Salt Lake Koi Club Know Your Koi

KNOW YOUR KOI! with Rex Hori

In an on-going series, Salt Lake Koi Club resident Koi expert (and all

around nice guy), Rex Hori, will introduce us to many different varieties

of our finned friends. If you're used to referring to your koi as, "The

orange and white one!" or "That one with the black spots!" this series

is for you. As hobbyists, we can learn a great deal about our pond pets from Rex.

Koi Varieties

It is unreasonable to assume that the average hobbyist will be so lucky as to acquire the “perfect” examples of the varieties described on the following pages when selecting koi to beautify their ponds. Even if we were lucky enough to find such perfect examples, most of us would not have the funds to purchase them!

The Salt Lake Koi Club has decided to do something a little different with this section of our website. It is our intent, (wherever possible), to feature the koi from our own hobbyists ponds. We believe that picturing our own koi more closely represents the quality and size of koi that can be found in the open market rather than picturing champion koi from large koi shows. This is not to say, by no means, that the koi pictured do not have show potential. Most of us have young koi in our ponds that are still in the development stages, and we do tend to overcrowd the ponds we have, so picturing a jumbo female koi measuring over 30” just doesn’t seem to represent the koi we seek or, in many cases, should be seeking for our own already overcrowded ponds. I will attempt to describe, as part of each featured variety, what to look for in a smaller or less developed koi to the best of my limited knowledge.

Please send us your koi photos, you never know, it may be chosen to represent the next variety! Have you had visitors to your pond that have asked what variety any particular koi in your pond was and you were just not sure? Send us your photos and we will do our best to identify their variety for you. You may have something very unique in your pond!

The following descriptions are given only as an outline that may be helpful when choosing quality koi for our ponds.

My advice to fellow hobbyists would be to buy what you like and be happy with the choices you make regardless of what the standard for any particular variety dictates.

Happy koi hunting!

Rex Hori

Our series starts...at the beginning....

Kohaku:

The Japanese say that Koi keeping starts with Kohaku and ends with Kohaku and it is easy to see why.

The Kohaku is a two colored Koi which includes white (Shiroji) and red (Hi) with the base color being white and the red coloring arranged in a pattern, preferably centered on the top of the body with Maki or "wrap" down the sides. The whitest Shiroji and the reddest Hi are also preferred. Fins should be thick and preferably all white in color. There are many pattern arrangements described by the type of red pattern they possess. Here are just a few:

* Omoyo (1 step pattern)

* Inazuma (1 step pattern arranged to resemble a lightning strike)

* Tancho (single roundish pattern arranged on the top of the head with no other red)

* Ni Dan (2 step pattern)

* San Dan (3 step pattern)

* Yon Dan (4 step pattern)

* Go Dan (5 step pattern)

* Sakura (fragmented pattern that resembles cherry blossoms)

* Kanoko (fragmented pattern as a result of the each individual scale having both red and white present)

* Kuchibeni or "lipstick" coloring on the lips can be seen in all the above mentioned varieties except Tancho.

Kohaku influence is present in many incredible varieties that grace our ponds today (many of which we will highlight in the future).

FYI: The Kohaku pictured is from my own pond. She is a 20" female classified as San Dan, note the 3 stepped pattern, which includes Kuchibeni or "lipstick" pattern arranged on the upper lip. She is very outgoing with a big appetite and she is very loved by our family.

Taisho Sanke

The Taisho Sanke a.k.a. Taisho Sanshoku (Sanshoku meaning three colors) is most commonly known simply as “Sanke”. The Sanke was developed nearly a century ago during the Taisho era in Japan. The Sanke is part of the elite group of Gosanke (the big three). The Gosanke group is made up of the Kohaku, Taisho Sanke & Showa Sanshoku. Any varieties listed above from the Gosanke group are almost always the “varieties to beat” at any koi show because they command so much respect. The Japanese breed Gosanke with a very critical eye and only a small percentage (perhaps a few thousand) of the millions of fry reared are considered to be worthy of carrying the breeders’ name. The rest are culled. Japanese breeders are very proud of the koi they produce and as a result, only the best quality Gosanke are offered for sale on the open market. Hopefully, this will provide some comfort when selecting “Japanese” bred Sanke. This may also explain why the demand is often higher than the supply of quality Japanese Gosanke.

