Kids Ask Questions About Koi in Japanese Gardens | Portland Japanese Garden

Kodomo no Hi, also called Children’s Day, is commemorated each year in Japan on May 5th to celebrate the growth and good fortune of children. Koi fish are closely associated with Children’s Day, as they symbolize courage and determination as they swim upstream through powerful waterfalls.
Portland Japanese Garden and International School of Portland partnered to celebrate Children’s Day, encouraging students to tap into their natural curiosity about koi fish.

A special thank you to the Juan Young Trust Fund for funding this video production.

About International School of Portland:
Founded in 1990, International School of Portland (ISP) has provided a warm, multicultural environment where children are fully immersed in Spanish, Japanese, or Mandarin from preschool through 5th grade. Its small classes and inquiry-based, International Baccalaureate curriculum enable children to acquire language and culture as they learn to pursue knowledge beyond the classroom and throughout life. ISP was the first International Baccalaureate elementary school in the Pacific Northwest, and it is one of only two schools in the United States offering full immersion in three separate language tracks under one roof. It currently educates over 400 students from age 3 through 5th grade.

0:00 Introduction
0:48 “How big do koi fish get?”
1:11 “Why do Koi fish have mustaches?”
1:27 “What do koi fish eat?”
1:45 “Are they related to catfish?”
1:58: “Do koi fish at the Garden have names?”
2:11 “How can you tell the age of a koi fish?”
2:30 “How can you tell if the fish is a girl or a boy?
2:47 “What habitat do koi fish need?”
3:04 “Are the koi fish at the Japanese Garden just for decorations?”
3:40 “Why are koi fish so important in Japanese culture?”
5:30 Special thanks to the students