Koi Glossary

Improvements resulting from being harvested from mud pond To enhance hi color

Scarlet coloring on the jaw or gill areas

Black coloring on the jaw or gill areas

Indigo. Dark Blue

Aigoromo is a white koi with red markings on which red-fringed indigo blue scales are seen. The orderly reticular pattern created by the blue scales is desired by many koi lovers.

Bluish sumi

A red skinned Bekko 

A Nishikigoi with a pine corn pattern on the red scales 

A red eyed Nishikigoi

Blue grayish color

Asagi's entire back is covered with ai-iro (indigo blue), gunjo-iro (deep blue) and sora-iro (sky blue) scales. Each scale is fringed with white, which creates a reticular pattern. Its head is spotless and light blue-colored. Hi appears on the cheeks,

Underlying bluish sumi that gradually appears on surface through the growth. Ato sumi often becomes tsuya sumi or hon sumi, another name for soko sumi

Atsui means deep and refers to the apparent layering of red layers of pigment. A big compliment

Having the dealer raise your koi after purchase. Not all dealers do so and prices vary

Koi with black markings on white skin are called Shiro Bekko. According to the colors of the skin, there are Aka Bekko and Ki Bekko.

Kikokuryu with hi patches, produced from crossing a female Kikusui with a male Kikokuryu. Popular variety recently.

Kumonryu with red patterns produced by mating Kumonryu with Doitsu Kohaku

Deep red

Red Nishikigoi. Benigoi has deeper red than Higoi

Literary means bold head. It indicates Nishikigoi has no patches on the head area

Nishikigoi with koromo scaled pattern on hi plates. Its reddish brown color and the way how koromo patterns arranged look like a bunch of grapes. Budo means grape

This variety is close to the origin of Nishikigoi. Though its body color is brown, its hues vary from dark chocolate brown to light greenish brown.

Stepped pattern

Koi that are not fully scaled and usually with a row of scales along each lateral line and the dorsal fin. They were introduced to Japan from Germany as eatable carp

The fan-shaped edges of the scales. Originally fukurin is the term to describe a decoration of gilt edges for saddles and sheaths

Dropsy

Shiro Utsuri with metallic sheen skin.

Showa Sanshoku with silvery scales are called Ginrin Showa. Girin can come with  every varieties.

The three major Japanese Nishikigoi varieties, Kohaku, Sanke and Showa

Goshiki has fundamentally the same requirements for Hi patter as Kohaku. There are some types of Goshiki, such as the one whose entire body is covered with black reticular patterns and the one which has no black scales within the

Hi pattern on Nishikigoi's head. The same definition as tohi

A head of Nishikigoi

Sumi pattern on Nishikigoi's head

Hageshiro are Karasugoi with a white head

Black scaled Nishikigoi with white tipped pectoral fins and a white belly

Head hi extends to close to the area of mouth. Another name for tsukitsuke

Hi along the lateral line on the belly

Metallic Nishikigoi that have golden patches on Platinum-like skin

Doitsu Sanke with metallic skin

Black koi with hi patterns. Utsurimono with red skin

A red marking on Nishikigoi's body

Red Nishikigoi

Metallic Nishikigoi with shiny patterns

Metallic single-colored Nishikigoi

Showa and Utsurimono with Hikarimono (metallic) body are called Hikariutsuri (Hikari Utsuri).

Koi Show

Hirenaga 鰭長 Hire鰭 means dorsal fins, naga長 means long. Hirenaga Nishikigoi refers to Nishikigoi with long fins.   Hirenaga Nishikigoi was produced by Saitama Fisheries Research Institute. In 1977, the reigning Emperor (the Crown Prince at that time) visited there

Hi spot on the gill cover. Hoho means cheek

It means "genuine sumi". Referring to thick glossy sumi

A checkered pattern

Anchor worm

The harvest. Harvesting of Nishikigoi from a mud pond which is one of the most exciting events of the year

A large continuous hi plate on the back of Nishikigoi

Black freckles on Nishikigoi's body. Also, they are called "jari"

