Variety Guide #07 Ki Utsuri

Today, I introduce Ki Utsuri.
This is a kind of Utsurimono.

The Essential Book of Koi: A Complete Guide to Keeping and Care(Amazon.com)

Ki Utsuri
Ki Utsuri, by far the rarest type of Utsuri, combine patterns of yellow over a lacquerish black body. Ki Utsuri are judged by the same criteria as Shiro and Hi Utsuri.
Ki Utsuri which has beautiful and clear yellow patterns is very rare.

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Variety Guide #06 Hi Utsuri

Today, I introduce Hi Utsuri.
This is a kind of Utsurimono.

The Essential Book of Koi: A Complete Guide to Keeping and Care(Amazon.com)

Hi Utsuri
Hi Utsuri combine the lacquer-black base color with patterns of deep red or 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.
Hi Utsuri which an red and black are deep and clear is precious.

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Variety Guide #05 Shiro Utsuri

Today, I introduce Shiro Utsuri.
This is a kind of Utsurimono.

The Essential Book of Koi: A Complete Guide to Keeping and Care(Amazon.com)

Shiro Utsuri
Shiro Utsuri are koi with a black base overlained by white markings. We enjoy contrast and dynamism of the black and white.
If red marikings were excluded form Showa Sanke, it will be a Shiro Utsuri.

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Variety Guide #04 Tancho

Today, I introduce Tancho.
Tancho is a very characteristic KOI.

The Essential Book of Koi: A Complete Guide to Keeping and Care(Amazon.com)

Tancho
Tancho has one red circle on the head. The size, symmetry and placement of the Tancho mark are main factors in determining the quality of koi. Tancho are highly regarded in the Japanese koi industry for their resemblance to the Grus japonensis, or Red-Crowned Crane. In the world, Tancho is popular because the Tancho mark is similar to Japanese flag.

Although the Tancho mark can appear in many varieties of koi, the word "Tancho" by itself is almost always used to refer to the bird, Tancho Kohaku.

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Variety Guide #03 Showa Sanke

Today, I introduce Showa Sanke.
It is very similar to Sanke/Taisho Sanke.

The Essential Book of Koi: A Complete Guide to Keeping and Care(Amazon.com)

Showa Sanke
Showa Sanke, more commonly known as Showa, are koi that display white and red patterns over top of a black base color. Showa can be easily confused with Sanke/Taisho Sanke. In Showa, the black patterns will wrap all the way around the body, and the design of the color is more complicated. Also, Showa will have black patterns on the head, and Sanke will not.

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Variety Guide #02 Taisho Sanke

Today, I introduce Taisho Sanke.

The Essential Book of Koi: A Complete Guide to Keeping and Care(Amazon.com)

Taisho Sanke
Taisho Sanke, or Sanke for short, are koi with a solid white base overlaid by patterns of both red and black. A black design does not enter the head only with a red design and is in the chest bire on the basis of the thing which a black striped pattern slightly enters. It is commonly said that a high quality Sanke pattern begins with a great Kohaku pattern, to which the black is a welcome complement.

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Variety Guide #01 Kohaku

At first let's introduce a KOI from the kind.
Different one is the color and design even if I say a kind.
I introduce following one kinds today.

The Essential Book of Koi: A Complete Guide to Keeping and Care(Amazon.com)

Kohaku
Kohaku, the oldest and most well known variety of koi, have a solid white base with patterns of red overlaid on top of the white. Top quality Kohaku display a bright, blemish-free white combined with deep, vibrant red tones. The even distribution of the pattern along the body is also very important.

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Introduction of KOI #001

Generally, KOI is introduced as follows.

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In wikipedia, Koi (鯉?, English /ˈkɔɪ/, Japanese: [koꜜi]) or more specifically nishikigoi (錦鯉?, [niɕi̥kiꜜɡo.i], literally "brocaded carp"), are a group of fish that are ornamental varieties of domesticated common carp (Cyprinus carpio) that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens.
Koi varieties are distinguished by coloration, patterning, and scalation. Some of the major colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue, and cream. The most popular category of koi is the Gosanke, which is made up of the Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku, and Showa Sanshoku varieties.

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However, this description is wrong a little. A blue one is rare. This book and the following picture will give you a clear idea of color of KOI.

Introduction of a book about colored carp "KOI"

After all the book written about a colored carp "KOI" has many books in Japanese, but there is a book to be able to enjoy with a photograph a lot. I introduce recommended one book in that today.

Hana Koi Japanese culture (2009) (Amazon.co.jp)
Hana Koi Japanese culture (2009) (Amazon.com)

The following photograph is one page of this book.

Hana Koi Japanese culture (2009) (Amazon.co.jp)
Hana Koi Japanese culture (2009) (Amazon.com)

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About This Blog

This blog "T's Small Pond"  introduces the colored carp which is traditional culture in Japan.
In Japan, colored carp is called "KOI", and is kept for admiration.
Because introduce many KOI from now on; in fun!