Asagi: The Asagi is one of the first varieties of koi.

Asagi Blue reticulated net pattern with orange/red belly.

Bekko: (Bay-co)This is either a white, red, or yellow fish with black markings.

Aka Bekko (Acka Bay-co) Red fish with black markings. It can have some white in the fins.

Shiro Bekko (She-roe Bay-co) White fish with black markings.

Doitsu: (Doytz) German: There are two varieties of German carp that have been bred with the other varieties. One of them is a completely scaless carp called the "Leather Carp", and the other is a carp with large scales along the lateral line and down each side of the dorsal fin called the "Mirror" carp. Below is a picture of a Mirror Carp sent to me by John Disdale. You can find most varieties of koi with the Doitsu characteristics.

Doitsu Mirror Carp

Doitsu Kohaku (Leather)

Doitsu Sanke (Leather carp with scales along each side of the dorsal fin)

Gin Rin: Kin Gin Rin (Gold, Silver, Scale)

Gin Rin Kohaku Kohaku with silver scales.

Gin Rin Tancho Tancho Showa with silver scales.

Kin Gin Rin Showa Showa with gold and silver scales.

Gosanke: (Go-san-kay) The big three (Kohaku, Showa, Sanke)

Kohaku (Co-haku) Red and white
Photo courtesy of Koi Village

Taisho Sanke (Tie-show-san-kay) Three color koi produced in the Taisho era
Photo courtesy of Koi Village

Showa (Sho-wa) Three color koi produced in the Showa era
Photo courtesy of Koi Village

Hikari Muji: (He-car-ee Moo-gee) Metallic Varieties.

Ginmatsuba (Gin pronunced as in "begin", mats-ba) Silver, pinecone

Hi Matsuba (He Mats-ba) Red fish with black pine cone edging on scales. More commonly reffered to as Aka Matsuba.

Orinji Ogon Metalic Solid Orange (This fish is also Gin Rin)

Platinum Ogon Metalic Solid White

Yamabuki Ogon Metalic Solid Yellow

Hikari Utsuri Mono: (He-car-ee Ut-sue-ree Mon-owe) Metallic Varieties.

Gin Shiro Utsuri (Gin as in begin She-roe Ut-sue-ree) Metallic silver Utsuri.

Kin Hi Utsuri (Kin He Ut-sue-ree) Metallic red Utsuri.

Kin Ki Utsuri (Kin Key Ut-sue-ree) Metallic yellow Utsuri.

Kin Showa (Kin Sho-wa) Metallic gold Showa.

Hikari Utsuri Moyo: (He-car-ee Ut-sue-ree Moy-o) Patterned Metallic Varieties.

Hariwake (Harry-wa-kay) Metallic white with gold, orange, or red markings like a patch work.

Kikusui (Keek-sui) "Chrysanthemum Water" Doitsu metallic Kohaku.

Kujaku (Coo-ja-coo) "Peacock" Metallic white and orange with matsuba netting.

Yamatonishiki (Y'mat-a-nish-key) "Japanese Brocade" Metallic Sanke.

Kawarimono: (Car-wa-ree-mon-owe) Unique koi, recently referred to as Kawarigoi (Car-wa-ree-goy)

Ochibashigure (O-chee-ba-she-goo-ray)Rain on Autumn leaves, or Autumn leaves on water?

Ochibashigure (O-chee-ba-she-goo-ray)

Tancho Goshiki

Chagoi (Char-goy) Tea colored carp.

Gin Rin Ochiba

Goshiki (Gosh-key) Kohaku pattern with asagi net pattern.

Haijiro (Ha-jeer-o) "White Edge" Black scalled fish with white tips on the pectoral fins and belly.

Karasu Solid black. Often called a "crow fish".

Kigoi (Key-goy) Yellow carp.

Kumonryu (Come-on-ree-you) "Dragon" Doitsu, black fish with white markings. The Kumonryu will change from white to black between summer and winter.

Koromo:

Ai Goromo (Eye Gor-omo) "Indigo Blue" Kohaku with blue edging over red scales.

Budo Goromo (Boo-doe-gor-omo) "Grape Pattern" Kohaku with blue grape like clusters over red.

Sumi Goromo Kohaku with black edging over red scales.

Shusui: (Shoe-suey) "Autumn Water" Doitsu Asagi

Shusui Blue back, orange belly and cheeks.

Hi Shusui Shusui with red on its back.

Tancho: (Tan-cho) "Red Cap" Kohaku, Sanke, or Showa with red on the head only. These are the only three fish that fall into the Tancho class.

Tancho Kohaku Kohaku with round red spot on the head. No other red.

Tancho Sanke Sanke with round red spot on the head. No other red.

Tancho Showa Showa with round red spot on the head. No other red.

Utsuri:(/B) (Ut-sue-ree) Reflections

Shiro Utsuri (She-roe Ut-sue-ree) Shiro (white) Utsuri (reflections)
Photo courtesy of Koi Village

Hi Utsuri (He Ut-sue-ree) Hi (red)

Hi Utsuri

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Last modified on Tuesday February 15, 2000