Butterfly Koi, Community, and Koi Shipments in Japan

They’re marmite in the koi world — some love them, others turn their noses up — but butterfly koi have their fans, and plenty of them. So, an important stop on my buying trip this week was to Yamasan Koi Farm, our preferred breeder of butterfly koi.

A Morning at Yamasan Koi Farm

The tosai weren’t yet ready to view, so details on those will have to wait another month or so. We did find a selection of Nisai and Sansai, but for the varieties I wanted including Nisai and Sansai butterfly koi , they were a little expensive this time, so we didn’t buy any.  Yamasan did have some koi that would have worked commercially , but these are varieties we already have so do not currently need. 

The setting at Yamasan is lovely — a peaceful village with rustic simplicity. Landscaped ponds and vegetable patches weave between the koi farm buildings, outdoor concrete ponds, and packing areas. A few small houses are scattered around too, some with vegetables laid neatly in rows to dry in the autumn sun. The light shimmers on the pond surfaces, the breeze carrying a gentle rustle through the nearby trees and long grass. There’s a strong farming feel here — the kind of quiet, purposeful rhythm you only find in rural Japan.

Despite us not buying this time, Manabu-san, who runs Yamasan, took time out of his busy harvest schedule to bring us snacks and drinks. We stood outside his home in a sunny spot, enjoying the rural scenery and the warmth of Japanese hospitality — a reminder that relationships matter here just as much as the koi themselves.

The Art of Shipping Koi

Today was shipment day, and we had lots of boxes heading back to Byer Koi Farm in the UK. Shipments from Niigata have to be done in bulk to be cost-efficient, so these are large-scale operations.

Our agent consolidates koi from multiple breeders, and — in true Japanese practicality — it all happens in a car park outside the sports centre in Ojiya. We travelled there to help, and since a decent proportion of this shipment was ours, it made things even more exciting.

On route from Yamasan to Ojiya, we were asked to collect a box from Maruhiro and deliver it to the collection point. Manabu-san also requested help with his boxes — around 30kg each — which an elderly relative of his (in her 80s!) was preparing to deliver. Naturally, we were happy to lend a hand.

It struck me again how strong the sense of community is here. Everyone helps each other, especially during busy times. That spirit extended beyond the koi world too — at the collection point, teams of retired volunteers were clearing fallen leaves from around the car park. My agent Chris explained this is known as “silver service”, where retirees contribute to community upkeep, staying active and purposeful. It’s a wonderful example of working for the greater good — something we could all learn from.

As the morning went on, the large transport lorry slowly filled with box after box of koi. Each breeder arrived in turn, paperwork was checked, labels added, and boxes loaded — all within about 45 minutes. The whole process reminded me of aircraft circling Heathrow before landing — efficient, organised chaos!

You can see this process play out perfectly in Woody from Koi in the UK’s Day 4 vlog here:
🎥 Watch on YouTube

Insights at Koshiji Koi Farm

Later in the day, we made a very successful stop at Koshiji Koi Farm, known for high quality Showa , Shiro , Doitsu Go Sanke and Doitsu Kogane Ochiba — which is where we acquired our breeding female back at Byer Koi Farm.  The farm is owned by Kase-san, though day-to-day operations are handled by his farm manager.

I’ll definitely be bringing this neat way to store koi bowls !

With a little translation help, we had a long chat about breeding lines. I picked up some useful tips and ideas for improving aspects of our own Doitsu Kogane breeding program, and it gave me a good baseline for where our results currently stand — which, I’m happy to say, are strong.

I also purchased several high-quality large female koi for the shop, including Showa and Shiro Utsuri, plus a range of Nisai (30–35cm) across several varieties: Shiro Utsuri, Doitsu Go Sanke, and Yamato Nishiki. They’ll make a great addition to our range and I’m sure will be in high demand.

After I’ve completed my selections and grouped them into batches for shipping - each group is photographed and documented, and purchased.  I was super happy here after making my selections at Koshiji. 

Reflections on a Busy Trip

This trip has been incredibly full-on — early starts, long drives, and countless ponds viewed — but it’s been deeply rewarding. I’ve chosen to spend any spare time documenting the journey here in the blog, while it’s all still fresh in my mind, rather than rushing to edit footage for sales. Capturing the people, places, and lessons while they’re happening feels more meaningful right now. The koi videos and releases will come later — this part is about the experience itself.

Once I’m back and caught up, I’ll start sharing the koi properly — with detailed videos, close-ups, and full write-ups. So, between now and Christmas, expect plenty of exciting online koi releases and insights from this buying trip.

Traveling through Niigata always reminds me why I fell in love with koi in the first place: the craftsmanship, the culture, dedication, and the quiet pride that runs through every breeder and every pond. And there’s still something new to learn and appreciate on every visit.