The 53rd Kanto-Koshin Regional Nishikigoi Show

Cheers Resound with Record-Breaking Attendance

All Japan Champion Mr. Fujiki Achieves First Kanto Victory

The venue, Ueno Park, is formally known as Ueno Onshi Park. Opened in 1873, it is one of Japan’s oldest parks, frequented not only by Tokyo residents but also, today, by many tourists from overseas.
This show was held on November 29th and November 30th. As this is a season of stable weather, clear skies are almost a given each year, and this time, too, calm blue skies prevailed over both days. Thanks to this, the venue overflowed with what seemed to be a record-breaking crowd of spectators.
Judging began at 11 AM on the first day by a panel of nine judges: Mitsunori Isa (Isa Koi Farm), Akinori Tajima (Shoutoku Nishikigoi), Hiroki Ueno (Ueno Fish Farm), Takayoshi Omosako (Omosako Koi Farm), Kunitoshi Takano (Kodatsu Koi Farm), Chikara Nogami (Nogami Koi Farm), Tomomi Tsuna (Sensuke), Kaneyuki Hoshino (Yagoro Koi Farm), and Homare Kawakami (Torakura Urakawa Koi Farm). From the 454 entries, about 30 more than last year, the 85 bu Taisho Sanshoku entered by Mr. Fumio Fujiki (Saitama) was selected as the Grand Champion.
This 7-year-old, 86cm koi was bred by Oyama Fish Farm in Sera Town, Hiroshima Prefecture. It was purchased at age 4 through Kurihara Fish Farm (Saitama) and its rearing had been entrusted to Oyama Fish Farm. Known for his victory at the 40th All Japan Nishikigoi Show, this marks Mr. Fujiki’s first crown at the Kanto-Koshinetsu Regional Show.
The Male Grand Champion was the 85bu Taisho Sanshoku entered by Mr. Masaharu Namiki (Tokyo). This 6-year-old, 85cm koi was bred by Marumi Koi Farm (Kanagawa). It is reported that both its female and male parent koi were self-bred.
Other main top awards were as follows:
Superior Koi Grand Champion / 85 bu Taisho Sanshoku / Kazuo Daishima
Superior Koi Male Grand Champion / 85 bu Kohaku / Kazuo Habuto
Mature Koi Grand Champion / 70 bu Taisho Sanshoku / Daiho Komuro
Mature Koi Male Grand Champion / 60 bu A Ginrin / Masaki Kubota
Adult Koi Grand Champion / 55 bu Taisho Sanshoku / Nobuo Kuwana
Young Koi Grand Champion / 40 bu Kohaku / Masakatsu Fujishiro
Junior Koi Grand Champion / 25 bu Goshiki / Harufuku Kikuchi
Kikka Prize / 80 bu Taisho Sanshoku / Hideo Ishihama
Sakura Prize / 85 bu Kumonryu / Naoyuki Hashimoto
Satsuki Prize / 85 bu A Ginrin / Chihiro Senga
Jumbo Prize 1st / 85 bu Kohaku / Yoshio Tanaka
Jumbo Prize 2nd / 85 bu Kawarimono / Tomoya Okubo
The next day, a long queue formed for the free koi distribution starting at 10 AM. It’s said some people come every year, and within a mere 15 minutes, the koi were in the hands of 100 recipients.
Following this, the award ceremony commenced just after noon, and the auction began at 1:30 PM. The show, which likely saw tens of thousands of visitors over the two days, came to a close at 4 PM.