Because the Sanke was derived from the Kohaku (see previous variety for description), the standards for shiroji (white background) and hi (red pattern) apply just as they do for the Kohaku. The sumi (black) pattern should be lacquer black. The sumi on a Sanke will ideally be arranged as small patches distributed as evenly as possible from the shoulder to the Odome (white section just before the tail starts) and be located at the “fringes” of the hi pattern.

That being said, when selecting “young” Sanke, once confirmation and quality have been determined to be acceptable, one should first consider the Kohaku pattern. In fact, it is not un-common for very immature Sanke to be mistaken for Kohaku during the process of selecting tosai because sumi is usually slower to develop in young koi, especially female koi, because female koi are typically slower to mature or “finish” than their male counterparts. Kris shared a helpful hint when distinguishing very young Sanke from very young Kohaku “When selecting young Kohaku, look for the rim, or colored part of the eye, to be white or silver in color. When selecting Sanke, one would look for a bluish or black eye rim”. Thanks Kris.

The fins should be thick and ideally white in color although solid white fins are not as critical in Sanke as they are in Kohaku. In fact, rays or streaks of black in the pectoral fins can be quite desirable as long as they do not “disturb” the pattern of the koi. It is not uncommon for hi (red) to be present on the pectoral fins although it is not usually desired unless it is located at the base of the pectoral fins where it is less noticeable when the koi is being viewed from the top.

The photo shown is of a very fine example of a young male Sanke from Kris’ pond. Please note the “broken” yet balanced hi pattern evenly distributed from the head to the Odome with alternating sumi pattern to match! I have admired this little guy since the first time I saw him and I always make it a point to note his progress whenever I visit. As you can see, at about 14 to 15 inches this kid has great potential! Most of you who have had the pleasure of seeing Kris’ collection know that Kris has a great eye for quality and it is evident based on the quality of her koi. I am sure that Kris is very proud to have him.

Rex Hori

Showa Sanshoku

The Showa Sanshoku a.k.a. “Showa” was developed during the Showa era in Japan 1926-1989 (hence the name), Sanshoku, again means “three colors”. The Showa is said to be the favorite variety among hobbyists and my wife and I agree that it is one of our favorite varieties. The Showa is also the third variety I have described as being part of the Gosanke group (the big three).

The Showa is best described as possessing a Kohaku pattern with an Utsuri (reflection) pattern overlaying the Kohaku pattern. The Utsuri pattern should have Maki (wrap pattern that extends below the lateral line). The Kohaku pattern is an important aspect of a good quality Showa although not quite as critical as it is for the Sanke variety because the thick sumi (black) or Utsuri pattern of the Showa often covers and or “breaks up” a somewhat “less than perfect” Kohaku pattern. In fact, I find, that a highly desirable Kohaku pattern is somewhat harder to find in the Showa variety than it is in the Sanke variety. I assume this may be due to the expectation that the sumi pattern will detract from a lesser Kohaku pattern once the pattern has fully developed or “finished” (but that is just an assumption on my part and I cannot back that up with any factual information). The sumi of the head and shoulder area of the koi are critical points of interest when Showa are being judged, so special attention should be paid to those areas as you judge the potential quality of your developing koi. The sumi pattern of the head will ideally create a Menware (head dividing) affect. Preferably, the head should have all three colors represented in as equal amounts as possible. The sumi pattern located at the shoulder of the koi is known as Hachiware and is equally critical for the presence of sumi. Sumi in the pectoral fins of a Showa is also critical and, unlike Sanke, is desired almost to the extent of being a requirement. Preferably, the sumi of the pectoral fins will be as evenly matched on both pectoral fins as possible and will be arranged as Motoguro (pectoral fins that possess a black base with a white border extending to the tips of the fins). Fins should be thick and equal in size and shape.

The overall impression a good Showa makes when it is swimming with a group of koi is nothing less than awesome in my opinion. They just seem to catch your eye when they possess good quality coloration and pattern and they seem to complete your collection. I, for one, will never be without a Showa as part of my own personal collection.

