Check out these articles
-
Video article 19:32
Even Don Konishi Recognizes Kiryu Yokoburi Embroidery! The Skills of the Master Embroiderer, Who Was the First to Receive the Medal With a Yellow Ribbon in Embroidery, Are to Be Passed on to the Youth of a New Age!
Traditional Crafts- 24 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 4:17
Cute Akita Dogs Bring a Smile to Anyone’s Face! The Cute, Gentle, and Loyal Dog, Native to Japan, Is Becoming a Popular Breed Around the World!
Living Things- 250 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:35
Kamaboko - A Local Specialty of Imizu City, Toyama. The Elaborate Decorations Are So Beautiful You’ll Hesitate to Eat Them!
Food & DrinkLife & Business- 221 plays
- Vimeo
-
Video article 6:04
Bespoke shoes by a highly skilled shoemaker are like works of art! Check out the video to enjoy the craftsmanship of Shoji Kawaguchi, a shoemaker in Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo!
Life & BusinessCelebrities- 137 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 1:41
Enjoy a Dreamy Time With Fluffy Owls at Japan’s Owl Cafes! Enjoy Coffee, Cake, and Other Pastries While Spending Time With These Adorable Critters!
Living Things- 67 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 15:28
Even a Dented Car Can Be Beautifully Restored With These Amazing Sheet Metal Skills! A Look at Shizuoka Prefecture's Sheet Metal Repair Technology!
Life & Business- 24 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 6:33
The Work of a Master! The Amazing Kimono Making Process Starting From a Hand-Drawn Sketch!
Traditional Culture- 48 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 19:19
A Close Look at the "Tsugegushi Comb" Craftsman Inheriting Japanese Tradition! Hideaki Mori's Passion for Creating Combs Greater Than Any That Technology Can Produce!
Traditional Crafts- 48 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:27
How the World's Thinnest Paper, "Tengu Joshi," Is Made. The Traditional Japanese Craft Used in the National Library and Other Libraries, Is a Work of Art Made by Many Artisans
Traditional Crafts- 256 plays
- YouTube
Koi Are Often Called "Swimming Jewels" and "Swimming Art" in Japan... A Look at the Secrets of These Beautiful Aquarium Fish, Including the Different Varieties and Their Characteristics!
Koi Carp: Loved by the Japanese Since Long Ago
This video is called ‘Koi Carp 〜Swimming Art〜 (錦鯉 〜泳ぐ芸術〜)’ and made by JVT Channel (JVTチャンネル). The video shows you colorful koi swimming elegantly.
Koi are aquarium fish with a long history. Historical records show koi being used as the inspiration for painting patterns of items exhibited at expos during the Taisho Period (1912~1926).
They are actually an invasive species to Japan. The specially bred fish have been bred into many different varieties.
Koi are kept as aquarium fish in aquariums and ponds within Japanese gardens. Their characteristics are their beautiful patterns and striking colors. The average size of these fish is between 30 and 60 cm and their life span is around 30 years.
Let’s take a look at why these fish are so attractive.
The video shows you a koi farm and a competition that you don’t get an opportunity to see often.
Be sure to check it out while reading this article.
What Are Koi?
Koi were originally called "irogoi" (色鯉, colored carp), hanagoi (花鯉, flower carp), and "moyougoi" (模様鯉, patterned carp) in Japanese.
They started to be called Nishikigoi (錦鯉, brocade carp) because of their luxurious designs reminiscent of a brocade.
The Japanese brocade shown at 0:14 in the documentary video is a Japanese traditional silk fabric made by weaving variously colored threads.
Koi were originally eaten as a food, then, one day, a unique fish with beautiful patterns appeared.
There are many kinds of koi, such as red and white and tri-colored koi with red, white, and black.
In addition to the Taisho Sanshoku (tri-color) and the Showa Sanshoku, there are some unusually colored ones, such as light yellow, autumn Green, tortoise shell patterned koi, reflective koi, five Colored koi, and gold and Peacock koi as well.
How Are Koi Looked After?
It takes a lot of work to raise beautiful Nishikigoi.
The Dainichi Koi Farm in Niigata Prefecture in Japan's Koshinetsu region, farms koi. At the farm, they strictly control water temperature and quality, as well as feeding schedules.
