BEGIN Japanology |S3E41| Nishikigoi | NHK

The name, “Nishikigoi” was a term first used as far back as 200 years ago in a village from the Niigata prefecture in Japan.

The first Nishikigoi was produced by farmers breeding black carp (or Magoi) as a food source to survive severe winter weather conditions, the result born from this was a vibrantly colored carp with an admirable figure that stood out from the rest with it’s rare beauty. As awareness grew, many started to appreciate Nishikigoi like a fine work of art.

Koi is a homophone for another word that means “affection” or “love” in Japanese; koi are symbols of love and friendship in Japan among many other symbols.