When selecting young Showa, once confirmation and quality have been deemed acceptable of course, one should first consider the Kohaku pattern. As with the Sanke, the sumi pattern is slower to develop than the hi (red) pattern and should not be your first consideration when selecting young Showa. Due to the fact that the sumi pattern is likely to “thicken” as the koi develops, a heavy sumi pattern on a young koi may overwhelm an otherwise well balanced pattern of red, white and black leaving a mature koi darker than desirable. Because your dealers’ selection of young Showa will likely possess an “immature” sumi pattern, one should study the inside of the mouth of the koi looking for darker pigmentation. Darker pigmentation present inside of the mouth suggests a dominantly white koi with a red pattern will develop into the Showa you seek once the sumi finishes. The pectoral fins should have some signs of developing sumi. Make sure the sumi is developing evenly on both sides. Often the pectoral fins are a solid black. Solid black pectoral fins usually accompanies a heavy sumi pattern and caution should used when selecting them for the reasons stated above, although solid black pectoral fins have been known to sometimes recede leaving the desired Motoguro pattern. Equally as often, it seems, the group of young koi you are evaluating will have solid white pectoral fins. I tend to “shy away” from any Showa that has solid white fins because I fear that sumi will never develop in the pectorals. However, this is not always true and one way to anticipate that your Showa will develop sumi in the pectorals is to look for developing sumi below the lateral line in the area where the pectoral meets the belly.

Utsuri mono

The Utsuri mono a.k.a. “Utsuri” is as a koi that possesses a solid base color of shiro (white), hi (red) or ki (yellow) with an Utsuri pattern overlaying any one of the colors mentioned. Utsuri means “reflection”, and can be described as random thick bands of sumi (black) drawn in an almost calligraphic pattern over the body from the mouth to the odome (base of the tail). The pattern should also include maki (pattern wrap) that extends below the lateral line.

Another way to describe the Utsuri is to imagine a Showa with the absence of red. You will notice many similarities in the way I describe them both. In fact, young fish that start out as Showa have been known to loose their red coloration altogether and develop into the Shiro Utsuri variety (I know this from experience). As with Showa, the sumi pattern on the head and shoulder area are critical areas when judging the quality of the pattern.

The sumi pattern of the head should ideally create a menware (head dividing) effect that extends to the mouth of the koi. The base color of the head should match the base color of the body when the koi is fully developed. The sumi pattern located at the shoulder area of the koi is known as “hachiware” and will ideally be arranged in a “V” shape where the head meets the shoulder and meander off to the rest of the body in somewhat even intervals. Again, like the Showa, sumi (black) will appear at the base of the pectoral fins. This is preferred in all varieties of Utsuri and the amount and shape should be as evenly matched as possible.

The shiro (white) variety of Utsuri is most commonly seen on the open market and is usually of higher quality than Hi or Ki Utsuri (see detailed descriptions below), and therefore, more likely to beat them in competition. The sharp contrast of lacquer black and bright clean white catches your eye and demands attention.

The hi (red) variety of Utsuri is easily the second most common variety and I believe it makes an equal impression with its deep red background. Hi Utsuri are sometimes mistaken for Hi Showa. Hi Utsuri are actually easily discernable because they have no white on their bodies when viewed from the top or sides or anywhere on the fins. Some hobbyists actually prefer Hi Showa over Hi Utsuri because Hi Showa tend to hold their sumi pattern whereas the sumi pattern of the Hi Utsuri sometimes fragments and “freckles” over time (again, I know this from experience, see example pictured below).

Last, and certainly least in terms of availability is the ki (yellow) variety of Utsuri. The striking contrast of black on a yellow ground is really something to behold! They remind me of bumble bees. Because of the low production, Ki Utsuri are hard to come by but are certainly worth the effort of seeking out (we truly cherish the one we were fortunate enough to find, pictured below).

