Kokugyo no Saiten 1983 – 15th All Japan Koi Show (国魚の祭典) by Zen Nippon Nishikigoi Shinkokai

Kokugyo no Saiten (国魚の祭典) – Festival of the National Fish 1983 – 15th All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show Deluxe Commemorative Edition

The deluxe commemorative record of the 15th All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show, compiled by the Zen Nippon Nishikigoi Shinkokai (All Japan Nishikigoi Dealers Association) and published on 14 October 1983 (Showa 58) by Tack Imaging Ltd. of Urawa. Edited by Takashi Kuwahara and Akitaka Kawabata, with title calligraphy by Shien Yajima and Saiun Suga. The original Japanese retail price was ¥15,000.

Kokugyo no Saiten 1983 opens with a message from Takeo Kimi (君健男), Governor of Niigata Prefecture and president of the association. He notes that despite concerns over higher entry fees brought on by rising venue costs, the show drew 3,557 entries, and that entries from overseas were growing with every year. The 208 pages present the champion and prize-winning koi of the 15th show in colour, followed by the full results. Text in Japanese.

Bound in a particularly attractive floral brocade-style cloth, Kokugyo no Saiten 1983 is a superb copy of an important volume in the Kokugyo no Saiten yearbook series, recording champion koi and breeders from the golden era of Japanese koi culture. Highly desirable for koi breeders, show judges, koi collectors, Japanese garden enthusiasts and collectors of Japanese exhibition catalogues.

Condition – Near Fine

Hardcover bound in a very decorative gold and cream floral brocade-style cloth with black-stamped titling and the publisher’s koi mascot device to the boards and spine. The book is in near fine condition with no notable defects, housed in the original publisher’s slipcase, which is also near fine. Internally clean and bright throughout, 208 pages, with a firm binding.