Japanese Koi Fish

"In this first article of a two part series, Koi shows and their format are introduced, with a brief history. Entering Koi and style of show are examined in detail."

Introducing - 'The Show'

All you need initially for 'a show' of any kind is a group of enthusiasts, a venue and something of comparative interest to the majority of attendees, be it embroidered cushions or Koi carp. You have only to look at a magazine for almost any hobby to discover the 'when' and 'where' of the next event. A show provides many opportunities besides winning awards for excellence: discovering achievable standards, learning more about all aspects of your hobby, meeting other enthusiasts and perhaps finding equipment or contacts unavailable locally.

Koi hobbyists are no exception. In Japan, where brocaded or jewelled carp (Nishikigoi) originate, Koi were first exhibited early in the 20th century by professional breeders and annual shows held by the oldest Koi keepers society (Nippon Nishikigoi Association) commenced in the 1950s. The modern, amateur-based Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA) society, covering all Japan, was first established in 1968. As a society, ZNA stages a major annual show in Japan and has many 'Chapters' (local branches) both in Japan and later, abroad, which hold their own shows. For example, the North and South of England Chapters in the UK. Breeders and dealers in Japan have their own network, the All Japan Nishikigoi Promoters Association and hold an annual show (the Shinkokai) in Tokyo each year. Koi shows throughout the world may be either 'open' (where non-society members can exhibit) or 'closed' (entry is restricted to members of the club or society). Rules allowing entries by professional Koi dealers vary internationally.

The Koi hobby gradually spread to the Western world; probably the earliest Koi shows being held in Southern California in 1974 and the UK in 1976. Since that time, when Koi were exhibited in almost any sufficiently large container capable of holding water (for example, sheets of polythene moulded over ornamental garden fencing, or black plastic dustbins) the level of sophistication achieved in providing Koi with five star luxury and safety has been considerable. This has resulted in a form of 'convergent evolution' taking place. This means, wherever you attend a Koi show in the world today, it will be very recognisable. There seem to be remarkably few, 'best ways' of making sure Koi are kept healthy, comfortable and safe; shown to their best advantage and provide an event attractive to Koi hobbyists and their families:

• A Koi show is often held at a venue attracting a lot of people likely to enter the show-ground out of curiosity, thus providing essential funds to the organising society from entry fees as well as mustering new enthusiasts. Shopping complex car parks are very popular in the USA and South Africa; garden centres in the UK. The Dutch Koi Society attracts huge crowds for their annual show due to a superb National Park location near Aachen.

• The large, usually circular, vinyl or inert plastic containers (known as vats) are generally light blue - optimal for showing Koi to their best advantage.

• Layout of the vats combines maximum viewing potential for visitors with space for staff going about the complex show tasks of keeping water and Koi in top condition, Koi judging and results handling. A large square or rectangle is common, although not universal. Where Koi are judged before visitors are allowed access and extensive water changes unnecessary or carried out at night, vats may be placed in closer group or row formations, without a 'centre ring'. This is common in Japan and also occurs in America and South Africa.

• At outdoor shows, shade is often provided for the Koi (use of tents or greenhouse shading).

• At all modern shows, the water is aerated, necessitating powerful air pumps and a huge network of airlines.

• Often, some form of filtration is provided in each vat and water quality is strictly monitored for pH (level of acidity or alkalinity) and build up of waste products like ammonia, generated by the Koi. High quality water is maintained in two ways, by replacing volumes of water in each vat with a fresh supply, or by the addition of treatment agents like Novaqua and Amquel (common in the USA) which chemically maintain optimum water conditions. Occasionally, water from each vat is externally filtered (for example overnight), but this is an exception.

• In the UK, water changes are universal at Koi shows, necessitating large reservoirs of purified water (because Koi are very sensitive to tap water additives like chloramines), miles of piping, water pumping equipment, and of course, dedicated helpers to do the job!

• Unless the venue is indoors, tents are usually provided for any trade stands, which accompany most Koi shows. The outdoor show site is always securely fenced, if the show is held over more than one day.

Many of the above points are essential because a critical responsibility of show organisers is to provide a safe, healthy environment for (often) very valuable and (always) cherished Koi. Other important responsibilities of show organisers are provision of insurance for the society against public liability/personal injury and ensuring the safety of visitors. For example, a first aid post must be made available. Some form of catering is organised at most shows, although it is not required by show rules and is not universal. At the premier ZNA All Japan Show in Ojiya, no provision was made to visitors for catering, other than a drinks machine!

