Mayor donates coloured carp for embassy pond in Tokyo

(ANSA) - ROMA, 04 LUG - The carp, in Japanese popular culture, is a symbol of love and friendship. The gift by the Mayor of Ojiya, Etsuo Miyazaki, of 25 carp for the pond in the historic Edo-era garden of the Italian Embassy in Tokyo was therefore particularly appreciated.
    The new Nishikigoi carp, an ornamental variety of the common carp, are bred for decorative purposes because of their bright colours. The Italian Ambassador to Japan, Gianluigi Benedetti, at the ceremony to release the Nishikigoi carp into the pond, which was attended by Environment Minister Shintaro Ito, Member of Parliament Akira Amari and Commissioner General for Expo Osaka 2025 Koji Haneda, pointed out that Nishikigoi carps "with their bright colours and elegant movements, have been gracing the gardens and ponds of Japan's most significant places for two centuries and are increasingly known and appreciated in the rest of the world, including Italy". "These extraordinarily beautiful creatures embody values deeply rooted in Japanese culture: a symbol of perseverance, strength and good luck, they represent a real treasure for the ponds that host them," he added.
    "In this garden, which already bears witness to centuries of history and culture and is also a rare ecosystem in Tokyo," the ambassador continued, "the Nishikigoi carps find a new home, a place where they can continue to enchant with their beauty and bring serenity and inspiration to all the people and friends who visit this embassy. And they are not just aesthetic embellishment, but a bridge between two cultures, a sign of respect and friendship between Italy and Japan'.