They put great care into raising beautiful koi. They are also very particular about the feed given to their koi.
This can be seen from 1:13 in the video.
From 1:37, you can see many baby koi as well.
Hiroshi Mano from Dainichi Koi Farm says in the interview, "The most important things are maintaining proper water temperature and quality. Beautiful koi are strong, healthy koi.
From 3:27 in the video, you can see the annual National Koi Competition.
Koi from the Dainichi Koi Farm were the winners of this competition.
How to Get Your Very Own Japanese Koi
There are many kinds of koi.
In Japan, many people love koi. Koi with patterns or beautiful colors are sold at auctions for sometimes astronomically high prices.
Furthermore, you can buy specially bred varieties of koi at online shops and Yahoo Japan Auctions, but they usually go for quite a bit of money.
Some orders for Japanese koi come from overseas. The number of koi exported overseas is increasing year by year.
Popular koi have been used as a motifs in traditional Japanese crafts as well.
We recommend buying plates and chopstick holders with koi pattern designs.
Summary of Japan's "Swimming Jewels"
In Japan, there are many kinds of aquarium fish, such as goldfish and Japanese rice fish. Among them, koi are loved by many people for their jewel-like beauty.
Koi are born around Niigata Prefecture area.
You can learn the history and the characteristics of koi at Nishikigoi no Sato in Niigata, the birthplace of koi, and at Fukuoka Koinosato Park in Fukuoka-machi, Toyama Prefecture in Japan's Hokuriku region, which is one of Japan’s most famous koi production towns.
If you have a large landscape garden or a large aquarium and would like some koi of your own, try searching online or try out some auction sites to see if they have what you're looking for.
You can see many koi with beautiful patterns in the video.
Be sure to check out the video to enjoy the beauty of Japan's "swimming jewels."
AccessMap (Google Maps)
-
Video article 7:07
Cape Kiritappu - Enjoy a View of Cute Otters Playing in Hokkaido! Observe the Wildlife of Japan at This Popular Sightseeing Location!
Living Things- 2.36K plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 6:37
The Small, Cute Japanese Badger! A Look at Their Ecology and Habits!
Living Things- 2.97K plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:01
The Northern Pika of Japan: Learn About the Cute Critter Known as the "God of Rocky Lands" and Found in the Outdoors of Hokkaido. Also See Its Characteristic High-Pitched Cry!
Living Things- 2.76K plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:24
The Cute Ezo Momonga - Discover the Flying Squirrels of Japan!
Living Things- 4.04K plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:26
Cute Capybaras Enjoying Hot Springs With Fruit on Their Heads at Izu Shaboten Zoo!
Living Things Things to Do Travel- 3.19K plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 1:30
The Oniyanma: Amazing Footage of Japan's Largest Dragonfly! See It Molting and Laying Eggs in Nature...
Living Things- 1.78K plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 4:04
Adorable Japanese Weasels Caught on Camera! See Them Swimming, Relaxing, and Playing in Their Natural Habitat in the Great Outdoors!
Living Things- 508 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:02
Capybaras bathing in the hot spring is a relaxing spot to observe the cute bathing scene. The capybara hot springs at Saitama-ken Kodomo Zoo in Higashimatsuyama City, Saitama Prefecture, are a relaxing spot where you can observe cute bathing scenes!
Living Things- 2.65K plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 0:40
Mysterious giant salamander appears in the Kamo River in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture! The ecology of this “living fossil” designated as a special natural monument is introduced!
Living Things- 4.15K plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 10:11
The Tsushima Leopard Cat: A Look at the Life of the Feline That Is Both Cute and Scary. The Unknown Secrets of the Nationally Protected Species!
Living Things- 487 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:06
Yezo Sika Deer: Learn About the Magnificent Deer of Hokkaido's Snowy Notsuke Peninsula! All About Yezo Sika Deer and Their Problem as a Disruptive Species
Living Things Nature- 947 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 4:50
A Rare Video of a Wild Marten! Can They Be Kept as Pets? What Kind of Animal Is This Cute Critter? Learn About Their Ecology and Daily Lives!
Living Things- 1.25K plays
- YouTube
Comment