According to Japanese news media reports, the Japanese government has included koi in the "Key Categories of Agricultural, Forestry, Aquatic Products, and Food Export Expansion".

Koi is known as a "swimming artwork" and is very popular among the rich in Europe, America, and Asia.

Japan strives to increase the export value of koi to 9.7 billion yen in 2025, an increase of more than 60% compared with 2021. For this purpose, it will provide support to industry groups in the breeding and sales fields.

According to the report, at the relevant meeting held on the same day, the "Export Expansion Strategy for Agricultural, Forestry, Aquatic Products and Foodstuffs" was revised. After rice, apples, and other categories, koi carp became the twenty-ninth key export category.

Once it is listed as a key category, an industry group composed of relevant persons responsible for production and sales can apply to become a "designated category group" to obtain state support in terms of loan guarantees.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, ornamental koi are very popular overseas, and even set a record that a koi sold for tens of millions of yen. Niigata Prefecture in Japan breeds more than half of the koi in Japan, and their koi are mainly sold to the United States, Germany, Indonesia, and other countries.

According to the trade statistics of the Ministry of Finance of Japan, the export value of ornamental koi is on the rise year by year. The export value in 2021 will reach 5.9 billion yen, which is double that of 2013. The plan proposes that by 2025, the export value of koi will increase to 9.7 billion yen.

According to reports, the Japanese government has positioned the expansion of agricultural, forestry, fishery, and food exports as a pillar of its growth strategy.

The goal in 2025 is to reach 2 trillion yen in exports and further expand to 5 trillion yen in 2030. The actual export value in 2021 will be 1,238.2 billion yen, breaking through the trillion yen mark for the first time. The growth rate in 2022 is expected to exceed that in 2021.

Why are koi fish so popular?

1. Long lifespan

If koi are raised in fish ponds, their body length can reach 1-1.5 meters. Don't think that if the koi grows too big, its lifespan will not be long. In fact, koi can live to 60-70 years old, which is a very long-lived fish. It is precisely because of this that the legend can bring good luck to the owner, so Koi is very popular.

2. Low difficulty in raising

Koi play a very important role in cultural exchanges between countries. Japan is the largest producer of koi, and fish culture has also helped cultural exchanges between countries to a certain extent. Koi are temperature-changing animals and do not have high requirements for water quality and water temperature.

As long as there is no sudden and large temperature difference, koi are rarely infected with diseases. Koi have a variety of food habits, do not have high requirements for feed, and are not difficult to breed, which is why Koi is so popular.

3. Beautiful appearance

The shape and body color of koi are very special. The lines of their bodies are very smooth and their backs are straight. Although there are many strains of koi, the rich and varied colors also add a lot to the ornamental value of koi.