Kokugyo ’78 – 10th All Japan Koi Show (國魚) by Zen Nippon Nishikigoi Shinkokai

Kokugyo ’78 (國魚) – The National Fish – 10th Commemorative All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show Album

A rare commemorative album recording the landmark 10th Commemorative All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show, compiled by the Zen Nippon Nishikigoi Shinkokai (All Japan Nishikigoi Dealers Association) and published on 20 August 1978 (Showa 53) by Yokoyama Kogyo Co., Ltd. of Tokyo. Photography by Susumu Shoji (庄子進) and 川崎敏之. The original Japanese retail price was ¥40,000 – the highest of the early volumes and a measure of the lavishness of this anniversary production. This copy is numbered 0486 on the colophon.

This large square folio of 329 pages belongs to the early All Japan show yearbooks issued under the simple title Kokugyo – “National Fish” – and carries the association’s koi emblem on the title page to mark the 10th show. It presents the prize-winning koi of that year, a valuable record of the champion fish and breeders of the 1970s koi boom in Japan. Text predominantly in Japanese, with some English.

An important volume for any collection of Japanese koi show literature. Highly desirable for koi breeders, show judges, koi collectors, Japanese garden enthusiasts and collectors of Japanese exhibition catalogues.

Condition – Fine/Like New

Large square hardcover bound in luxurious blue cloth with gilt-stamped titling to the front board and spine, protected by a thick clear archival acetate jacket that appears to be original to the publisher. The book itself is in fine, as-new condition. Internally clean and bright throughout, 329 pages, with a firm binding; copy number 0486 stamped on the colophon. Housed in the original sturdy blue publisher’s slipcase, which is badly damaged.