Jakarta to host int'l 'koi' contest

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 09/24/2007 3:14 PM | Jakarta

JAKARTA: At least 10 countries will take part in an ornamental fish contest at Taman Mini Indonesia on Sept. 28-30.

China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Germany, Scotland and Austria have confirmed their participation in the contest held by the Jakarta Chapter of Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA).

""There will be a panel of international judges. (The judges) will be Singapore and Japan among others,"" the president of ZNA's Jakarta chapter Husin Arif was quoted as saying by Antara on Saturday.

ZNA is a Japan-based organization dedicated to the art of raising the prized koi, a type of carp.

Promoting ""Koi Friendship"", ZNA has international branches in 18 countries, from the United Stated to the Netherlands.

Known in Japan as Nishikigoi, koi received media huge media attention in Indonesia in early 2000.

The craze is over, but staunch fans continue keep koi in large ponds. With a certain nurturing method, koi can grow to more than one meter in length.

Many Indonesian koi keepers believe the fish bring luck. However, since the fish are so expensive to raise, koi owners can already consider themselves part of the lucky few. --JP

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