Koi Varieties

Asagi

Asagi are believed to have been around since the 1700s, however breeding them to improve the Asagi ornamental line did not occur until 1868, making them one of the oldest and most common varieties of Koi available on the market.  Asagi are recognised for their deep blue netted pattern on their backs.  This is then complimented by a display of red or orange on the belly, body, gill plates and head.  High quality Asagi will not display any red or colour above the lateral line, used as a distinctive divide between the blue netting on the back and the red colouration of the body. Available in Gin Rin and Hi Asagi variation.

Bekko

The first noticeable Bekko was accidentally bred in the mid-1800s when the Japanese were breeding Sanke (a Bekko is essentially a Sanke without the red markings). Whilst similar in colour to Shiro Utsuri, Bekko koi have a white base with isolated black (Sumi) markings on the body. With their blemish-free snowy white heads and pectoral fins, Bekko are renowned for their simple patterning, and are also available with Doitsu and Gin Rin scale variations.

Benigoi

Benigoi or Higoi are Koi that are solid red or orange coloured fish.  Their fins can be either completely red/orange or tipped with white. Those with white tipped fins are also referred to as Aka Hajiro.  Another commonly used name for Benigoi is Aka Muji.  This variety is from Kohaku lineage and is mostly produced in Kohaku spawnings..

Chagoi

Chagoi are a very old variety of koi, recognised by their distinctly defined network of scales and uniform colouring, usually in earthen tones such as brown, copper, orange and green. This species can also be found in gin-rin varieties, meaning the scales appear metallic. Chagoi koi carp are known for their big personality and voraciousness at feeding time. Due to this fervour to eat, Chagoi are one of the most easily tamed and easy to train to hand-feed and are often sought after to tame the rest of a group of koi. In addition, Chagoi also have the potential to attain jumbo size, that is over 30 inches while meeting all the above criteria isn't that easily found. Due to its simplicity in its pattern, chagoi must make up in size to convey an imposing regal impression.

Goshiki

Goshiki (meaning five colours)   are one of the most prized variations of koi. Their solid white bodies contrast with their inky blue and black edging, which combined with their red and blue overlay patterns make Goshiki koi an attractive addition to your pond. Goshiki are available in Gin Rin and Tancho varieties.

Goshiki are said to have been crossbred between Asagi and Sanke -- not yet an established theory, however. They also form a very tasteful variety of Nishikigoi. Goshiki used to be included in the Kawarimono group. However, with recent production of fairly excellent Goshiki, they are now being treated as an independent variety at Nishikigoi shows.

Hajiro

Hajiro koi are an ideal choice for hobbyists looking for a new addition to their pond to offset the red, yellows and metallic colours of their current fish. Their deep, glossy black bodies are flecked with white on the tips of the pectoral and tail fins.

The Karasu, meaning crow in Japanese, is a very old variety with black fins, a black body and a white or orange belly. The very similar Hajiro is a black Koi with a white nose and white-tipped pectoral fins, which makes it more visible in the water. The Hageshiro adds a white head to this colour combination, while the Yotsujiro's fins are completely white. All four Koi should display deep and even sumi, darker that of the Magoi.

Hariwake

Bred from a Kohaku and Purachina, the Hariwake were first seen in the late 1940s. they can be seen with either a beni (orange-red) or ki (yellow) patterning. Over the years they have become popular in the UK, more specifically the ‘lemon’ Hariwake which has a muted yellow pattern.  As the variety was developed, the pattern came in all shades between yellow and red, but Koi with good red patterns became a separate variety called Kikusui which is basically a metallic Kohaku.

Hi Utsuri

One of the most popular of the Utsurimono koi, Hi Utsuri are instantly recognisable with their deep black base with a striking red overlay. Hi Utsuri combine the lacquer-black base colour with patterns of deep red or orange. Red Hi Utsuri are superior to orange. Many Hi Utsuri will display a dull orange pattern at a young age, which may develop into a brighter and more desirable red pattern as the koi grows and matures. Variations of Hi Utsuri include Gin Rin Hi Utsuri and Doitsu Hi Utsuri. 

