Breeder’s Continued Strenuous Efforts Helped Nishikigoi Become a Global Business
Various efforts in improving cross-breeding and raising Nishikigoi have been made since the prototypes of Nishikigoi first appeared in the Edo period. Cross-breeding technology tremendously improved in 1916 with the shift from pure-strain cross-breeding to hybrid cross-breeding, which produced an extensive array of new species, establishing the foundation of the present-day Nishikigoi culture.
Through these continued efforts of the people from generation to generation, this method of rice farming and Nishikigoi raising in Yamakoshi’s terraced paddies and ponds has developed extensively into an effective business operation in the mountainous area, which is normally considered unsuitable for agriculture. Industrialized Nishikigoi farming is making relatively favorable progress in terms of nurturing successors who are willing to make positive commitments in talking over the Nishikigoi farming business. Since Yamakoshi’s Nishikigoi farmers expanded their business globally early on, a great number of overseas dealers and admirers from all over the world gather annually in Yamakoshi during the season of collecting(harvesting) Nishikigoi from outdoor ponds, which begins in October. In the future, an increasing number of overseas tourists are expected to visit Yamakoshi for their pilgrimage to the mecca of Nishikigoi.
Through these continued efforts of the people from generation to generation, this method of rice farming and Nishikigoi raising in Yamakoshi’s terraced paddies and ponds has developed extensively into an effective business operation in the mountainous area, which is normally considered unsuitable for agriculture. Industrialized Nishikigoi farming is making relatively favorable progress in terms of nurturing successors who are willing to make positive commitments in talking over the Nishikigoi farming business. Since Yamakoshi’s Nishikigoi farmers expanded their business globally early on, a great number of overseas dealers and admirers from all over the world gather annually in Yamakoshi during the season of collecting(harvesting) Nishikigoi from outdoor ponds, which begins in October. In the future, an increasing number of overseas tourists are expected to visit Yamakoshi for their pilgrimage to the mecca of Nishikigoi.