A story of innovation, necessity, and a better way to feed koi. By Taro Kodama

As someone who grew up in the world of koi—first watching my father Mamoru Kodama raise them in Japan, then dedicating my life to sharing that same passion around the world—I’ve always believed koi deserve the very best we can offer. That belief has guided every decision we make at Kodama Koi Farm.

For decades, we’ve worked hard to provide the highest quality koi food: food that supports their beauty, their health, and their potential. But a few years ago, we faced a new challenge—one that would eventually lead us somewhere surprising. And better.

The Challenge: Importing Koi Food with Animal Ingredients

Each shipment required layers of paperwork, health certificates, inspections, and approvals. And even when everything was done perfectly, delays still happened. The whole process became time-consuming, expensive, and unpredictable. At some point, we had to stop and ask ourselves a serious question:

“What if we made a koi food that was entirely plant-based?”
“Could it be just as effective… and even better for the long term?”

That moment became the beginning of a journey—one that took years, and a lot of testing, to complete.

Years of Testing in Japan and the U.S.

We didn’t rush into production—we took our time because we wanted to be sure this food could truly support koi at the highest level. That meant rigorous testing—over and over again.

We tested it at our farms here in the U.S., across a range of climates, water temperatures, and seasonal conditions. We fed it to both high-end show koi and everyday hobbyist koi. And through every trial, we kept asking ourselves:

“Can koi really thrive on a plant-based diet?”

We approached this project not just as product developers, but as lifelong koi lovers. And the results? Even we were surprised by how well it performed.

What We Found: It Works

After years of observation, the results were clear.

There were no major differences in growth, color vibrancy, or energy levels compared to traditional fishmeal-based foods. In fact, we started noticing benefits we hadn’t expected:

• ✅ Cleaner water—less oily residue and clearer visibility
• ✅ Less waste—koi produced less sludge, leading to fewer pond maintenance needs
• ✅ Easier digestion—especially helpful in variable temperatures
• ✅ Simplified importing—no USDA bottlenecks
• ✅ A more sustainable formula—which matters to us, and to many of you

What started as a “maybe” was now a clear “yes.” This wasn’t just a workaround. It was a true alternative that gave koi keepers more control, more convenience, and better pond results.

Plant Based Koi Food: Designed with Care, Backed by Experience

This isn’t a trendy product or a rushed launch.

Mr. Kodama Koi Food – Plant-Based came from years of work, real-world challenges, and deep care for the koi we all love. It’s the result of:

From a Problem to a Better Option

Sometimes, the best innovations don’t come from conference room brainstorming sessions—they come from the real-world challenges we face every day.

That’s exactly how this product was born. What began as a frustrating import issue turned into something truly meaningful: a solution that not only improves how we care for koi, but also enhances how koi thrive in our ponds.

As someone who has lived and breathed koi my entire life, I can confidently say this food works. It’s clean, it’s reliable, and it’s something I’m proud to offer to koi lovers around the world. If you haven’t tried it yet, I invite you to see the results for yourself. And if you ever have questions or feedback, I’m always here to listen. Because my mission from the very beginning has never changed: to make everyone happy with Koi.

– Taro Kodama

Want to take the next step in creating a healthier, more natural koi environment? Explore our top picks for plants for koi ponds—perfect companions to our plant-based koi food. These plants help balance your pond’s ecosystem while adding beauty and function. Support your koi from the inside out. Start planting naturally.