Koi Varieties

Asagi
Asagi are characterized by 1) a blue or indigo body, and 2) red at the base of the pectoral fins. The red at the base of the pectoral fins is called Motoaka. Motoaka is an important factor in the beauty of both the Asagi and Shusui, as the both come from the same bloodlines.

Ogon
Since Mr. Sawata Aoki produced the first Ogon in 1947, a number of breeders have produced various Hikarimono based on the Ogon. Ogon, meaning Gold, belongs to the Hikari Muji group. Ogon is a solid color metallic koi, from silver to gold and shines beautifully in a pond.

Kikokuryu
This variety was created by breeding Komonryu and Platinum koi. Kikokuryu is essentially a metallic Kumonryu, a koi with shiny Platinum skin and fins with deep Sumi colors throughout. The lustrous shine of this koi is important and more fascinating than the Kumonryu.

Goshiki
Goshiki was created in 1918 by breeding Asagi with Kohaku koi. translation of Goshiki is "five colors" and this koi truly shows a rainbow of colors. The black, blue, and grey colors appear in a reticulation, or a netted pattern, across the white and red and Kohaku like body. Unlike the Kohaku, you will find a very bright and bold Hi plate on this koi.

Tancho
Tancho are gorgeous snowy white koi with a large Hi marking on their heads. The position of the Hi marking is very important and should be well proportioned on just the head. The round Hi needs to cover as much area as possibly between its eye and nose. But without covering the eye or the nose.

Platinum
Platinum are solid color koi belonging to the Hikari Muji group. Its head should have a strong metallic shine and the pectoral fins and the entire body should shine dazzlingly. Platinum koi were produced out of Nezu Ogon (a very old variety of grey metallic koi) and Kigoi played in important part in making the other Hikarimoyo.

Doitsu
Doitsu are German carp that are scale-less. Depending on the type of Doitsu, there may be scales along the lateral and dorsal lines of the koi or no scales at all.

Kohaku
It has been said that koi keeping begins and ends with Kohaku. In any variety that contains red patterns, it's evaluated on an examination of its Kohaku pattern.

Shusui
Shusui was the first Doitsu variety of koi and are one of the only two blue koi! They are a Doitsu (scale-less) version of Asagi. Shusui was first bred in the early 1900's by Yoshigoro Akiyama mixing the Doitsugio, a German scale fish, and the Asagi.

Showa
Showa are one of the Gosanke or "Big 3" koi fish along with Taisho Sanke and Kohaku koi. Showa are beautiful koi, with colors of white, red, and black painted across their bodies the same way that a Japanese brush drawing suggests artistic interpretation without every stroke being complete.

Taisho Sanke
Taisho Sanshoku, also called Taisho Sanke and Sanke, were developed from Kohaku about 80 years ago in 1918 in the era of Taisho. One day, while breeding Kohaku, a koi suddenly appeared with scattered and dirty Sumi over its body.

Utsurimono
Utsurimono have a very fitting name as the base of their body is Sumi, or "black" and it means "reflection". There are three beautiful varieties of Utsurimono including of Hi (red), Shiro (white) or Ki (yellow).

Bekko
Bekko comes from the breeding of Taisho Sanke. Although Taisho Sanke and Bekko are categorized as different varieties at koi shows, they are actually brothers and sisters.

Hirenaga
Hirenaga koi are the butterflies of the water, and are known for their graceful, flowing fins. The long fins and tail of the Hirenaga should be solid without tears and ideally should be symmetrical.

Ginrin
Ginrin indicates the group of koi varieties that have diamond scales on the entire bodies. These scales are different from metallic and Platinum koi.

Kawarimono
Kawarimono are nonmetallic koi that do not fit in to a class of fish like the others do. This broad variety of koi are all extremely unique and special, and each unlike any other.