| Koi are domesticated ornamental varieties of the | | | | means 'lightning strike'). A nidan (two) kohaku has |
| common carp Cyprinus carpio. They are not goldfish, | | | | two red markings, a sandan (three) kohaku has three |
| just very closely related to goldfish, and the style of | | | | red markings, and a yondan (four) kohaku has four |
| breeding and ornamentation has become very similar, | | | | red markings. |
| probably through the efforts of Japanese breeders | | | | Taisho sanke (known as sanke), hi (red) and sumi |
| to emulate goldfish. | | | | (black) on a white background. A maruten sanke has |
| If you travel to Japan and tell friends that you like | | | | a separate red spot on the head with normal |
| koi, your friends might invite you to eat the dull grey | | | | markings on the body. A tancho sanke has a red |
| fish that inhabits the waters of the islands, as in | | | | spot on the head and a white body with black |
| Japanese, the word koi simply means 'carp'. If you tell | | | | markings. |
| them you appreciate Koi, they may lead you and | | | | Showa sanshoku (known as showa), red and white |
| your camera to the pond in the garden. This article is | | | | markings on a black background. A hi showa is a |
| about Nishikigoi, and uses the English word koi to | | | | predominantly red showa. A kindai showa has a |
| refer to the colourful fish. | | | | predominantly white pattern. A tancho showa has a |
| While a Chinese book of the Western Jin Dynasty | | | | red spot on the head and a black body with white |
| mentions carp with various colours, Koi breeding is | | | | markings. |
| generally thought to have begun during the 19th | | | | Bekko are white, red or yellow koi with black (sumi) |
| century in the Niigata prefecture of Japan. Farmers | | | | markings. Shiro bekko is a white koi with black |
| working the rice fields noticed that some carp were | | | | markings. Aka bekko is a red koi with black markings |
| more brightly coloured than others, they would | | | | (aka is another word for red). Ki bekko is a yellow |
| capture them, and raise them. This would have | | | | koi with black markings (rare variety). |
| invariably saved their lives as normally the brighter | | | | Utsurimono are often confused with bekko but are |
| coloured fish would be more likely eaten by birds and | | | | mostly black with white, red or yellow markings. Shiro |
| other predators. | | | | utsuri is a black koi with white markings. Hi utsuri is |
| By the 20th century, a number of colour patterns | | | | black with red markings. Ki utsuri is black with yellow |
| had been established, most notably the red-and-white | | | | markings (rare variety). |
| Kohaku. The outside world did not become aware of | | | | Asagi are blue-grey koi with red along the sides and |
| the degree of development until 1914, when the | | | | belly and in the fins. |
| Niigata Koi were exhibited in Tokyo. Some of them | | | | Koromo literally means 'robed'. This describes the hi |
| were also presented to Crown Prince Hirohito. At | | | | pattern, outlined in a darker colour, which varies with |
| that point, interest in Koi exploded throughout Japan. | | | | the variety. Ai goromo is a kohaku whose scales |
| Nishikigoi have been called the national fish of Japan. | | | | have blue borders. Sumi goromo have solid black on |
| Today, Nishikigoi are bred not only in their place of | | | | the hi markings. Budo goromo have sumi overlaying |
| origin, Niigata, but all over Japan, and are exported all | | | | the hi giving a purple/maroon colour. |
| over the world. Nishikigoi continue to gain worldwide | | | | Kawarimono accomodates all non-metallic koi that do |
| popularity as the ultimate pond or garden fish. | | | | not fall into the above groups: |
| As Nishikigoi were developed in Japan, the language | | | | Karasugoi is a black koi with white or orange belly. |
| of Nishikigoi is Japanese. Japanese is used not only to | | | | Hajiro is a black koi with white tips to its tail and |
| name the varieties, but also for many of the terms | | | | pectoral fins. Hageshiro is a black koi with white tips |
| used to describe their colours and traits. | | | | to its fins and white head and nose. Kumonryu is a |
| Koi varieties are distinguished by colouration, | | | | doitsu koi which is black with white markings on its |
| patterning, and scalation. | | | | head, fins and body. Aka matsuba is a red koi with |
| Kohaku are white koi with red markings. Probably the | | | | black centres to its scales, creating a pine cone |
| most common variety. The hi should be deep red | | | | effect. Goshiki are white, red, black, blue and dark |
| with well defined edges (kiwa) where it meets the | | | | blue, giving a purplish appearance. Kigoi is a yellow koi. |
| white which should be pure and bright. A tancho | | | | Chagoi is a light brown/olive koi. Soragoi is a blue-grey |
| kohaku is a white koi with a red spot on its head. An | | | | koi. Midorigoi is a green koi. Benigoi is a deep red koi. |
| inazuma kohaku has a continuous red marking from | | | | Shiro muji is a white koi, aka muji is a red koi. Ochiba |
| the head to the tail, but with variation (inazuma | | | | shigure is blue-grey with a brown pattern. |