The Kohaku is the most popular variety of Nishikigoi. So much so that there is an expression, "Koi avocation begins and ends with Kohaku." It is also the most abstruse. There are various tones of "red" color - red with thick crimson, light red, highly homogeneous red, blurred red, and so on. And there are all sorts of "Kiwa (the edge of the pattern)" -scale-wide Kiwa, razor-sharp Kiwa, and Kiwa resembling the edge of a torn blanket, etc. Shades of white ground (skin) are quite diversified too -- skin with soft shade of fresh-unshelled, hardboiled egg, skin with hard shade of porcelain, yellowish skin, and so forth.

Taisho Sanshoku are Kohaku added with Sumi (black markings). Taisho Sanshoku have more varied patterns than Kohaku due to the highly variable Sumi. Inspection of Taisho Sanshoku can, therefore, begin with observation of red patterns. And observation of red pattern may be done as explained under "Kohaku."

Sumi have different quality according to koi's ancestry. Taisho Sanshoku of the Sadozo linage appear to have more Sumi of round shape with deep insertion of patterns. The hidden black markings appearing on the bluish skin will become glossy, fine Sumi. Taisho Sanshoku of the Jinbei lineage have massive Sumi of good quality. However, this Sumi may get cracked or break into pieces (pebble Sumi) when the Koi get older.

Whereas Kohaku and Taisho Sanshoku have red and/ or black markings on the white ground, Showa Sanshoku have red markings on white patterns formed on the black background. We have discerned such different arrangement by observing the processes of fry development. Kohaku and Taisho Sanshoku are almost completely white when freshly hatched. Young fry of Showa varieties (including Showa Sanshoku, Shiro Utsuri and Hi Utsuri, etc.), on the other hand, are almost completely black when just emerged from eggs. As days go by, white patterns become visible against the black background, and red markings will soon appear on the white patterns. We should, therefore, say that Showa Sanshoku have black texture.

The Sumi of Showa Sanshoku are very different from that of Taisho Sanshoku. While the latter look more like western oil-paintings, the former carry the tone of oriental black-and-white paintings (with ink). In other words, the Sumi of Showa Sankshoku seem to be all connected below the surface. Consequently, Showa Sanshoku appear quite magnificent.

Asagi are fairly classical from a genealogical point of view, and constitute a very tasteful variety. They usually have blue on the entire back and Hi on the belly, pectoral fins and gill covers. The scales on the back have whitish base and thus collectively give an appearance of meshes of a net. The important viewing points are conspicuously vivid appearance of the meshes and light blue, spotless head region. However, as they age, black spots often appear in the head region and Hi on the belly tend to climb up reaching as far as the back.

Shusui have been crossbred between Doitsu Koi and Asagi, and their points for appreciation, therefore, are basically the same as those for Asagi. Shusui also have the tendency to show black spots in the head region as they grow big. Koi with spotless head region are valued highly, of course. The arrangement of scales is also important. It is desirable that scales are visible only the back and the regions of lateral lines -- no undesirable scales in any other place. Hi on the belly covering over the lateral lines are showy.

The name "Goshiki" translates as "five colors."  Though sometimes difficult to distinguish, this Koi's pattern is composed of black, white, red, blue, and metallic gray. The appearance is best described as a red Kohaku pattern with the reticulated netting that appears on the Asagi variety.

Koi with a red head patch are called "Tancho." Most common are "Tancho Kohaku (all-white Koi with Tancho)," "Tancho Sanshoku (white Koi with Sumi similar to Shiro Bekko, and with Tancho)," and "Tancho Showa (Showa Sanshoku without red markings except for Tancho)," etc. However, "Tancho Goshiki (Koi of five colors with Tancho)," and "Tancho Hariwake" are rare.

Tancho do not form a single, independent kind of Nishikigoi; they all can be bred from Kohaku, Taisho Sankshoku or Showa Sanshoku. Their red patch happen to show up only in the head region. Tancho, therefore, can not be produced in bulk even if you so wish.

The essential point for appreciation is the red patch in the head region, of course. The red head patch sitting right at the center of the head region is the best. The white skin is also important as it is the milky white color that sets the red head patch off to advantage. The Sumi of Tancho Sanshoku and Tancho Showa are the same as Bekko and Shiro Utsuri respectively.

Bekko are produced in the process of breeding Taisho Sanshoku. They, therefore, have the same Sumi as Taisho Sanshoku, which as a rule should not appear in the head region.

Bekko are grouped by the color of skin into Shiro (white) Bekko, a.k.a. (red) Bekko and Ki (yellow) Bekko,. Nowadays we seldom come across Ki Bekko, and a.k.a. Bekko don't seem to win upper prizes at unless they have considerably high quality red and well balanced Sumi. Accordingly, we can reasonably assume the term "Bekko" is usually used to mean Shiro Bekko.

Both Shiro Bekko and Shiro Utsuri have black and white markings only, and the white ground must be milky white so as to bring Sumi out into prominence. The white ground in the head region is especially liable to amber discoloration. Koi with jet-black markings on the milky white skin which covers the whole body look indescribably refined.

The Kojaku is a metallic or Ogon Koi with the reticulated net-like pattern of the Asagi on its back. This is overlaid with either a gold, yellow, orange or red Kohaku-type pattern creating a striking effect.
Created by crossing a Goshiki with a Hikarimuji, its full name is Kojaku Ogon, or in English, "Peacock". The development of high quality Kojaku has led to their being judged in a category of their own at recent Koi shows.

They have a distinct metallic shine to their scales.  The usual colors are platinum, white or gold. . The Ogon are a solid, single color.

10. CHAGOI

this is a brownish-buff non metallic Koi.

 

 

 

 

 

Grayish-blue Koi with definite net pattern or doitsu skin or shines like gun metal if it is a Gin Rin.

Metallic Koi that have more than one colour but aren't showa or utsuri.Yamatonishiki is basically a metallic sanke.

Utsurimono are derived from the same lineage as Showa Sanshoku which I mentioned before. They too have black skin, and are divided according to the color of interlacing markings into "Shiro Utsuri (contrasted by white markings)," "Hi Utsuri (contrasted by red markings)" and "Ki Utsuri (contrasted by yellow markings)."

Like in Showa Sanshoku, Sumi of Shiro Utsuri should essentially covers the nose, side faces ('Menware' for diverging head pattern) and pectoral fin joints ('Motoguro' for black base).
Hi Utsuri and Ki Utsuri have red and yellow markings respectively in place of white ones on Shiro Utsuri. The body of Hi Utsuri and Ki Utsuri has the same Sumi as Shiro Utsuri, but their pectoral fins do not show Motoguro, but are striped instead. Formerly Utsurimono were produced mostly as by-products of Showa Sanshoku breeding. Recently, however, very high quality Utsurimono have been bred with excellent Shiro Utsuri on one or both sides of parentage. Hi Utsuri continue to be born as the by-products of Showa Sanshoku breeding. However, we have seen very little of Ki Utsuri lately.

Hariwake are platinum with ornage or yellow markings.  They can normally be scaled, doitsu, matsuba or doitsu matsuba.

The variety name, "Ochiba Shigure," literally means "fallen leaves in autumn shower" in Japanese. "Gin Rin" refers to the metallic, or "diamond", scales. This is a very beautiful fish.

The name Kumonryu is derived from a legend that tells of a dragon (Ryu) transforming into a cloud and racing through the sky.  The Kumonryu is said to have been developed by breeding a Shusui with a Matsukawa Bakke.