About Me.
About Me.
Joe Mitchell
Creator & Writer
They say writing is easy—you just sit down at a keyboard and “bleed”. Oddly enough, I can write thousands of words about koi, filters, and fish food without blinking... but ask me to write about myself and suddenly I need a cup of tea, a walk around the garden, feed the Koi, check the filters… and maybe a three-day retreat in the mountains of Niigata.
I got into the koi hobby back when the only real source of information was whatever one well-known industry figure happened to be shouting about that week. Like most newcomers, I hung onto every word... until I realised that not all advice is gospel, and some of it is just really expensive guesswork or its trying to sell you a product.
Somewhere along the way, I landed a job in the industry, thinking I’d hit the jackpot. Fast forward a bit—I got chewed up, spat out, and handed a P45. But instead of walking away, I thought: maybe it's time for a fresh perspective. So I started The Koi Perspective—because if you're going to be skint and covered in pond water, you might as well have your own digital magazine.
How Koi Keeping helped me.
I should probably be honest here—my journey into koi wasn’t just about fish. It really began when I lost my mum. Grief has a strange way of showing up, and for me, it turned up in the shape of a pond and a bunch of brightly coloured fish.
What started as a distraction quickly became something deeper. There was something calming—almost meditative—about watching them swim. No noise, no pressure, just a moment to breathe when everything else felt heavy. Koi gave me a place to escape, but also something to care for, to focus on. That simple act of feeding the fish and checking the water became my way of coping.
It’s funny how something so niche and a bit daft-sounding to outsiders can become such a lifeline. But if you know, you know.
This magazine was never meant to be a sales catalogue in disguise, or some echo chamber for the same five voices. Or my holy bible of Koi, this magazine is open to any contributors.
The goal’s always been simple: to make something that feels real, honest, and actually helpful—whether you’ve got a £50 koi or a Grand Champion in the making.
I want The Koi Perspective to be the kind of thing I wish I’d had when I was starting out. Less waffle, more straight-talking. Less gatekeeping, more storytelling. I’m not here to tell you what filter to buy—I’d rather show you what’s working for real people, in real ponds, and let you make your own mind up.
It’s about sharing the good, the bad, and the downright weird side of koi keeping. And hopefully having a laugh along the way.
How can The Koi Perspective be a power for good?
Alright, this might sound odd in a koi magazine, but I’m a massive fan of the Walt Disney Company. I know, I know—talking about Mickey Mouse in a world of koi might seem a bit left-field. But hear me out…
When you go to Walt Disney World, you’ve got everything you need in one place. Food, entertainment, hotels, even a guy dressed as a giant dog. You never need to leave the property. That’s kind of what I’m aiming for with The Koi Perspective—just with less mouse and more mucus.
You’ve got your monthly magazine. Now there’s a weekly podcast. We’re even working on a new annual event to add to the koi calendar. The dream? A proper koi hub. Somewhere that feels like home for hobbyists, whether you're just getting started or knee-deep in a filter bay.
What’s next? No idea. But if Disney can build a castle in a swamp, who knows what we can do with a bit of pond liner and some big ideas.
My Plan for change
Let’s be honest—the koi world can be a bit stuck in its ways. Same voices, same advice, same arguments on Facebook. The Koi Perspective was started because I thought, “There has to be a better way to do this.”
And it turns out… there is. You just need a community that actually wants change.
So if you’ve ever felt a bit lost, fed up with the noise, or just want to talk about fish without being told you’re doing it wrong—welcome. The magazine is free, the podcast is honest, and the door’s wide open.
I’m not trying to be the next big thing. But if we work together, maybe we can build something better—more helpful, more honest, and actually fun.
Join us. Help shape it. Let’s change koi for the better.
Join the “fastest Growing Koi Community”
Honestly, what the heck are you doing here reading about me? I’m way less interesting than everything else you’ll find in the magazine. So go on—dive into the articles, listen to the podcast, and enjoy the koi chaos.
