Kodama Koi Farm

What Kodama Koi Farm does

Kodama Koi Farm is a family-owned Japanese koi import and distribution business based in Mililani, Hawaii, founded in 1969 by Mamoru Kodama. The company is the only Japanese-owned koi farm in North, Central, and South America and self-describes as the largest importer of koi in North America. Its core operation is sourcing authentic Japanese Nishikigoi from eight named Niigata breeder relationships (Dainichi, Isa, Shinoda, Kanno, Marudo, Marusaka, Sekiguchi, Omosako) and selling them to hobbyists, collectors, and wholesale buyers across the U.S. and Canada. Distribution channels include a fixed-price e-commerce storefront, online auctions, a phone sales hotline, a wholesale program for licensed businesses, and a seasonal retail location in New York.

The product portfolio spans live koi (tosai through jumbo grade, champion specimens and curated packs like Kodama's Choice Pack and Taro's Spring Collection), a proprietary koi food brand (Mr. Kodama Koi Food / Kodama Koi Food) formulated over 50 years of breeding research, and a separate pond-supplies subsidiary (Kodama Koi Supply) selling equipment, water treatments, and medications. Specialized live-fish shipping logistics — including fasting, secure packing, air cargo coordination, and rigorous quarantine/KHV testing — are the core technical competency that enables nationwide delivery from Hawaii. The company also operates experiential Niigata koi harvest tours as an ancillary revenue channel.

Revenue is generated primarily through transactional koi sales, with per-fish pricing ranging from $15 (wholesale) and $45-$150 (mixed packs) up to $50,000+ for champion-quality koi; the most expensive recorded sale was $1.8 million for S Legend in 2018. Shipping is a standalone revenue line at $99-$330+ per box. The business is privately held by the Kodama family with no disclosed funding, no institutional investors, and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Taro Kodama serves as President, with Mamoru Kodama acting as Master Breeder and brand steward. The company employs 7 people at its Hawaii headquarters.

Name

Kodama Koi Farm

Legal name

Kodama Koi Farm

Website

https://kodamakoifarm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kodama Koi Farm is a Hawaii-based, family-owned Japanese koi importer founded in 1969, selling authentic Niigata-bred Nishikigoi to hobbyists, collectors, and wholesale buyers across the U.S. through e-commerce, auctions, phone sales, and a New York retail store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Koi Fish Sales

NAICS

Aquaculture (1125), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446), Fish and Seafood Retailers (445250)

akta.pro primary industry

Live Seafood & Tank-Based Distribution Wholesale (AFAIADAI)

Keywords

• Japanese koi fish
• Nishikigoi breeding
• Live koi sales
• Koi pond supplies
• Ornamental fish import

Headquarters

HQ city

Mililani

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct Koi Fish Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling authentic Japanese Nishikigoi. Offers multiple purchasing methods including fixed-price instant purchase, online auction bidding, and wholesale bulk pricing for licensed businesses. Koi priced from budget-friendly tosai under $100 to champion-quality specimens exceeding $50,000.
2. Koi Pond Supplies and Food: Sells koi pond supplies, equipment, and proprietary 'Kodama Koi Food' through affiliated site kodamakoisupply.com. Products include filters, pumps, aeration systems, water treatments, medications, and premium koi food formulated based on 50+ years of research.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kodama Koi Farm imports, raises, and sells authentic Japanese Nishikigoi koi fish sourced directly from Niigata, Japan breeders. The company sells live koi through fixed-price listings, online auctions, and curated collections (Tosai to Jumbo grade), alongside a wholesale program for licensed businesses. Supporting offerings include proprietary Kodama Koi Food, koi pond supplies, and a seasonal retail showroom in New York.

Product overview

Kodama Koi Farm operates as a Japanese koi fish import and distribution business, offering authentic Nishikigoi sourced directly from Niigata, Japan. The core product is live Japanese koi fish available through multiple purchasing models: auction bidding, fixed-price sales, and curated collections. The company sells individual fish ranging from Tosai (young) to jumbo grade, as well as value packs like Kodama's Choice Pack (5 or 10 koi) and seasonal offerings such as Taro's Spring Collection. Educational products include the Study Tategoi program for hobbyists learning about koi development. Supporting products include Mr. Kodama Koi Food (proprietary food brand), the Kodama Koi Supply e-commerce platform for pond equipment and supplies, and a physical retail store (Kodama Koi Garden) in New York. The company also offers wholesale programs for licensed businesses and experiential Niigata koi harvest tours in Japan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Koi Fish for Sale Authentic Japanese Nishikigoi imported from Niigata, Japan, available through auction, fixed-price, and request-based purchasing. Koi offered in various sizes from Tosai (young) to jumbo grade, with bloodlines from top Japanese breeders including Dainichi, Isa, Shinoda, and others. Targeted at hobbyists, collectors, and wholesale buyers.
• Kodama's Choice Pack Curated packs of 5 or 10 randomly selected young Japanese-bred koi, offering an affordable way for beginners and enthusiasts to add quality koi to their pond without selecting individual fish.
• Study Tategoi Young Tosai koi from renowned Japanese breeders sold as educational fish, allowing hobbyists to learn about koi development and bloodline potential by raising and observing the fish over time.
• Taro's Spring Collection Seasonal collection of over 80 hand-selected high-quality koi chosen for balanced conformation, vibrant color, and promising patterns from multiple breeders.
• Mr. Kodama Koi Food Exclusive koi food brand developed by Mamoru Kodama, including 'All Season' and 'Color Up' formulas, backed by 50+ years of research and used to raise champion-winning koi including All Japan Nishikigoi Show grand champions.
• Kodama Koi Supply (Pond Supplies) Separate e-commerce platform selling koi pond supplies, equipment, water treatments, medications, and accessories. Products are used and tested at the farm and are designed to support high-quality koi health.
• Kodama Koi Garden (Retail Store) Physical retail location in New York offering in-person koi shopping, pond supplies, and customer consultations. Open seasonally Wednesday through Monday, 10am to 5pm.
• Wholesale Program Business licensing program offering bulk pricing on koi for licensed retailers and pond professionals reselling koi and supplies, starting at $15+ per koi. Requires business license application.

