- Founded
- 1966
- Family
- 2nd generation
- Run by
- Takahiro Iizuka
- Links
- matsue-sensuke.co.jp
Matsue Koi Farm, properly Matsue Nishikigoi Center, is where the Sensuke Kohaku bloodline lives. Shoichi Iizuka founded it in Matsue, Shimane, in April 1966, and his sons Takahiro and Hiroaki Iizuka now run it from Higashiizumo, where the farm moved in 1980. Kohaku are the product; Sanke, Showa and Doitsu Sanke are made in smaller numbers.
Matsue did not invent Sensuke, and the farm says so. The line began around 1960 with Sakutaro Tsuna, a part-time breeder in Kawaguchi, Niigata, whose house name was Sensuke. Iizuka bought his fish every autumn through Miyatora, took them home to Shimane, and in 1973, when Tsuna retired, brought the original Sensuke female parent to Matsue; production of Sensuke in Niigata ended there. Matsue has kept three Sensuke-based lines going since, including crosses with a Dainichi male and with Morita Sensuke from Yamaguchi. Two early fish, Sakura and Donguri, went to Sakai Fish Farm as parents.
What you get is Kohaku bred for size and skin. The farm's own prize list runs from Kokugyo Prizes in the 75, 85 and 90 bu classes at the 56th All Japan Nishikigoi Show to Grand Champion at the 2026 All American Koi Show with an 88 cm Kohaku and Supreme Champion at the 2024 European Koi Show. The facility is compact, 13 mud ponds and 12 greenhouses holding 62 ponds, so this is a quality farm rather than a volume one.
ChampKoi imports koi from Matsue. If you want a Kohaku with jumbo potential and a bloodline you can trace, start here.
History
- 1966 Shoichi Iizuka opens Matsue Nishikigoi Center in Nishitsuda, Matsue City, having bought Sensuke Kohaku in Niigata from Sakutaro Tsuna through Miyatora.
- 1967 Agrees to sell the Morita Sensuke fish of Kazumasa Morita (Yamaguchi); Sensuke spreads through western Japan.
- 1973 Tsuna retires; Iizuka brings the original Sensuke female parent to Matsue.
- 1980 Farm moves to Higashiizumo (now part of Matsue City).
- 1990 Incorporated as Matsue Nishikigoi Center Co., Ltd.
- Today Takahiro Iizuka is representative, Hiroaki Iizuka senior managing director; 13 mud ponds and 12 greenhouses with 62 ponds, about 2.3 hectares of fry ponds.
Awards & Recognition
All Japan Nishikigoi Show Kokugyo Prize, 56th show (Kohaku, 90 bu, 85 bu and 75 bu); All Japan Nishikigoi Show Best in Variety, 43rd show (Kohaku, 80 bu); All American Koi Show 2026 Grand Champion (88 cm Kohaku); European Koi Show 2024 Supreme Champion; BKKS All England Koi Show 2016 Grand Champion
Want a Matsue koi we don't have listed?
Tell Tom the variety, size and budget. He buys at the farm in Japan at harvest and will look for one on the next trip.