GOSANKE (a collection of Kohaku, Sanke and Showa classes)

The first three classes (Kohaku, Sanke, Showa) are the oldest koi classes to be stabilized and as a group are called Gosanke.

Breeders have had 8 decades to perfect the many bloodlines of Gosanke and also 8 decades to perfect the judging criteria for these big 3.

Gosanke are highly valued because they have to breed 100,000 babies to get 10 koi with high quality patterns acceptable to the All Japan Koi Show. ...READ MORE...

KAWAIRMONO (ALL OTHERS)
(no metallic koi allowed)

Included are all of the Karasugoi or crow carp family that are black with various white markings on the body and fins. Depending on how much white you have Hajiro (black with white only on the tail and pectoral fin tips), Hageshiro (black with white on tail and pectoral fin tips and on the head), Yotsushiro (Hageshiro with all white head), Kumonryu (Doitsu koi with killer whale pattern) and Matsukawabake (koi that changes from black to gray depending on water temperature forming a net black pattern).

There is a very new koi that has been put into Kawarimono due to lack of a better place because it is metallic and does not belong in Kawarimono. This is the Bene(red) Kumonryu called Kikokuryu. ...READ MORE...

HIKARI MOYO (also Hikarimoyo Mono)

Koi in this class include Platinum Kohaku, Gin Bekko, Yamabuki Hariwake (yellow and Platinum), Kikisui (literally Water chrysanthemum Platinum Kohaku with wavy red lines on both sides) and Orenji Hariwake (orange and Platinum). Also included with two metallic colors plus black are Kujaku (Platinum Hariwake with black pine cone pattern), Doitsu Kujaku, Yamatonsihiki (metallic Sanke), Tora Ogon (Tiger koi actually a gold metallic Ki Bekko), Hariwake Matsuba (Platinum Hariwake with black reticulation). ...READ MORE...