Thread: 'World of Nishikigoi' - sharing Koi-Stuff.

Hellooo,


I’ve been a forum member for a long time under another user name (albeit very inactive), but I thought I better align things with what I do now.


I’m Liam Bess, I’ve been keeping koi since 1999/2000, and I’ve also worked for various koi dealers over the years. I stepped back from koi retail some time ago and now run “World of Nishikigoi” - to promote the hobby and celebrate all things koi. It started as an online blog with pond visits and light articles, and after the sad passing of Mark Gardner, I was asked to shoot one or two koi shows and document the winners. I now produce the official koi photographs for most UK shows.


I was then due to provide some content for Nigel Caddock and his magazine “The Nishikigoi Yearbook,” but after he too sadly passed, I was provoked by a few koi friends to launch my own, to carry the torch, as it were. World of Nishikigoi magazine was born. It’s an independent hobbyist-run magazine designed for all koi lovers. There's no sales mumbo-jumbo, no gimmicks or agendas and no 'koi experts.' We're creating a printed platform for sharing unbiased koi knowledge from experienced koi enthusiasts; hobbyists, judges, dealers, breeders, health professionals, importers and water specialists. There's something for everyone.


Each ‘volume’ is 132 pages of dedicated koi content. I pull in contributors from all over the hobby and industry (people who have earned their stripes the hard way) to deliver artistic, intelligent, and thought-provoking content that’s hopefully entertaining too. It also acts as a love letter to the hobby, to remind us on those darker days that koi are awesome and the hobby special.


I launched single sales last July and have subsequently started a subscription service, where you pay a yearly fee and get the mags delivered to your door. It’s £27.00 per year for both volumes (including UK delivery) and includes a ‘Subscribers Card’ entitling you to discounts at various koi-related retailers. Most of the discounts are 10%, so you earn the cost of your subscription back very quickly - just a bonus for those who come on board. If you fancy learning more:
https://www.worldofnishikigoi.com/pr...y-subscription


I thought I’d start this thread (not only) to introduce the magazine but also to share some of the things I get up to, as I know many people avoid social media like the plague, but we all like to look at koi, pond and Japan pics, right!


I’ll kick off with a koi that recently made the headlines after winning its 11th GC title (no, it’s not a typo). This Sakai Fish Farm Kohaku is 82cm, and I'd seen her splashed over social media numerous times. I went to the recent Belgian Koi Show and took this photo after she won her 10th GC, and having seen her in the flesh, I was very impressed by her quality and condition. She shone. I know this amount of wins for one koi will cause some heated debate, but what I found interesting was that she was retired for a few years before the Belgian Show because the beni didn’t look too great. However, after some TLC she bounced back and looked undeniably fantastic on the day.


Like the koi version of Rocky!


Respect to the owners Filip Poppe & Els De Decker.

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Hi,

The koi show season is about to kick-off next weekend (1st & 2nd July).

I'm running a few competitions on social media to encourage people to come along and share the dates. Doesn't cost a penny to enter and the prizes are pretty awesome!

First up for grabs is 15kg of saki-hikari balance worth £199. You can read more about how to enter here:
https://www.worldofnishikigoi.com/po...hikari-balance

It's really easy, and the aim is to raise awareness of all the UK koi shows, big and small. Look out for more competitions as the season unfolds. Plenty of chances to win.

And because we like pictures of koi, here's a kohaku I snapped at the Belgian Koi Show. Didn't win a major award as competition was pretty stiff, but worth a photo nonetheless. Five step, not an easy find!


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So the National Koi Show has been and gone, if anyone fancies a look at the awards that were won over the weekend, I've photographed and detailed the 'majors' and 'other' awards here:

Majors
https://www.worldofnishikigoi.com/po...-koi-show-2023

Other
https://www.worldofnishikigoi.com/po...-koi-show-2023

Good for being nosey - enjoy!

Hi all,

Sorry for the delay, here are the winners from the dealer's show, with some info about the event from those that took part:
https://www.worldofnishikigoi.com/po...-koi-show-2023

Also, the winner of our recent mini comp - Paul Shannon.

All he had to do was post a picture, and he won a 5kg bag of Saki Hikari worth £129 - easy peasy!

The next comp is coming up for The Crouch Valley Koi Show on the 5th and 6th of August, there might be two winners - so eyes peeled. Thanks to Hikari Koi Foods for the support.

