| Koi Varieties |
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 Ginrin Chagoi & Soragoi
Below is a more detailed look at a few of the most popular varieties. The following text from Mr Ogata describes each Koi and is translated from Japanese to English Kohaku (Koi with red markings on white ground) 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 abtruse. There are various tones of "red" colour - red with pinkish tone, red with orange tone, 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. Now let us inspect five top Kohaku in Japan, each with its own distinctive quality.
 A Selection of Different Varieties from the Ogata Koi Farm Kohaku A. has a three-stepped pattern of very unique design massive first step and well-balanced second and third, with an ideally detached skirt. The white ground from the neck to shoulder is the highlight scene. The quality of red colour is cheerful. It will sure to leave its mark on history. Kohaku B. has textbookish pattern. Ideal patterns of cheerful red colour contrast with milky white skin. The whole body carries an air of indescribable elegance. It is a male having a well-rounded figure like a female. It is the product of raising techniquies of the highest level. Kohaku C. has numerous marking of excellent red patterns. The highly homogeneous thick red color, with scale-wide sharp Kiwa, shows a sense of high degree stability, and will not get out of shape by any method of raising. With a sturdy build, this Koi has an excellent future. Kohaku D. has an orthodox three-stepped pattern of a well-balanced arrangement. The quality of red color is fairly good. If I must find a fault, it would be the markings that are too well-shaped to show interestings variations. Kohaku E. has several characteristics. To begin with, its white ground is out-standing - dazzling white having a soft shade like a fresh-unshelled hard-boiled egg. The red color gives an impression of ruby-like transparency, with razor-sharp Kiwa - like a patchwork of colored paper. The foregoing are brief comments on five Kohaku. With their own distinctive quality, they all are unique masterpiecies and no class line can be set between them. Taisho Sanshoku (Taisho Sanshoku are Kohaku added with Sumi (black marking). Taisho Sanshoku have a more varied patterns than Kohaku due to the highly variable Sumi. Inspection of Taisho Sanshoku can, therfore, begin with observation of red patterns. And observation of red patterns may be done as explained under "Kohaku." Sumi have different quality according to Koi's ancestry. Taisho Sanshoku of the Sadazo lineage appear to have more Sumi of round shape with deep insertion of patterns. The hidden black markings appering on the bluish skin will become glossy, fine Sumi. Taisho Sanshoku of the Torazo lineage have angular, solid Sumi with few variations. Taisho Sanshoku of 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. Taisho Sanshoku A. is very refined. It has red markings of soft, mild shade on milky white ground. There is a good Sumi in the white spot on the back. This Sanshoku has Sumi of relatively few variations. You may wish there were a Sumi on the left shoulder. However a Sumi in such a place would reduce the Koi's noble apperance by half. This Koi has gained much of its noble look, a wonderful appeal. precisely by the absence of Sumi on the shoulder. Taisho Sanshoku B. is brilliant. The Sumi have diamonded the accomplished red marking which begins at the mouth (red-rimmed mouth). Moreover, clear-cut skirt gives the impression of neatness. The Sumi of this Koi, unlike those of "Koi A", are full of sharp variations. These Sumi will become intensified gradually and get cracked in the end, Therefore, they cannot be ranked amoung the first-class Sumi. Taisho Sanshoku C. Sumi is not located on the red markings. They are mostly on the white ground. This kind of Taisho Sanshoku are dubbed "flower-garden Sanshoku." The red color has a bright, vivid tone. The Sumi are un-finished, still with some embedded blue skin. When finished, the Sumi will appear very glossy like Japanese lacqer. The Sumi making an inroad into the white ground on the shoulder is showing a glimpse of such tendency. This Taisho Sanshoku has a very promising future. Showa Sanshoku (Black ground with red markings on white pattern) Whereas Kohaku and Taisho Sanshoku have a red and/or black markings on the white ground, Showa Sanshoku have red markings on white patterns formed on black ground. We have discerned such different arrangement by observing the process 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 ground, 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 Sanshoku seem to be all connected below the surface. Consequently, Showa Sanshoku appear quite magnificent. Showa Sanshoku A. The Sumi begin with the mouth, connect the Menware (crown region) and the base of the pectoral fins (motoguro, meaning black base), become Ichimatsu-moyo (checkered pattern) from the shoulder down, and end with a Sumi. It is a veritable standard Showa Sanshoku. Besides, pebble (fragmental) Sumi are nowhere to be found in the red markings or white ground of the Showa Sanshoku. The white ground on the shoulders is very spectacular. Lately, Showa Sanshoku maust have this kind of white ground to find much approval from Koi fanciers. Showa Sanshoku B. Could be mistaken for a Taisho Sanshoku because of abundat white ground. However, it does have the fundamentals of Showa, such as Sumi on the nose, pectoral fins with black base, and Sumi extending up from the ventral region, etc. Showa Sanshoku of this type is labeled "modern Showa." Characteristically, red and black marking of this Koi don't overlap each other. The red markings are of small sizes but with vivid tone, and are well-ballanced on the white ground. This is one of the very rare, excellent mordern Showa. Utsurimono (Black ground with white, red or yellow markings) 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 intercalating markings into "Shiro Utsuri (contrasted by white markings)", "Ki Utsuri (contrasted by yellow markings)" and "Hi Utsuri (contrasted by red 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 a 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. Shiro Utsuri A. has an ideal pattern of conventional Sumi, with black nose connecting to "Menware." It looks very refined with distinct Motoguro on both sides. The white markings are first class as well. Sumi is also of good quality with luster. The Sumi in the head region seems to show a sign of gradual expansion in time ahead. Shiro Utsuri B. is very refined, too. White markings are especially splendid. As delicate contrast between white and black is essential in Shiro Utsuri, white markings must be vividly bright in order to make Sumi look more attractive. In this respect, the white markings of this Koi are setting the Sumi to great advantage. It is a very rare, superb Koi. We hope you have enjoyed learning more about these fantastic Koi.
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