe in August? Someone built a pond last year and was using tap water. He mentioned that having a well would be good because it’s hot. Then he said, “Well then, I’ll dig one,” and actually dug a well by hand! He worked really hard despite the heat.
― What a powerful person (laughs). Also, in terms of being easy for beginners to buy, you used to produce your own koi before, didn’t you?
Hojo: I still do it now. For about 15 years.
― Oh, is that so?
Hojo: It’s only one or two spawnings every year, though. This year’s was particularly unusual, and interesting koi were produced. It’s not on a large scale in mud ponds, but on an amateur scale. Well, you can even keep them in pools.
― Not Kohaku or Taisho Sanshoku?
Hojo: Right. I don’t do much of the Gosanke; there are many unusual koi. Because they are unique and interesting.
― Although you are a dealer, did you have a desire to try producing them yourself?
Hojo: Actually, it’s more my wife than me who has that desire. She’s interested in fry and production. They might not be suitable for shows, but we do get some that are like Unique Koi. Especially this year.
― Mr. Hojo himself likes not just the gosanke but also kawarimono, don’t you?
Hojo: I don’t have much attachment to specific varieties. How should I put it… I like koi that have an impact the moment you see them, that make your heart skip a beat. I don’t particularly care about the type, gender, or bloodline; it’s about koi that make you think, “Wow, that’s amazing!”
― Do the feelings of your student days when you kept them because you liked them still serve as the root today?
Hojo: I suppose they must. I think many people—or rather, almost everyone—running a koi shop does it because they love koi. I think there are always fish that you don’t want to sell and want to keep. Also, my own image. I have an image of the kind of koi I want to try to make, but that is a dream.
When I look at recent national shows, I sometimes think that they might have gone as far as they can go. 1m Chagoi have been around for a long time, but now one-meter Gosanke can be made. I wonder how much further one should seek… After all, if they can’t be lifted or transported, they can’t even be entered into shows. Well, not just koi, but I’m the type to dabble in various things, so I’m enjoying my many hobbies.

To Increase Hobbyists, Also Proposing Used Items

This Year is a Milestone, but Still Going Strong

― You mentioned that there have been many first-time customers recently. It’s a common theory that domestic hobbyists are decreasing, but there are a certain number of people interested in koi, aren’t there?
Hojo: Yes, there are unexpectedly many. The people who came and bought fish just now—a couple, I think—are also first-time customers. Since building a pond is difficult now, it would be good if we could enable people to keep them in tanks or simple containers made of plastic or FRP. In that case, measures against heat, algae, oxygen deficiency, jumping out… Since many people buy small koi, it is also important to be careful not to have them targeted by birds or cats. When I have a little time, I’m thinking if there is a simpler way to keep them. I have various ideas, so I’ll put them into shape eventually.
Also, second-hand goods. Pre-molded ponds are popular and in demand. FRP products, pumps, and various other things. I suppose you’d call it reuse. New ones are expensive.
― As hobbyists age and some quit koi, there are materials and equipment that are still perfectly usable, aren’t there?
Hojo: I’ve taken in several such items this year too.
― And then new people can use them.
Hojo: For the customers, it’s considerably cheaper than buying new.
― It would be good if a cycle of successful inheritance could be created.
Hojo: I keep that in mind, so I’m always repairing things like filtration machines or FRP tanks. My skills have improved quite a bit (laughs). Also, regarding pond maintenance, since koi are living things, one should notice diseases early. Injuries, diseases, and in the worst case, they might die; it’s about how to minimize those things. Many things can be prevented with a little disinfection, but if you aren’t used to it, it’s hard to notice even if parasites are attached. So when I go to a customer’s house, I take a quick look at the pond to see if there is anything unusual, always checking with a notepad and camera. I think I’m of some use (laughs).
― Of course you are (laughs). Otherwise, you wouldn’t have become the oldest established shop in Gunma. There are various evaluation criteria for a koi shop, such as show results, but among them, the length of business years is significant. It means there have been persistent fans and you have been supported.
Hojo: In terms of show result history, I don’t think ours is very good. This is not to make excuses, but even though there are quite a few people who have good koi, they don’t really want to enter them into shows. I feel a bit impatient, thinking, “If you entered it, it would get a good rank.” Many people aren’t conscious of shows at all and perceive koi as pets, much like dogs or cats.
― That’s also a wonderful way to enjoy koi. By the way, you put up your sign at 27 and it’s been 43 years, so you’re turning 70?
Hojo: I’m 69, and I’ll be 70 in March.
― I think you still have a long way to go. What kind of shop do you want Kiryu Nishikigoi Center to be in the future?
Hojo: I’ve been saying “huge koi, huge koi” all along, but since I’m turning 70, I’ll shift from “huge koi” to “good koi” (laughs). Maybe medium-sized ones are okay too (laughs).
― You’ll be chasing one meter for life (laughs).
Hojo: I do muscle training every day, so I think I can lift a one-meter koi.
― There are many koi shop owners still active around the age of 70.
Hojo: I’ll keep going. For a while longer.
― Do you do regular sales events and such?
Hojo: Not so much nowadays. I think we only did one this year (2025). The days customers can come to the shop differ between salaried workers and self-employed people. I’d like to do them next year. Sales events are like festivals; if people who love koi could gather, chat lively, and have fun, that would be great.
― You have the old folk house event space, so it would be nice to have regular events, even once or twice a year. Please be sure to announce them in our magazine then. I’m looking forward to it.