Koi Varieties

The many beautiful koi varieties we are enjoy today are the result of many generations of careful breeding by the koi farmers of Japan. While colored carp had been known for hundreds of years in China and Japan, widespread ownership in Japan in the 1800's provided the incentive for refinement of existing varieties or color pattern and development of new colors and patterns. Most of our present day varieties are descended from those early lines. The exceptions are metallic koi, which have an infusion of Ogon, a much later development. Ogons were first shown in 1946 after being refined from wild carp which had shown a high percentage of metallic scales.

The Japanese recognize thirteen basic varieties with several forms and patterns in each of these varieties.

Kohaku
A white base, or ground, with a red pattern. The red is called Hi.

Taisho Sanke (usually called Sanke in the U.S.)
White koi with a red pattern overlaid with a black pattern. The black is called Sumi.

Showa Sanshoku (or just Showa)
Black koi with red and white patterns.

Utsuri mono
Black koi with white,red, or gold pattern.

Bekko
White base with black, yellow, or red pattern overlaid.

Asagi and Shusui
Asagi are blue reticulated upper with orange or red along the lower side the length of the body. Shusui are a scaleless version descended from Asagi.

Koromo
A combination of Kohaku and Asagi. A bluish reticulated pattern over a Kohaku pattern.

Kawarimono
A grouping of koi which do not readily fit into any other group, such as black koi, or Karasugoi.

Hikarimono (Ogon)
Single color metallic koi. May have matsuba or pinecone pattern overlaid.

Hikarimoyo-mono
Metallic koi with two color patterns.

Hikari Utsuri
Metallic utsuri koi.

Kinginrin
Brightly glittering scales. Not the same as metallic.

Tancho
Koi of the first three types on which the only red is a spot on the head.

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