I've tried to present the nishikigoi that I saw within the Kyoto Nijō Castle moat, as they are seen in Japanese watercolour paintings.
The first nishikigoi, (swimming jewel), was produced by farmers breeding Amur carp as a food source to survive severe winter weather conditions, the result born from this was a vibrantly coloured carp that stood out from the rest with its rare beauty. There are now a large number of different varieties and 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 and koi are symbols of love, luck and friendship in Japan.
I loved watching these beautiful fish make their way through the water, it was so calming and restful.
50 cm length
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