Follow the Koi Water Garden team live from Ojiya in Niigata Prefecture, Japan – the true heart of koi breeding – as Andrew and Ben hand-select world-class koi from some of the country’s most respected breeders. Experience the excitement of the Japanese koi harvest, explore new bloodlines, and see how their expert selections bring the best Nishikigoi back to the UK. Their journey takes them through Ojiya, Nagaoka, and the surrounding mountains of Niigata, here’s what happened on their first day in Japan!
Konnichi wa!
After a 40-hour journey and a few unexpected delays, I found myself wide awake at 3 a.m. – jet lag at its finest. The upside? I was the first one at breakfast at 6:30 a.m., fully organised and buzzing with excitement for the first day of koi hunting in Niigata Prefecture, the birthplace of Nishikigoi.
October 15th has long been the traditional start of the Japanese Koi Harvest in Niigata. Although a few breeders now begin a few days earlier, most still keep to the old tradition – beginning their Ikeage (mud pond netting) on this date. The anticipation this morning was incredible; Ojiya, the heart of koi breeding, was already stirring with excitement, while the nearby city of Nagaoka was full of travellers and dealers preparing for the harvest ahead.
Visiting the Breeders
Normally, we spend our first day visiting breeders to gather harvest updates, but this year Ben and I decided to go straight to the action – targeting breeders already netting their ponds to secure those all-important “first picks.”
Our first stop was Koda Koi Farm, though Koda-san was still out at the mud pond. While we waited, we visited Gengiro Koi Farm, where we spent an hour chatting with Gengiro-san about koi bloodlines and breeding. His farm is steeped in history, working with famous lines such as Jinbei Sanke and Kobayashi Showa, as well as top-quality parent koi from Sakai and Dainichi, including descendants of the All Japan Koi Show Champion, Kinsen. We were honoured to be given a personal tour of his new Tategoi House, where his finest koi are being raised for future shows.
When we returned, Koda-san had finished at the pond, allowing us to select some beautiful koi before heading to Aoki and Suda Koi Farms. Neither had started harvesting yet, but both shared valuable updates for later in the week.
Next, we stopped at Kobayashi Koi Farm. Kobayashi-san and his wife are always so welcoming, and it’s incredible to see how much the quality of their koi improves every year.
Then it was on to Oofuchi Koi Farm, where we caught their very first harvest of the season. We managed to select some truly unique koi here – the kind that immediately catch your eye, and we’ll definitely return later this week for more.
We finished our first day at Takahashi Koi Farm, one of our longest-standing breeder relationships, we’ve been buying koi from Takahashi-san for nearly 30 years! We selected several fish from his first harvest and arranged to attend more harvests later in the trip. He also showed us some koi he plans to enter into upcoming shows, and we couldn’t resist taking five of these stunning specimens – all of which will appear in today’s email (videos available on request!).
Following Our Journey
Ben and I are both sharing updates, videos, and blurbs throughout the trip so you can experience the harvest right alongside us.
As many of you know, the system has changed slightly this year. We’re still sharing all new koi purchases by email at [email protected], and updates are also being posted on our Koi Water Garden Facebook page.
The most popular way to follow along is via our new Koi Water Garden WhatsApp Channel, where we’ll be uploading exclusive koi videos, behind-the-scenes clips, and updates directly from Ojiya and Nagaoka. If you’re not already on the channel, message us and we’ll help you join.
How to Order Koi from Our Japan Trip
If you see a koi you’d like to reserve, please contact Andrew directly on WhatsApp at 07976 832773 or email [email protected], copying [email protected].
Because of time zone differences, it’s important to reach us in Japan directly – otherwise, your dream koi could be sold before your request reaches us!
All orders require a 50% deposit within 72 hours, with the balance due in March 2026. Every koi is held free of charge until April 2026, and all new fish will be added to our website as soon as possible (usually within a week of first posting).
A Tradition That Never Gets Old
No matter how many times we travel to Japan, the experience never loses its magic. Watching the Niigata Koi Harvest unfold in Ojiya, reconnecting with the breeders we’ve known for decades, and selecting koi that will soon make their way to the UK – it’s always an incredible privilege.
Our first trip to Japan was 38 years ago, and between Ben and I, we’ve now visited the country around 70 times. Yet each visit still feels as exciting and inspiring as the very first. We’re grateful to share the experience with our customers, followers, and fellow koi enthusiasts who make this journey so rewarding.
Thank you for following along with us – and stay tuned for more updates from the mud ponds of Ojiya, Niigata!
Warm regards,
Andrew, Ben, Helen & the KWG Team
📱 Andrew: 07976 832773
📧 Japan: [email protected]
📧 Office: [email protected]
☎️ 0208 337 3337
