About The 5 KOI

The 5 KOI was founded in 2010 on a simple idea: American pond keepers deserve the same quality of fish — and the same honesty about what they're buying — that collectors in Japan take for granted. Our name honors the five classic varieties every great collection is built on: Kohaku, Sanke, Showa, Asagi, and Tancho.

Twice a year we travel to Niigata prefecture, the birthplace of nishikigoi, to hand-select fish directly from Japan's most respected breeders. Every koi we bring back completes a 14-day quarantine, a full health screening, and an individual photo and video session before it ever appears on this site. The fish you see is the fish you receive — no stock photos, no substitutions.

Since then we've shipped more than 500 healthy koi to ponds across the country, backed by a live arrival guarantee and support that doesn't end at delivery. Whether you're choosing your first fish or your fiftieth, we answer the phone.