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Hello koi folk,

Volume Four of the World of Nishikigoi Magazine has arrived and is available via subscription.

https://www.worldofnishikigoi.com/pr...subscription-1



Our service is £27.00 for the year (including UK delivery), which gets you two 132-page magazines per year and a FREE members discount card, entitling you to discounts at participating koi retailers nationwide. Yes, you can save money as you shop for koi stuff. Pretty nifty!

The magazines are packed with high-quality, hobbyist-focused content from varied contributors, aiming to celebrate the hobby and deepen understanding. It’s all backed up with top-notch photography and printed on heavy, 170gsm high-gloss stock - it's the kind of magazine a koi lover wants on the coffee table. Perfect for a Christmas gift too!

Below is a little taste of the vibe we offer…

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Hi Koi-Folk,

Happy New Year!

Recently, Avenue Fisheriesheld an Open Day for their annual Growing-on Competition, and I popped along with the camera to see what they were getting up to.

I had a great day chatting to Pam, Steve and many of their friendly customers. It was brilliant catching up with old faces and meeting new ones, so thanks for an enjoyable day! The video is in the comments below. Enjoy in 4K

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLQOzISJCyo

I've also popped this on my blog with some nice photos from the day and some general updates about World of Nishikigoi in 2024, feel free to have a read here:

https://www.worldofnishikigoi.com/post/avenue-fisheries-open-day

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'Trade News' is back for 2024

A way of keeping up to date with what our sponsors are up to. New stock, special offers, new products, events and other news, all in one place. Easy Lemons. Just click the link below

Those featured this month...
[COLOR=var(--blue-link)]Supreme Koi | Cuttlebrook Koi Farm | Viking Fish Health | Shosha Koi | Selective Koi Sales | Aqua-Tech & Landscapes | Beacon Koi - Japanese | South West Koi | Queni Koi | EZ-Pond Ltd
[/COLOR]

https://www.worldofnishikigoi.com/po...de-news-jan-24

And... because I can't put a post up without a nice koi picture - here's a lovely kohaku

Probably my favourite koi I got to photograph last year. This Isa Koi Farm kohaku shone at the Nogyosai Koi Show ‘23 and took the ‘Best Over 80bu’ prize. She was beautifully conditioned, with excellent qualities and such a strong presence in the vat - a formidable koi.

Nishikigoi = Art


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Hi All,

I recently got back from a trip to Japan where I covered the AJKS '24 plus went hunting for content for the next magazine. Attached is a pic I took of the GC for those interested.



I have also released a new product on the website called "the stack" - it allows you to buy all the back issues and save money with bulk shipping.

The cheapest way to buy the magazine is to subscribe, as it offers discounted rates, however, if you want to catch up with back issues this new feature saves UK residents £7.00 and overseas customers considerably more. Link here:

https://www.worldofnishikigoi.com/pr...page/the-stack

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The AJKS also features the "Dream Koi Exhibition," where breeders and dealers across Japan display their koi for sale to promote their brand.

I filmed all of the vats (there were 50 of them) - sit back and enjoy the koi...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDyWsxOQHXI&t=23s

Trade News Time!

It's the end of the month which means it's time for an update on what's been occuring in the world of koi. Koi Shows, Dealers News, Koi Releases, New Products, Easter Events, and Koi Care suggestions for Spring... it's all featured in our latest Trade News blog post. Hit the link below ⬇️

https://www.worldofnishikigoi.com/po...-news-march-24

Featured...
Beacon Koi - JapaneseEvolution AquaAdam Byer KoiWest Midlands KoiAvenue Fisheries Japanese KoiWalker KoiCuttlebrook Koi FarmAqua-Tech & LandscapesQueni KoiKoi Zanmai

Big Koi Event Incoming...

Next weekend Champions will have been announced at the AEBKS '24. Belgium will be bursting with quality koi all located under one roof.


If you want to learn more about the show and last year's Champions, click the pic below. I have made available a considerable extract from the show's article in Volume Three for a leisurely Monday read. Enjoy!


https://www.worldofnishikigoi.com/po...lgian-koi-show
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A sneak peak of the pond visit coming up in the next volume of the magazine...

https://youtu.be/Z0BiGWwyTF8?si=9NCwnpRPJNHg411A

It's a beautiful set up that may inspire a few folk.

If you want to subscribe in time to receive the next magazine you can do so here:
https://www.worldofnishikigoi.com/pr...y-subscription

It's all about supporting the hobby and providing top-notch content.