Showa that have koromo scaled sumi. Belongs to Kawarimono

Kage sumi is an area of sumi that has started to emerge, but has not yet completely come to the surface of the skin, and is thus seen as a blue shadow. Kage means shadow

Sharp edges of patterns like a razor cutting

Mustard single-colored Nishikigoi produced by mating Kigoi with Chagoi. Karashi means mustard

Black Nishikigoi. "Karasu" means crow

Sumi that appears on hi plate. Antonym of tsubo sumi

One-sided patterns on the half of the body, another name for katamoyo

Nishikigoi that were born with potential pattern. Mainly used while selecting baby fries/koi's

Sumi on Nishikigoi's shoulder

A unique Nishikigoi. Nishikigoi that is difficult to be categorized into a specific variety at koi show regarded as Kawarimono

Kego 毛子   Newborn Nishikigoi. Baby fry just after hatching. ** 子 (ko) means child. Black fry are called Kuroko 黒子. Only kuroko will be selected in first culling of Showa and Uturimono.   Find Out More About Koi Glossary

Koi Herpes Virus

Matsuba koi with yellow skin

Black Nishikigoi with yellow patterns. Utsurimono with yellow skin

Yellow single-colored Nishikigoi

Metallic Kumonryu, originally produced by mating Kumonryu with Doitsu Platinum Ogon.

Doitsu Platinum Kohaku

Kikokuryu that have golden patterns instead of black patterns.

Kin Showa was produced by crossing Showa Sanshoku and Ogon. Those with a golden body are called Kin Showa, and those with a platinum sheen are called Gin Showa.

The scales sparkle in gold or silver. Literary kin means gold, and gin means silver. Kinginrin also indicates the variety with capital letter. It has about the same meaning of "ginrin"

The side and back edges of the scales. The front edges of the scales are called "sashi"

Kohaku is a white koi with red markings. This variety was the first one to be fixed. Because of the Japanese flag, red and white are the colors most commonly used in many celebrations in Japan. Thus, the Kohaku is

Carp streamer. Traditionally, Japanese families with boys fly Koinobori outdoors to celebrate Children Day (5th of May) because the carp is a symbol of a successful career

scales

The way how scales are arranged

This term describes the scale coloring appears thinner than the surrounding scales and looks transparent. The color appears scattered and lacks uniformity

Literally means national fish. The name for the prize of honor at All Japan Koi Show and All Japan Young Koi Show

Small patterns

Spawning

Hi spot on Nishikigoi's lips

Kujyaku Ogon has a metallic body on which Kohaku-like Hi patterns and black Matsuba (pine needles) patterns, like a peacock's tail feathers, are laid. Kujyaku means peacock, Ogon means gold.

Kumonryu is a black Doitsugoi with white marking patterns. Its pattern changes according to the temparature and water quality.

A pattern vertically laid on Nishikigoi that shaped like a saddle

Black background

Black fry. Only kuroko will be selected in culling Kumonryu, Utsurimono and Showa

The term describes the shape of hi on the head. The pattern consists of a round area of hi on the mouth and a trapezoid of hi on the forehead. Literally means shoehorn

Literally means an opened window. The empty space in patches

Patterns extend down over lateral lines on the belly

Round hi pattern appears on the forehead

Pinecone-like scale pattern; the center of the scales are colored and arranged properly on the body

The black and white Nishikigoi that have changing patterns over time. Fully scaled Kumonryu

Hi extend to the eyes widely covering the head, especially on Kohaku and Taisho Sanshoku. Another name for zukinkaburi

The sumi patterns appear only in Showa and Utsurimono that divides the head. An ideal menware is regarded lightning-stripe across the head

The base of pectoral fins that are colored red

The base of pectoral fins which are colored black

Muji 無地   Muji literally means "no pattern". As Nishikigoi terms, Muji stands for single-colored Nishikigoi. Black (Karasugoi), Red (Higoi), Gray (Soragoi), Mustard Yellow (Karashigoi), Gold (Yamabuki Ogon), Yellow (Kigoi), Brown (Chagoi) ... there are several single-colored Nishikigoi. It is