The responsibility of Koi exhibitors is to ensure that entries to the show are in good health before leaving the home pond. Guidance for show health standards in the UK are provided in the British Koi Keepers Association (BKKS) Show Rules and Guidelines, produced by the Judging Standards Committee (JSC). The show rules are available on the BKKS web-site. Exhibitors also need to transport their Koi safely. Some professional Koi dealers offer this service for hobbyists. For very large Koi, (sizes 6 and 7), the transportation tanks many dealers use, offer a safer travel option. 'DIY' transportation is generally carried out using large, double thickness plastic bags, just enough water to cover the Koi and a large air space, topped up with oxygen, if it is available. Polystyrene, or heavy-duty cardboard boxes are used to immobilise the bags in a horizontal position during transport.

Sufficient time must be allowed by exhibitors to catch, prepare and transport Koi so that arrival at the show is timely. Late entries cause considerable delays to the whole show process.

All visitors to a Koi show must observe usually well posted rules:

• Hands must not touch the water or any Koi in the vats.

• No food must be given to any Koi.

• Nothing must be added to the water of any vat.

• The vats must not be tapped or kicked, disturbing the Koi.

• Food or drink should not be consumed and people are also requested not to smoke anywhere near the vats.

Introducing - The Koi

Potential exhibitors must contact show organisers in advance when they wish to enter Koi, to book space, which is often limited and discover at what time they should arrive. New exhibitors particularly, should check the show rules and guidelines for important points such as not feeding Koi intended for the show for three days before the event. This is an important aid to minimising vat contamination.

When Koi are brought to a show, they all 'benched'. Benching involves the following steps:

• Equilibrating the temperature of the water in the travel bag to that in the show vat. Bags are floated for at least 30 to 40 minutes before opening.

• Koi are carefully removed from travel bags, one at a time, minimising contamination of fresh vat water by the water they have travelled in.

• Each Koi is identified, with respect to variety and owner. Each Koi has a photograph, always taken at the show in the UK, or supplied by the owner (requested at many shows in the USA). Photographs are either attached to a vat (or board beside it) or held in a file for a particular vat.

• Each Koi is measured (in centimetres) and assigned to an appropriate show class (for example, Showa size 4).

• Each Koi is given a health check for any visible problems, for example the presence of fish lice, carp pox or hole disease. Koi not fulfilling the health requirements of the show rules are disqualified.

• All the details are recorded, for preparation of show class lists and later award allocation. Many show organisers now use a computerised system to facilitate organising the Koi into their respective classes, (up to 91 in the UK, more where extra show varieties and sizes are used - see box).

Benching is a key event at a Koi show since judging cannot begin until benching is complete. The dedication of the benching team in carrying out a long, often cold, very wet, backbreaking task as quickly as possible is often overlooked. Remember, at the end of the show, the process has to be repeated, in reverse, as Koi are identified and bagged to go home.

Introducing - The Style of Show

How benching is carried out depends to some extent on the style of show held, either 'Japanese style' or 'English style'. At a 'Japanese style' show, different owners' Koi are placed together, in vats according to their size (and variety, given sufficient entries), for example, all Showa size 4 would be in one vat, Kohaku size 2 in another. At an 'English style' show, each owner has a vat, in which his or her Koi are segregated, regardless of size and variety. When the show is 'Japanese style', benching can occur at a central point, the Koi then dispatched to an appropriate vat with their identification. For the 'English style' event, the benching team moves from vat to vat, carefully disinfecting their equipment between each one. For an 'English style' show, the vat number is a critical reference to locate individual Koi.

Over the years there has been great contention over Koi show style. Each has distinct advantages and disadvantages:

Japanese Style Shows - Advantages

• The impact of Koi displayed in this way is much higher - more attractive to show visitors.

• Far more individual owners can enter Koi to the show than there are available vats.

• The show tends to generate considerable funds from Koi entry fees, because a charge is made for each Koi. In Japan particularly, entry fees tend to be very high.

• Because each Koi costs money to enter, exhibitors tend to examine the quality of potential show Koi against appreciation standards very carefully.

• Because Koi of the same size and variety are placed together, comparison of them, by judges and spectators alike is much easier.