When selecting young Utsuri, one should first consider the base color and the quality of that base color. The base color of the head should match the base color of the body. The only exception to this would be in the shiro (white) variety, whereas the head color in some very young Shiro Utsuri will be slightly transparent, leaving a “pinkish” or “yellowish” hue that should become homogeneous with the body as the koi develops. Avoid fragmented or “freckled” patterns because they tend to worsen rather than improve over time. On a side note…….”Do not confuse a fragmented pattern with a kage (shaded) pattern”. I personally find a kage pattern very attractive in some individual koi of the Showa and Utsuri varieties. As with many koi varieties that include sumi (black) in their patterns, avoid a heavy sumi pattern that may overdevelop over time leaving your koi dominantly black (a perfect example of developing sumi is pictured below). Kris brought up a good rule of thumb…… “If the young koi you are evaluating have just enough sumi, they probably will develop too much sumi at maturity”. Look for signs of developing sumi in the pectoral fins because a black base on the pectoral fins is desirable point of interest. Pectoral fins should be thick and evenly matched in size and shape.

Pictured is a young, high quality, 19” female Shiro Utsuri from Kris’ pond. Note the quality of the white base color in contrast with the alternating lacquer black sumi pattern.

Pictured is a young koi from Kimberly and Shawn’s pond. This koi has been chosen as a dramatic, but realistic depiction of a koi that has developed a generous amount of sumi in a short period of time of about 6 months! It is hard to believe it is the same koi. Although it is not typical for a koi to develop this much sumi in this short time span, it is certainly not unheard of (especially in our hard water conditions that favor the development of sumi).

Pictured is a young Ki Utsuri from our own pond.

Pictured is a young Hi Utsuri from our own pond. Note how the pattern appears fragmented on the body of this koi (this occurred during its development as detailed above).

Koromo

(Coming Soon)

Goshiki

I chose the Goshiki to follow the Koromo variety because of the similarities in their lineage. Like the Koromo, the Goshiki originally derived by crossing Asagi and Kohaku varieties, the difference being that the dominant parent in this case was the Asagi. The result of this pairing was a koi with a blue reticulated netting pattern and a kohaku pattern overlaying said netting! Also, like the Koromo, the kohaku pattern will ideally start at the head and continue to the base of the tail. All fins will preferably match the base color and will not include any red coloration. The Japanese prefer a solid red pattern with no netting showing through it (I personally disagree provided that the netting pattern shows through evenly and has a neat, organized appearance). The word Goshiki means “5 colors” and, although hard to identify, the colors include black, red, white, blue and metallic silver.

Goshiki are now bred in two different styles…… The original style is known as “Kuro Goshiki” (kuro is another Japanese word for black) and they are identified as possessing a darker background than their modern counterparts.

The modern style is simply known as “New style Goshiki” (as far as I know), and I would describe them as possessing a base color somewhere between a Koromo and a Kuro Goshiki.

There are many color variations in the kohaku pattern depending on how dominant the red pattern is, so I will not try to describe them all. Let’s just say that on the color wheel the range would start with persimmon red and end in a deep dark purple.

When selecting young Goshiki, one should first consider the kohaku pattern because the quality and depth of this pattern is what will create the most impact when the koi matures.

The asagi pattern is much slower to mature and it often appears “brownish” on a young Kuro Goshiki, so once again you are encouraged to try to anticipate the background color when it finishes. Often what you will find is a yellowish cream base color with black/brown appearing on it. Look for this black/brown coloration on the head when evaluating Kuro Goshiki because this is a good indication that the background will develop and finish in black.

New style Goshiki, again like the Koromo, are often overlooked by hobbyist as a lesser quality Kohaku because their background color has a pail “grayish” hue that may be seen as poor quality shiroji (white background).

Fins should match the base color and should also be solid and thick. The pectoral fins should be of similar size and shape.

Pictured is a fine young Goshiki from Konnor’s pond. Note the dark coloration appearing in the head indicating that this is likely to be a Kuro Goshiki.

Pictured is a photo of a Budo Goshiki from our own pond. Note the dominant black netting pattern that serves as a backdrop for the purple pattern.

Pictured is a larger 24” male “new style Goshiki from our own pond. The pattern on this koi is fully matured. Note the lighter blue base color. This koi comes as close as I have seen to displaying all five colors the Goshiki is named for. Can you identify black, red, white, blue and metallic silver in this koi?