Classic Ogon with brownish yellow skin. Literally mukashi means past

Colored background peal off and showing color then make patterns

A dorsal fin

Sleeping sickness

Blue grayish colored Ogon

Scales of pale red hi. Secondary hi appears later in a Nishikigoi development. It is often seen in the edge of hi pattern and takes away the sharpness of the contrast between hi and shiroji. Nishikigoi with niban hi rarely

Mud pond. Field pond

Nishikigoi that have aonezu color skin with brownish patches resembling fallen leaves

Means tail ending, refers to the ending of the color pattern at the tail. It is said that a good odome leaves a beautiful shiroji on the base of the tail

White bumps, that appear on the cheeks and pectoral fins of male Nishikigoi during mating season. This is a sexual characteristic that appeals to female Nishikigoi

A large pattern

Ogon with orange skin

A Nishikigoi's parents

The part of a Nishikigoi's body that starts at the front of its dorsal fin and ends at the beginning of its tail. It is one of the most important parts of the body structure

Kohaku with sheen skin, another name for Sakura Ogon

Platinum Ogon's body is white with a platinum sheen.

Three stepped pattern

The term refers to the front edge of hi or sumi patches. The bases of the red scales in front underlying shiroji create the pinkish edge. The bases of the black scales in front underlying shiroji create the bluish or

Enlarged scales appear along Doitsugoi's dorsal fin

Culling. Selection

Keeping koi to enhance its best condition in appreciation

Bekko with white skin

Black Nishikigoi with white patches

White background

Quality. Quality and body structure are the most important factor for Nishikigoi in both breeding and appreciating

Showa Sanshoku has red and white markings on black skin. Its dynamic marking pattern is very attractive. Like Taisho, Showa came from the name of the era (1926-1989) when it was produced and fixed. It is commonly called Showa.

It literally means 'thunder in spring,' which is produced by mating Goshiki with Sumigoromo

Since Shusui was produced by crossing Doitsugoi and Asagi, it has the colors of Asagi and an orderly row of large scales, peculiar to Doitsugoi. The clearer the color of blue is, and the more even the size of the

Another name for ato sumi

Bluish gray Ogon

Bluish gray-colored Nishikigoi. Sora means sky

Black patches

Sumigoromo is a Koromo with darker colored patches than Bodogoromo

Black scaled Nishikigoi produced by mating Nishikigoi of Asagi Magoi line with classic Goshiki

Body structure. Body shape. It is one of the most important factors of Nishikigoi

Taisho Sanshoku has red and black markings on white skin. Taisho is the name of the era (1912-1926) when it was produced and fixed as one of the varieties of Nishikigoi. Sanshoku means tri-color. It is commonly called "Sanke" and liked

White koi with a single Hi patch on the head is called Tancho Kohaku. Probably the red and white color combination makes many foreigners think of the rising-sun flag. It is particularly popular overseas.

A hi pattern named after Tancho crane that has a rounded red spot on its head. Tancho has no other hi patches but on the head

A Nishikigoi that is unfinished but has a good potential to become excellent koi after several years of good care. "tateru" is a verb, to raise koi with good potential

Hi spots that are usually about one scale in size and do not form a hi plate. The dots are often considered as unnecessary spots

Hi pattern on Nishikigoi's head

Baby koi. Nishikigoi that are less than 1 year old

Sumi appears on shiroji very close to hi patterns. It looks like sumi fits in the white spot of hi patches. Basically the term is used for Taisho Sanshoku

Head hi extends to close to the area of mouth. Another name for hanatsuki

Gloss. Luster

Fish lice

Scales

Flame along with scale edges that shape scalloped edge

Lacquer-black sumi

The back edge of a pattern

Koi with red markings on black skin are called Hi Utsuri. According to the colors of the markings, there are Shiro Utsuri and Ki Utsuri as well.

Fully scaled koi that originally inhabit Japan

Young Nishikigoi

Ogon with bright gold color skin. Yamabuki means strong yellow color

Sanke with sheen skin produced by mating Ogon with Sanke

Four stepped pattern

The head pattern fully covered with color looks like wearing a hood. Zukin means hood. Another name for menkaburi