The 1st All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association AI Show
The 1st Champion Goes to
Herbert Fritch’s Dainichi Showa
The “1st All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association AI Show,” organized by the All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association, was held online on February 21st. This show attracted attention as a new initiative utilizing AI (large language model) image recognition technology to judge nishikigoi, with 323 koi entered from six countries around the world.
On the day of the event, recordings and a live broadcast were conducted from MONSTER STUDIO Nogizaka (Minato-ku, Tokyo). Under the direction of Shunichi Yoshida, Vice Chairman of the Promotion Association, the judging was carried out by five individuals: Kenji Tani (TANI Koi Farm), Tomoyoshi Kondo (Kondo Koi Farm), Takuro Ogiku (Yokohama Nishikigoi), Hiroshi Mano (Dainichi Koi Farm Toyota Store), and Futoshi Maruyama (Maruyama Koi Farm).
Images of the koi entered through the association’s official app, “AJNPA NISHIKIGOI,” were analyzed and scored by an AI that had been trained on data from over 50,000 koi previously entered in koi shows, as well as on the evaluation records of experienced judges. The AI analyzed each entry across several categories: body shape, pattern, quality, and overall finish.
To correct for “evaluation bias” — such as leaning too heavily on specific elements — the system employs a relative evaluation method based on standard reference koi images. After the AI selected the top five koi in each division and variety, the final judges determined the 1st to 3rd places. The 4th and 5th places were automatically determined by the scores calculated by the AI.
By combining objective data analysis by AI with aesthetic discernment backed by years of experience, it has become possible to achieve a fair and highly convincing judging process. This system is reportedly applicable not only to Nishikigoi but also to the judging of other ornamental fish and living organisms, raising high expectations for future development.
The show was divided into five variety categories: Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku, Showa Sanshoku, Shiro Utsuri, and Hi Utsuri. Each variety category was further divided into six size divisions, ranging from small young fish to large adults. From among the “Division Grand Champions”, the overall “Grand Champion” of the show was selected.
After the five judges reviewed images and videos, the inaugural Grand Champion of this historic first show was awarded to an 85bu Showa Sanshoku (Dainichi Koi Farm) entered by Herbert Fritch of the United States.
The judges commented that the koi’s excellent body shape and sumi quality were particularly outstanding. They also noted that “looking at the koi that were selected, the AI’s evaluations were very close to those of a human.”
Photos of all winning koi can be found here
Footage of the judging on the day can be seen here
