Q.Why is Yamatokoriyama known as the "Goldfish Town"?
Published 2026-06-19
Answer
It started in the Edo period as a side job for samurai of the local domain. Goldfish farming is said to have begun in 1724, when Yoshisato Yanagisawa moved to Yamatokoriyama from Kai Province — a history of about 300 years. The city remains one of Japan's leading producers: in 2019 it bred roughly 54 million goldfish, around 40% of the national output. The National Goldfish Scooping Championship, held since 1995, has become a symbol of the town.
It began as samurai side work — some 300 years ago
Goldfish farming in Yamatokoriyama is said to have begun in 1724, when Yoshisato Yanagisawa relocated here from Kai Province (today's Yamanashi). That makes for roughly 300 years of history. Around the end of the Edo period it grew as a side job for the domain's samurai, and after the Meiji Restoration it spread among samurai who had lost their stipends and among farmers. This is the basis for the saying that it 'originated as samurai side work.' Generous support from the last lord of Koriyama, Yasunobu Yanagisawa, is also cited as a major driver of the industry's growth.
1724the year farming is said to have begun
approx. 300 yearsof goldfish farming history
Why it took root in Yamatokoriyama
Originating as a samurai side job alone wouldn't have created a production hub of this size; natural conditions made the difference. Yamatokoriyama had many farming reservoirs with good water quality and supply, and the plankton (water fleas) breeding in them were ideal feed for goldfish fry. Goldfish ponds still spread across the Araki-cho area in particular, and that landscape is designated one of Nara Prefecture's official scenic assets, 'the Koriyama goldfish ponds carried on since the Edo period.' The prefecture positions the city as one of Japan's foremost goldfish-producing areas.
reservoir planktonnatural feed that suited the fry
Araki-cho areagoldfish ponds named a prefectural scenic asset
Scale: about 40% of Japan's output — but a turning point too
In 2019 the annual output was roughly 54 million goldfish, about 40% of Japan's total. Yet the industry is at a turning point. As of 2020 there were 36 producers — about one-fifth of the peak — and output had fallen to roughly a third of its 1993 high. The goldfish go to auction at the Koriyama Goldfish Wholesale Center, where the best are sold individually and the rest by the kilogram.
approx. 54Mgoldfish bred in 2019
approx. 40%of Japan's output in 2019
36producers as of 2020 (about 1/5 of the peak)
| Measure | Figure | As of / source |
|---|---|---|
| Annual output | approx. 54M fish | 2019 |
| National share | approx. 40% | 2019 |
| Producers | 36 | as of 2020 |
| Output level | approx. 1/3 of the 1993 peak | as of 2020 |
The town's festival: the National Goldfish Scooping Championship
The symbol of the 'Goldfish Town' is the National Goldfish Scooping Championship. The first event was held in 1995 at the Yamatokoriyama Central Community Center, and it continues today around 'Goldfish Scooping Day' on the third Sunday of August each year. The 30th championship, on 24 August 2025, drew 1,362 participants in total (519 in the adult individual division, 234 in the elementary/junior-high individual division, and 203 teams totaling 609 people in the team division). Some 300 years of farming history lives on in the town as a tourist event.
1995the first championship was held
1,362participants at the 30th event (24 Aug 2025)
3rd Sun. of Aug.'Goldfish Scooping Day'