Glow Ups — 2026 Omosako Shiro Utsuri Grow-Out Contest
Seven Shiro Utsuri with sumi still coming in. Watch the transformation. Bet on the future.
The Glow Ups are the fish in active development — Omosako Nisai whose sumi pattern is still emerging, deepening, and finding its final shape. These are the koi where the next 13 months matter most. The one you pick up in June will look meaningfully different by show time. That's the bet, and that's the fun.
You're buying into a group of 7 hand-selected Shiro Utsuri from Omosako Koi Farm in Kure, Hiroshima. After purchase, you'll be randomly assigned one of the 7 koi in this category. We do the assignment after sales close so nobody can cherry-pick — every buyer gets a fair shot at every fish in the group.
What you'll receive
- One Nisai (2-year-old) Shiro Utsuri, approximately 48–51 cm
- Free overnight shipping to your door via Southwest Cargo (continental US)
- Entry into the 2026 Omosako Grow-Out Contest — judged by the Omosako family themselves
- Eligibility for the Best of Glow Ups prize — your choice of 15kg or 20kg JPD koi food (floating or sinking)
- Eligibility for Grand Champion — JPD food plus a JPD automatic feeder (retails over $1,000)
- A year of bragging rights, watching your fish develop, and being part of a tight community of growers
What you'll do
This isn't just a koi purchase. It's a year-long project.
- Receive your koi in late June 2026 and acclimate to your pond
- Grow it out — feed it, watch it develop, photograph the journey
- Submit final photos & a short video by July 24, 2027
- Find out if you won — Omosako family judging, winners announced August 6, 2027
What makes a Glow Up
Sumi development is the most volatile and rewarding part of growing Shiro Utsuri. Young sumi often looks tentative — gray-black, fragmented, undercooked. As the koi matures and the second year of sumi development hits, that ink can dramatically deepen, expand, and resolve into something the original photo wouldn't have predicted.
The Glow Ups are picked specifically because the underlying structure (body, balance, skin) is strong, but the sumi pattern is still in flux. These are the koi that reward patience. Feed them right, give them clean water and room to swim, and the version you show in July 2027 may be the koi you couldn't quite see yet.
Why Omosako
Omosako Koi Farm has been producing premium Shiro Utsuri since 1949 — three generations of breeders refining a single signature variety. Shawn (Mystic Koi & Water Gardens) has personally selected these fish from Omosako's Kure ponds. The lineage is documented and the relationship is decades deep.
Shipping & arrival
- Free overnight Southwest Cargo shipping, continental US
- We coordinate the delivery date with you after sales close (week of June 27, 2026)
- IATA-certified live animal packing
- Live arrival guarantee — see FAQ below for full terms
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Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions
Order
After sales close on June 26, 2026, we randomly assign one of the 8 koi from this category to each buyer. The assignment is recorded, photographed, and emailed to you before shipping. No cherry-picking — every buyer has equal odds at every fish.
Yes. If your koi arrives dead, contact us within several hours with photos and we'll refund or replace at our discretion. After acclimation, the fish is your responsibility.
Absolutely. We're at 1250 W Arrow Hwy in Upland, CA — open Tuesday through Sunday. Call ahead and we'll have your koi assignment ready to view. as well as in store pick up!
Yes — the fish is yours forever, contest or no contest. Many growers continue showing their contest koi at later events.
The Omosako family reviews every submitted photo set and video. They judge based on body conformation, sumi development, hi quality (for Tancho), skin quality, and overall presence. Their decision is final.
Yes, to the continental US. Hawaii, Alaska, and international buyers, please contact us before purchasing for a shipping quote.
Yes — but each koi is a separate contest entry. You can buy up to all 8 if you want them all (and want to compete against yourself).