SAKAI GROW OUT CONTEST RULES

1. HOW DOES THE GROW OUT CONTEST WORK?

Participants will purchase koi from our selection of 100 high-quality Sakai FF Jumbo Tosai (1-year-old), hand-selected by Kotaro san. We will ship the koi to participants for grow-out in their ponds. At the end of the contest, participants will submit 1 to 3 photos of their koi, along with the koi's size, for judging.

2. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

All koi hobbyists within the 48 contiguous states of the United States.

3. WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?

• Champion: A free 7-day Koi Trip to Japan, including airfare, accommodations, meals, and transportation. Alternatively, winners can choose a $2,000 store gift card, which can be used to purchase anything on our website and has no expiration date.
• First Prize: $1,000 store gift card.
• Second Prize: $500 store gift card.

4. WHO WILL BE THE JUDGE?

Kotaro san will judge the contest. His evaluation will consider factors such as body shape, skin quality, and growth rate. Kotaro-san's decision will be final.

5. WHEN DOES THE CONTEST START AND END?

The contest begins on March 16th and ends on September 16th  

6. WHEN CAN I PURCHASE, AND WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY KOI?

Koi will be available for purchase online starting at 10:00 AM Pacific Time on Sunday March 16th. You can preview the koi now on our YouTube channel @gckoifarm.

7. HOW MUCH PER KOI? CAN I PURCHASE MULTIPLE KOI? HOW MUCH IS SHIPPING?

• Each koi costs $450, or $800 for two koi.
• Each koi comes with an individual certificate.
• You may purchase as many koi as you wish.
• Shipping starts at $90 via UPS Overnight Shipping and includes a live arrival guarantee.
• If your koi is dead on arrival, we will replace it with a similar koi at our discretion.

.8. HOW DO I SUBMIT PHOTOS AT THE END OF THE CONTEST?

You can email your photos to sales@gckoi.com, including the koi number.

9. ARE THERE ANY REQUIREMENT FOR KOI PHOTO SUBMISSION?

• Photos should be clear and of high quality, with the koi’s features and characteristics visible.
• Use a clear background, preferably blue, and take photos in good lighting, ideally natural light, without flash or glare.
• Photos must be in a standard format, such as JPEG or PNG, and unedited (no alterations or enhancements to the koi’s appearance).
• Manipulated or edited photos may result in disqualification.

10. WHEN IS THE DEANLINE TO SUBMIT PHOTO?

• You may submit photos anytime before September 16th.
• The final deadline is September 16th. Submissions received after this date will be disqualified.

11. WHEN WILL THE KOI TRIP TAKE PLACE?

The 7-day trip will occur between October 15th and November 15th, depending on breeder harvest schedules. The exact dates and duration will be announced with the winners.

12. WHAT IF I WIN AND CAN'T GO?

• You may choose the $2,000 gift card as an alternative prize.
• If you are unable to attend after tickets are purchased, the prize will be forfeited.

13. CAN I BUY KOI DURING THE TRIP?

Yes, you will have the opportunity to visit top koi breeders, select and purchase high-quality koi, and learn about koi care and breeding. Any koi purchases during the trip will include a 30% commission payable to GC Koi.

14. CAN I BRING A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER?

Unfortunately, the Champion prize covers one person only. 

15. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD KNOW?

• Participants must be 18 or older and have a valid passport.
• Travel costs to and from LAX are the participant’s responsibility.
• Winners must agree to provide personal information, such as passport numbers, for booking purposes.
• A signed liability waiver is required before the trip.
• GC Koi Farm reserves the right to disqualify any participants who violate the contest rules.
• The winner of the Japan trip must confirm their decision by September 22nd. Airline tickets will not be booked after this date.