Koi fish pond

It might surprise many to find out that koi and the associated koi ponds did not originate in Japan. The history of koi can be traced back over 2500 years to Persia and China where a black form of koi called Magoi where raised for food. Over the years it is thought that the fish where moved from their then native rice patties closer to homes to make harvesting them easier. It was this creation of koi ponds and movement to them that some think lead to the viewing these fish as more ornamental pieces as opposed to food.

Indeed it was not for nearly another 700 years before the koi was introduced to Japan. The Japanese rice farmers also adopted the tradition of keeping the fish as excellent food sources. The Japanese, however, are credited with developing the koi into the brilliant diversity of colors seen today. Niigata Prefecture farmers noticed that some of the fish would have patches of color and started to selectively separate these fish for breeding. This process was started in the mid 1800s when only the very beginnings of genetic research had started!

As the story goes, interest in koi exploded when at the 1914 Tokyo Exposition. Some of the more colorful koi were presented to Crown Prince Hirohito and the fish were instantly dubbed “living jewels”.

The original koi have also been interbred with German carp to make Doitsu Koi, a nearly scaleless type of Koi. Many variation of koi today can be found and are classified based on their color, metallic sheen, and patterns.

The Japanese still celebrate their “living jewels” to this day. Boys’ Day, a celebration in spring, sees koi shaped and colored streamers hung about as the koi are symbols of strength and spirit, traits the Japanese hope are inherited by their sons. The symbolism is aptly placed, as the koi are hearty fish, being able to live in a wide range of climates and conditions. Some koi have been known to live for 100 years, their size being greatly affected by the size of their surrounding koi pond and food supply.

Today, koi are exported to most every country of the world from Japan. Koi hobbyists delight in building their koi ponds, with many trying their hand at the now centuries old tradition of gently guiding the breeding of their koi to produce new and unique future generations.