Kikokuryu

Kikokuryu are said to be from Kumonryu and Purachina although I suspect a lot of ghost koi is in the mix in Israeli examples. They have an ever-changing Sumi pattern much like the Kumonryu with many external factors affecting their colour.

Kikusui

Kikusui are a scale-less version of a Hariwake.  Look for one with a nice Kohaku pattern that has nice sharp edges and very white skin.  A Kikusui's pattern is judged the same way as a Kohaku's is. Doitsu Platinum Koi with a Hi pattern, means "a Chrysanthemum in water", is the same as a Doitsu Hariwake with red markings or a metallic Doitsu Kohaku.

Kin Ki Utsuri

One of the most popular of the Utsurimono koi, KI Utsuri are instantly recognisable with their deep black base with a striking orange overlay. Available in Gin Rin and Doitsu varieties.

Kohaku

For many koi enthusiasts, Kohaku are the original and best variety of koi carp. The beautiful Kohaku has a white base and red pattern overlay, and can come in gin-rin, doitsu, or scaled versions. Kohaku koi can come with a number of variations; including Nidan (2 step), Sandan (3 step), Yondan (4 step), and Inazuma, where a striking zig-zag pattern occurs down the back of the koi fish. Kohaku are white Koi with red markings. Ideally the red markings should have a good depth of colour with a uniform shade, the edges of the red should be well defined. The white should be pure white and free from blemishes.

Goromo (Koromo)

Koromo, meaning "robed" in Japanese, describes a group of koi whose quiet elegance finds favour with connoisseurs, even though this breed of koi did not become available until the early 1950s. Koromo are crossbred fish; the first example resulted from a spawning between a male Kohaku and a female Narumi Asagi. The collective name "Koromo" covers several varieties, the best-known being Ai Goromo. Goromo are, in essence, a Kohaku with blue or black edging added to each red scale. There are three sub types of Goromo: Budo Goromo have a blue edging outside of the scales that creates a grape-like cluster effect; Ai Goromo have blue edging only on the inside of the red scales; Sumi Goromo have black edging on the scales that can make the patterns appear almost completely black. Variations of Goromo include Tancho Goromo and Maruten Goromo. Goromo of high quality are becoming very expensive in Japan now and many hobbyists are selecting the very best that Israel has to offer including fine examples of Sumi Goromo, Budo Goromo, and occasional Ai-Goromo.

Kujaku

Kujaku are koi with a solid white base, accented by a black net pattern along with patterns of red/orange/yellow. The net pattern is created by a black edging on each individual scale. Variations of Kujaku include Doitsu Kujaku, Tancho Kujaku and Maruten Kujaku.The Kujaku 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.

Kumonryu

Kumonryu are scaleless (doitsu) koi with patterns of grey or white combined with black. Probably the most intriguing variety of koi, Kumonryu will completely change their pattern many times throughout their life. They can go anywhere from solid white to solid black, or any conceivable combination in between. Beni Kumonryu are Kumonryu with the presence of a third colour, red. The Kumonryu is a Doitsu (German) koi that has a jet-black pattern that emerges like billowing black clouds against a white background. The black pattern is variable and unstable, disappearing with changes in the water temperature, reappearing sometimes as a completely different pattern.

Matsuba

Matsuba are koi that combine a solid, metallic coloured base with a black net pattern. The base colour of Matsuba can vary. Gin Matsuba have a white base colour, while Ki Matsuba have a yellow base colour, and Aka Matsuba have a red base. The sole variation of Matsuba is Doitsu Matsuba.

Ochiba

Ochiba Shigure, commonly referred to as Ochiba, combine the brown/bronze of Chagoi with the silver/grey of Soragoi. The name Ochiba Shigure translates as “autumn leaves falling on water”, a reference to the silver and bronze pattern. Variations of Ochiba include Gin Rin Ochiba and Doitsu Ochiba. This variety has become very popular in recent years.

Purachina

Platinum Ogon, also known as Purachina Ogon, are solid, metallic-white koi. A clear white head and unblemished white body are crucial to the quality of a Platinum Ogon. Variations of Platinum Ogon include Gin Rin Platinum Ogon and Doitsu Platinum Ogon. Purachina bodies shine with the same lustre as the precious metal. These first appeared in 1963, probably from out crossing Kigoi with the greyish-silver Nezu (short for the Japanese word for rat, nezumi) Ogon - which remains a variety in its own right.