Quantifiable outcome

• 185+ koi champions raised using company's products and techniques
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dainichi Koi FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier Japanese koi breeder providing high-quality stock. Featured as exclusive breeder for special collections including Koi of the Week selections. Kodama offers Dainichi-bred koi exclusively through their platform.
• Isa Koi FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned Niigata-based breeder known for champion-quality specimens. Provides stock for ISA Special Auctions and regular inventory.
• Shinoda Koi FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished Japanese breeder featured in champion winners page. Part of Kodama's breeder network for authentic Japanese koi sourcing.
• Kanno Koi FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese breeder included in Kodama's extensive breeder network for sourcing authentic Japanese-bred koi.
• Marudo Koi FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese breeder part of Kodama's breeder network for importing quality Japanese koi to the US market.
• Marusaka Koi FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese breeder included in Kodama's breeder relationships for sourcing authentic Japanese koi varieties.
• Sekiguchi Koi FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese breeder part of Kodama's network for sourcing high-quality Japanese koi stock.
• Omosako Koi FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese breeder included in Kodama's breeder network for authentic Japanese koi imports.
• All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion AssociationminorOthersOfficial membership organization for the Japanese koi industry. Kodama displays member logo on website as credential of authentic Japanese koi dealer status.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Premier Koi & Goldfish: U.S. koi and goldfish retailer offering Japanese-bred koi online with a focus on hobbyist and collector segments. Comparable to Kodama on multi-channel sales, hobbyist targeting, and emphasis on quality/pedigree.
• Isa Koi Farm: Renowned Niigata koi breeder producing champion-quality koi and running its own international sales channels. Comparable to Kodama as both a partner supplier and a direct competitor for the same elite Japanese koi customers globally.
• Blackwater Creek Koi Farms: U.S. koi breeder and online retailer offering Japanese koi, supplies, and pond services. Comparable to Kodama as a domestic koi operation combining breeding, e-commerce DTC, and supporting pond equipment sales.
• Dainichi Koi Farm: Premier Niigata-based koi breeder and Kodama's largest supplier of champion bloodlines. While primarily a producer, Dainichi also sells internationally, directly competing with Kodama at the high end of the market for premium Japanese koi.
• Kloubec Koi Farm: Multi-generational U.S. koi breeder and online retailer based in Iowa, selling Japanese-bred Nishikigoi direct to hobbyists via e-commerce and auctions. Operates in the same DTC + auction + wholesale model as Kodama, serving the same U.S. hobbyist and dealer customer base.
• Blue Ridge Koi & Goldfish: U.S. koi and goldfish breeder and online retailer sourcing Japanese bloodlines, selling live fish via e-commerce and auctions. Direct overlap with Kodama on Japanese koi varieties, online auction mechanic, and hobbyist customer segment.
• Momo's Koi: Online koi retailer offering Japanese-bred koi with a focus on hobbyist collectors and home pond owners. Similar DTC-first business model and customer base to Kodama.

Broad incumbents

• Hikari USA: U.S. arm of Japan's largest specialty fish food manufacturer, producing koi food and pond supplies sold through mass distribution. Competes with Kodama's proprietary Mr. Kodama Koi Food brand in the same koi food category, leveraging far broader retail distribution.

Emerging players

• Aqua Imports: U.S. importer of Japanese koi and wholesale distributor to pet stores and pond dealers. Comparable to Kodama on the wholesale and import side of the business, though smaller and more focused on B2B channels.

Others

• Seachem Laboratories: Major manufacturer of aquarium and pond water treatment products, filtration media, and fish health supplies. Adjacent competitor to Kodama Koi Supply across pond equipment and water treatment SKUs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kodamakoifarm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@KodamaKoiFarm
• Facebookfacebook.com/KodamaKoiFarm
• Instagraminstagram.com/KodamaKoiFarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kodama-koi-farm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kodama Koi Farm