The 15th Tohoku and Hokkaido Region Young Koi Show

7 June 2026
Venue: Shonai Mikawa Roadside Station ‘Iroribino-Sato’ (Mikawa Town, Yamagata Prefecture)

This Koi show marked the final Koi show of the 2026 spring season. With 272 entries—exceeding last year’s total—the Nanahana Hall at the Iroribino-Sato venue was packed to the brim with bagged Koi.
The judges were both from Niigata: Mr Kazuya Sato of Best Co., Ltd. and Ms Shana of Koi-do Co., Ltd. They selected a 55bu Taisho Sanshoku entered by Mr Hiroshi Watanabe as the Grand Champion.
This three-year-old male (approaching four years of age), measuring 54 cm, was bred by Sakai Fish Farm Co., Ltd. Its parent koi was ‘Miss Santa Monica’. The fish was purchased by Koi Bokujo at the Sakai Auction and subsequently acquired by Mr Watanabe. This marks Mr Watanabe’s fourth Overall Grand Champion title, and his second consecutive win at this competition. The following are the winners: Adult Champion (50bu Kohaku) – Ken Unoki; Young Champion (40bu Kohaku) – Hiroshi Watanabe; Junior champion (25bu Kinginrin) – Hiroshi Watanabe; Sakura Grand Award (55bu Goshiki) – Hiroyuki Watanabe; and Nanohana Grand Award (50bu Shusui) – Kiyoshi Konno.

Grand Champion
55bu Taisho Sanshoku / Hiroshi Watanabe

Hiroshi Watanabe, Grand Champion (second from the right)

Kazuya Sato and Shana during judging

The venue, ‘Iroribi no Sato’