Koi Variety Encyclopedia
Nishikigoi come in dozens of named varieties, each a different mix of color, pattern, and scale type. This encyclopedia profiles the varieties we hand-select in Japan every fall: what defines each one, how to pronounce its Japanese name, and a reference photo of a strong example.
Search by name or filter by pattern family: Gosanke covers the classic big three of Kohaku, Sanke, and Showa, the Hikari families are the metallics, and Kawarimono gathers the rare one-offs. Open any variety for its full profile, plus every koi of that variety swimming in our ponds right now.
Ai Goromo
愛錦 (ai go-ROH-mo)
Blue on White
Aka Matsuba
赤松葉 (AH-ka MAH-tsu-bah)
Red Pinecone
Asagi
浅葱 (ah-SAH-gee)
Blue on Light Blue
Bekko
鼈甲 (BEH-koh)
Black on Colored Background
Beni Kikokuryu
紅錦鯉 (be-NI ki-ko-KU-ryu)
Metallic Red and Black on White
Beni Kumonryu
紅雲龍 (BEH-nee KOO-mon-ryoo)
Red and Black Dragon
Benigoi
紅鯉 (ben-ee-GOI)
Solid Red
Budo Goromo
葡萄衣 (boo-DOH goh-ROH-moh)
Grape on White
Chagoi
茶鯉 (CHA-goi)
Tea-Colored
Goshiki
五色 (go-SHI-ki)
Five Colors
Hariwake
張分け (HAH-ree-wah-keh)
Platinum and Yellow/Orange
Hi Utsuri
火写し (hee oot-SOO-ree)
Black with Red Markings
Karashigoi
唐松鯉 (ka-RA-shi-goi)
Mustard Koi
Karasugoi
唐鯉 (ka-RA-su-goi)
Black
Ki Utsuri
黄写り (kee oot-SOO-ree)
Yellow on Black
Kikokuryu
輝黒竜 (kee-KOH-koo-ryoo)
Metallic Black and White
Kikusui
菊水 (kee-KOO-sui)
Metallic Doitsu Hariwake
Kin Ki Utsuri
金亀写 (kin-kee-oot-SOO-ree)
Gold on Black
Kin Showa
金昭和 (keen SHOW-wah)
Gold Showa
Kogane Ochiba
黄金落ち葉 (koh-GAH-neh OH-chee-bah)
Golden Autumn Leaves
Kohaku
紅白 (koh-HAH-koo)
Red on White
Kujaku
孔雀 (koo-JAH-koo)
Peacock
Kumonryu
九紋龍 (koo-MON-ryoo)
Black Dragon
Matsuba
松葉 (MAH-tsu-bah)
Pine Cone
Matsukawabake
松川化け (mah-tsu-KAH-wah-bah-keh)
Black Changing
Mukashi Ogon
昔オゴン (moo-KAH-shee OH-gon)
Ancient Gold
Ochiba
落葉 (oh-CHEE-bah)
Leaf on Water
Platinum Ogon
プラチナオゴン (PLAT-uh-num O-gon)
Metallic White
Sanke
三色 (さんけ) (SAHN-keh)
Red, Black, and White
Shiro Utsuri
白写り (shee-ROH oot-SOO-ree)
Black on White
Showa
昭和三色 (SHOH-wah)
Black with Red and White Markings
Shusui
秋翠 (shoo-SOO-ee)
doitsu Asagi / Blue with Red Markings
Soragoi
空鯉 (soh-rah-GOI)
Blue-Gray
Sumi Goromo
墨五郎 (SOO-mee goh-ROH-moh)
Black on Blue
Yamabuki Ogon
山吹色 (やまぶきいろ) おごん (yah-MAH-boo-kee OH-gon)
Metallic Gold
Yamato Nishiki
大和錦 (yah-MAH-toh NEE-shee-kee)
Metallic Sanke
Kohaku, Sanke, or Showa?
The big three all share red and white. Black is the tiebreaker: where it shows up, and how much of it, names the fish.
Kohaku
紅白 (koh-HAH-koo)
Red on a crisp white base and nothing else. If you can find any black at all, you are not looking at a Kohaku.
Full Kohaku profile
Sanke
三色 (さんけ) (SAHN-keh)
Start with a Kohaku, then add small black accents on the body only. A good Sanke keeps its head free of black.
Full Sanke profile
Showa
昭和三色 (SHOH-wah)
Black is the base, not an accent: it wraps under the belly and onto the head, with red and white riding on top.
Full Showa profileAsagi or Shusui?
The same blue koi in two skins.
Asagi
浅葱 (ah-SAH-gee)
Fully scaled: a crisp blue net pattern covers the whole back, with red rising from the belly, cheeks, and fins.
Full Asagi profile
Shusui
秋翠 (shoo-SOO-ee)
The doitsu (scaleless) Asagi: smooth sky-blue skin with rows of large navy scales along the back, red below.
Full Shusui profileShiro Utsuri, Bekko, or Kumonryu?
Three black and white koi, three very different blacks.
Shiro Utsuri
白写り (shee-ROH oot-SOO-ree)
Black is the base: bold bands wrap the body from below and usually cross the head.
Full Shiro Utsuri profile
Bekko
鼈甲 (BEH-koh)
Small stepping-stone spots of black sit on the back only, over a single base color. The head stays clean.
Full Bekko profile
Kumonryu
九紋龍 (koo-MON-ryoo)
Doitsu, so the skin is smooth: flowing ink-brush black that can redraw itself with the seasons.
Full Kumonryu profileGoshiki, Ai Goromo, or Budo Goromo?
All three lay dark netting over red and white. The difference is where the net falls.
Goshiki
五色 (go-SHI-ki)
The netting covers the white ground across the whole body, while the red pattern usually rides clean on top.
Full Goshiki profile
Ai Goromo
愛錦 (ai go-ROH-mo)
A Kohaku wearing the net only inside its red: each red scale takes a blue crescent edge, the white stays pure.
Full Ai Goromo profile
Budo Goromo
葡萄衣 (boo-DOH goh-ROH-moh)
The overlay sits so heavy on the red that it reads as purple, hanging in grape-bunch clusters on white.
Full Budo Goromo profileChagoi, Soragoi, Ochiba, or Karashigoi?
The friendly single-color giants, told apart by shade.
Chagoi
茶鯉 (CHA-goi)
Green-tea brown from head to tail, and usually the first koi in the pond to eat from your hand.
Full Chagoi profile
Ochiba
落葉 (oh-CHEE-bah)
Both at once: a brown Chagoi pattern drifting over a gray Soragoi base, autumn leaves floating on water.
Full Ochiba profile
Karashigoi
唐松鯉 (ka-RA-shi-goi)
Mustard yellow and famously huge: many of the biggest, tamest koi in any pond are Karashigoi.
Full Karashigoi profile