Sanke

Taisho Sanke, or Sanke for short, are koi with a solid white base overlaid by patterns of both red and black. It is commonly said that a high quality Sanke pattern begins with a great Kohaku pattern, to which the black is a welcome complement. Variations of Sanke include Doitsu Sanke, Maruten Sanke, Tancho Sanke, and Gin Rin Sanke.​

It is named for the time in which it was developed, the Taisho period in Japanese history. The body appears primarily white, and the colours that sit on the white should be in a spotted formation rather than banded, and there should be no black on the face.

Shiro Utsuri

Shiro Utsuri are koi with a black base overlain by areas of white. A high quality Shiro Utsuri will combine clean white patterns with a deep, lacquer-like black. A split head of both black and white is also an important requirement for top quality specimen. Variations of Shiro Utsuri include Gin Rin Shiro Utsuri, Kin Shiro Utsuri and Doitsu Shiro Utsuri. The pattern of a good Utsuri should be roughly inverted across the fish's back, almost like a checkerboard. 

Showa

Showa Sanshoku, more commonly known as Showa, are koi that display white and red/orange patterns over top of a black base colour. Showa can be easily confused with Sanke. In Showa, the black patterns will wrap all the way around the body, instead of appearing only on the top half of the body. Also, Showa will have black patterns on the head, and Sanke will not. The red, white, and black should be balanced about the body evenly, with crisp, clean edges between each colour. Variations of Showa include Tancho Showa, Maruten Showa, Gin Rin Showa, Doitsu Showa and Kin Showa. 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. 

Shusui

Shusui are the scaleless (doitsu) version of Asagi. The blue net pattern is replaced by a single row of scales along the dorsal line at the top of the back. Like Asagi, the belly, gill plates, sides, and fins of Shusui display an orange or red pattern. Variations of Shusui include Gin Rin Shusui and Hi Shusui.  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. 

Sorogoi

Sorogoi, similar to Chagoi, are koi of a solid grey or silver colour, combined with a subtle net pattern. Also, like Chagoi, mature Sorogoi are very docile and will be among the first koi in your pond to learn to hand feed. Variations of Soragoi include Gin Rin Sorogoi and Doitsu Sorogoi.

Yamabuki

Yamabuki Ogon are koi of a solid, metallic-yellow colour. As with other Ogon koi, a clean, unblemished head and body are important. Variations of Yamabuki Ogon include Gin Rin Yamabuki Ogon and Doitsu Yamabuki Ogon. Once you see a truly high-quality Jumbo Yamabuki Ogon there is no going back but some great quality and value for money koi are now coming from Israel and if you can afford them Ogata still grows on for The King of Yamabuki at the Izumiya Koi Farm Japan. 'Hikari Mujimono', or simply 'Hikarimuji', is the term applied to a metallic koi of single colour. The term 'Hikari' translates to 'metallic.' Examples of hikarimuji koi are the platinum ogon or purachina, the yamabuki ogon (light yellow), and the orenji ogon (orange). The colour of a hikarimuji must be unblemished, uniform, dense, and shiny. Lustre of the skin is an important consideration for this koi type. In the absence of patterns on a hikarimuji koi, one simply has to ensure that the head is very clear, i.e., unblemished by black spots and other imperfections. The body, on the other hand, must be of uniform colour and also unblemished. As mentioned earlier, lustre of the scales and fins (especially the pectoral fins) is important.

Yamatonishiki

Metallic Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke).  Yamato Nishiki are the metallic version of the Sanke.  Their patterns are judged the same way that the regular Sanke are.  Yamato Nishiki are created by breeding regular Sanke with Platinum Ogon. 

Ghost Koi

Ghost Koi Development in Israel. The popularity of the ghost koi in the UK is so great that in a recent survey, pondkeepers voted ghost koi as the nation's favourite koi variety, surprisingly head and shoulders above any of the more conventional and more colourful koi varieties.