• Because Koi in the same show class may be directly compared, the opportunity to practice and learn more about Koi appreciation at the show is enhanced.

• Winning Koi, (in size and variety) are moved, with their identification, to a new vat together, again, providing easy comparison for higher award classes.

• The process of judging the show is fair, simple and fast, in that it is much easier to compare adjacent Koi. Errors (for example a missed Koi) are less likely.

• Awards are usually made known very early, at many shows internationally, even before visitors enter the show.

- Disadvantages

• Because Koi from different owners are placed together, there is a chance that a Koi carrying an undiagnosed disease or parasite might infect others.

• Because some Koi are moved during the show, there is always the chance that they might be damaged or overly stressed.

English Style Shows - Advantages

• Because each owner's Koi are segregated, it is much less likely that disease transmission will occur.

• Because Koi are not moved during the show, other than being gently lifted in a net for closer inspection during judging, damage to them is also considered less likely.

- Disadvantages

• Fees for exhibiting Koi tend to be a single vat price, severely limiting the fund raising potential for show organisers to the number of vats available. The cost impetus for exhibitors to be highly selective in their Koi entries is missing.

• Particularly at a large show, with vat numbers in excess of 50, it is very difficult, especially for visitors, to track down Koi in any one class for comparison. Improving Koi appreciation skills is more limited.

• Number of entrants is restricted to both available vat numbers (unless Koi owners agree to share a vat) and to the number of vats it is feasible to arrange on the show ground.

• The impact of different sizes and varieties of Koi together lacks the drama of a Japanese style show.

• The judging process is difficult and slow, critically dependent on good paperwork to locate Koi throughout the show. If a Koi is not on the list for a particular size and variety, it might be hours, if at all, before someone spots a Koi that has not been judged. Occasionally, whole vats are missed from the paperwork and judging has to begin all over again.

• Awards are usually very slow to be made available, as a direct result of the length of time it takes to judge an 'English style' show.

• The judging process can be seen to be less fair. Comparing (often closely matched) Koi when they are at the opposite ends of a large field is not an easy task.

• For comparison, Koi often require close inspection. The job for Koi netting and bowling teams at an English style show is exhausting. Since most entries to a class are in different vats, bowls and nets must be disinfected and rinsed between each one. On a large show ground, miles of ground, carrying often-heavy equipment, has to be covered during the judging process.

From a judging and educational point of view the disadvantages of 'English style' shows are obvious. However, increasing health risks to Koi, especially in recent years from the highly infectious Koi Herpes Virus (KHV), has led to the unprecedented cancellation of major 'Japanese style' shows in Japan and South Africa for 2003 and 2004. It would seem likely that 'English style' will predominate, at least for the foreseeable future in the Western world and is being considered for use in the Far East also according to a recent Nicherin report. How this could be achieved is difficult to envisage, given the thousands of Koi entered to shows like the ZNA All Japan and the All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association (Shinkokai) events.

Final Thoughts - Learning More About Koi Shows

It is always worth remembering that a Koi show, like any show, does not happen on its own. Events like these take months of careful planning and a host of hard-working volunteers who willingly give so much of their time to make the show special. Although the competitive side of the show is taken very seriously, along with making sure the Koi are safe and comfortable, there is often a really festive atmosphere at a Koi event, a joy to be a part of. Anyone really interested in finding out more about the way in which Koi shows operate, should volunteer to their local society, section or club to help and learn first hand. It is by far the most rewarding way to gain experience.

Show Classes and Sizes in use in the UK (box)

Kohaku Sanke Showa Utsurimono Bekko

Tancho Kin-Gin-Rin (A) Asagi/Shusui Kawarimono

Koromo Hikarimuji Hikarimoyo Hikari Utsuri

Size 1: 10 - 25 cm

Size 2: 25 - 35 cm

Size 3: 35 - 45 cm

Size 4: 45 - 55 cm

Size 5: 55 -65 cm

Size 6: 65 - 75 cm

Size 7: over 75 cm

Note: Other countries may use different size categories and additional show classes. In Japan, for example, large shows group Koi in 5-cm increments. Separate classes may include Goshiki, Kin-Gin-Rin (B), Kujaku and Doitsu.

At their discretion, show organisers may also give additional awards, for example to the best novice exhibitor.

In the next article of this two part series, the whole process of Koi judging and the awards system will be examined.