Kanshō
The Ritual of Observing
Koi & goldfish
The Art of Contemplation
In Japan, watching koi & goldfish is part of the art of refined relaxation.
Sound of water. Slow movement. Focused attention. A simple way to return to the present moment.
See what you discover
Practice presence
Notice what changes in your body as you observe our pond residents.
Guests often say they forget everything else during this practice. Afterwards, they feel lighter. Clearer. Joyful.
You can watch the pond for hours.
There is also a quiet feeding ritual — a simple moment of connection.
Living personalities
Beneath the surface
Balancyoga pond is home to around 50 fish, and in February 2026 five tiny new koi have joined the family. Together, through movement and colour, they create a living composition — art shaped in real time.
Every fish carries its own presence. What fascinates is not only the richness of their colours, but the way they relate to one another — how they align, separate, follow, and sometimes initiate. Silent dialogues unfold beneath the surface.
We have highlighted the most expressive characters and given them names.
Get to know them.
Naomi
Sarasa Goldfish
Naomi is always a bright spot at the Balancyoga pond. Her name means “pleasantness” or “gentle beauty.” It carries a sense of warmth, grace, and inner strength.
Naomi moves with an effortless softness, yet there is confidence in the way she holds her space among larger koi. Over the course of a year, she transformed from a shy, delicate little fish into a vivid and active presence.
Naomi reminds us how quietly confidence can grow — until one day it becomes light.
Nautilus
Kin Matsuba
Named after the ancient spiral of life — the symbol of evolution and quiet strength.
Our largest koi, nearly 70 cm, striking in his understated majesty. Despite his impressive size, he moves with remarkable gentleness. Smaller fish often circle around him, as if drawn to something steady and grounded.
A presence that does not need to assert itself to be felt.
Hoover
Doitsu Chagoi
He came to the pond from an ordinary grocery store — rescued before his life could follow a very different path.
He didn’t get the name “the vacuum” for nothing. Whenever you approach the pond, Hoover is the first to greet you — swimming straight toward you, mouth wide open. The unmistakable smacking sound of his dramatic “kisses” often makes us laugh during practice.
He sets the tone in the pond.
He teaches the others to actively engage with humans. Born for entirely different purposes, he now lives a different destiny.
Not survival — but presence.
Sitara
A young Kohaku Koi
Sitara means “star” — a quiet light in the darkest night.
She entered the pond at the beginning of 2026 at just 7 centimetres in length. In her first days, she stayed near the surface with the other young koi she arrived with — exploring, adjusting, curious and steady.
Soon after, she moved lower, as the larger fish settled their hierarchy. But like a true star, from time to time she rises — a flash of silver, a spark of red at the surface.
We will continue to watch her grow — and invite you to follow her journey.
Sesame
Doitsu Chagoi
The younger brother of Hoover — slightly darker in tone. Over the past year, Sesame has grown rapidly, nearly matching Hoover in size. From certain angles, when he rises with his mouth wide open, we sometimes mistake him for his older brother. Together, they form a strong pair, gradually shaping the rhythm of the pond as they grow.
In the photo, beside Sesame, you can notice his golden companion, Schumacher. You will spot them together quite often — side by side, Sesame’s deeper graphite tone meeting Schumacher’s luminous gold.
Like two adolescents, they explore the space, observing and quietly imitating their older brothers.
Shōgun
Kin Matsuba
His name, Shōgun, refers to the historical Japanese military commander — a figure of strategy, discipline and quiet authority. The name suits him precisely.
He is a grey cardinal of the pond, frequently found near the pond’s larger leaders.
He assesses the situation and acts with precision and speed — especially when his brother, Schumacher, is involved.
When we once needed to catch Schumacher for a therapeutic salt bath, Shōgun reacted instantly. Each time the net approached his brother, he moved in with remarkable speed — intercepting, distracting, and helping him escape.
Not loud authority — strategic presence.
The quiet commander of the water.
Schumacher
Kin Matsuba
Friend of Sesame and the younger brother of Shōgun. When we first met him, he had a small wound and needed to be caught for a therapeutic salt bath. That was the moment he earned his name. He proved to be the fastest and most agile fish in the pond.
Eventually, we stepped back and trusted that clean water and attentive care would allow healing to take its course. Schumacher recovered — and the name remained, as did the small scar on his head.
A quiet reminder: sometimes we don’t need saving. We need the space — and the chance — to prove we can recover.
Patterns beneath the surface
Structure within the flow
The relationships within the pond were formed long before we began to observe them. Differences in size — and in age — are visible, yet patterns emerge. Residents align within their own varieties. Proximity is intentional. Hierarchy exists —
so does quiet support.
And occasionally, something more.
A devoted pair emerged, formed by two entirely different koi, and we named them Napoleon and Joséphine.
Napoleon & Josephine
Yamabuki Ogon & Beni Kikokuryu
Though different in nature, these two stand out for the quiet tenderness of their connection. They are not only enjoying one another’s company — they are mastering new skills together.
Recently, Napoleon learned to hold himself vertically in the water to catch floating food at the surface.
In time, Joséphine adopted the same technique.
We noticed how he slows down, waiting for her, and then offers her a kiss. For a brief moment they pause together, before drifting apart again to their own pursuits.
There is something distinctly feminine in the way Josephine carries herself. She has a favourite corner of the pond where she retreats alone, choosing when to be present and when to withdraw.
He checks in on her.
They remind us that nothing truly prevents us from growing closer — or from caring for one another with quiet consistency.
Noir
Karasu Koi
She named for the velvety depth of her black. Beside her, the brighter fish reveal themselves more fully. It is a rare pleasure to watch how she creates bold strokes of colour — like a dark canvas that allows every hue to resonate more intensely.
Oranges and reds begin to glow.
Gold turns warmer. The contrast between velvety Noir and the luminous yellow of Napoleon is especially striking.
Her long tail moves like a quiet veil, shaping and softening the space around her.
She reminds us how powerful it is to create space for others to shine.
Little nose
Sturgeon
The most endearing presence in our pond.
Completely different — and unmistakably confident, frequently pushing his long nose above the surface for attention.
Little Nose has mastered his own signature move: he rises vertically from the water, almost jumping out, to receive his treat personally. Precise. Determined. Direct.
And of course, he gets it.
There is something irresistibly sincere in the way he approaches — no hesitation, no doubt. Just clear intention.
A reminder that sometimes confidence is simply knowing what you want — and rising for it.
Lakshmi
Hariwake
Lakshmi is named after the goddess of prosperity, wealth, fortune, power, and beauty —
a symbol of both material abundance and spiritual fulfilment.
She arrived in the pond in February 2026, so small she seemed almost fragile. Yet from the beginning, she was anything but. Among the larger residents, she moves with quiet confidence, swimming beside Hoover without hesitation — a small body next to a giant, steady and assured.
Her silver and gold shimmer brings luminosity to the pond.
She is growing quickly — not only in size, but in presence.
Perhaps prosperity is not accumulation. Perhaps it is expansion — of light, of confidence, of the space one dares to occupy.
Balancyoga
pond residents
Presence recognised
Naomi, Nautilus, Hoover, Sitara, Sesame, Shogun, Schumacher, Napoleon, Josephine, Noir, Little nose, Lakshmi;
Tiger, Sita & Gita, Gold Sisters, Red Sisters, Bruno, Parvati, Sensei, Inari, Dobermans...
More residents will be introduced soon.
Koi & Goldfish Art
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