Akita Prefecture Junior Koi Show:
15th ‘Bucket’ Koi Show
17 May 2026
Venue: Roadside Station Nishime (Yurihonjō City, Akita Prefecture)
Located along National Route 7 in Yurihonjō City, Akita Prefecture, ‘Roadside Station Nishime’ is known as one of the prefecture’s leading roadside stations, frequented by many travellers using the main arterial road linking the Sea of Japan coastline.
The ‘Bucket Koi show’ was held whilst a pleasant sea breeze from the Sea of Japan blew through the venue. At the venue, 77 prized Nishikigoi brought by enthusiasts were lined up in buckets, and participants eagerly compared each fish one by one.
Judging was carried out by a single judge, Mr Seiichi Narisawa (Narisawa Koi Farm, Yamagata), and a 35bu Showa sanshoku entered by Mr Hiroyuki Watanabe was awarded the Grand Champion title.
This Tosai, measuring 34 cm and bred by Sekiguchi Koi Farm (Minamiuonuma City), was acquired in mid-April this year through Sensuke Co., Ltd. (Nagaoka). It was reared in an 8-tonne pond at the owner’s home and secured its first Grand Champion title at this Koi show.
Next, the Junior champion was awarded to a 25-bu Goshiki entered by Mr Yoshiteru Sugashima. Bred by the Nishime Nishikigoi Centre in the same city, the fish was acquired last autumn and entrusted to the centre for rearing. It was entered as a Tosai measuring 24 cm.
Originally established as a casual, accessible Koi show and affectionately known as ‘Bucket’, this event has become a well-established annual gathering where enthusiasts from across the prefecture come together to relax and enjoy themselves.

35bu Showa sanshoku / Hiroyuki Watanabe

25bu Goshiki / Yoshiteru Sugashima













