Koi History ~ Myths & Mysteries

by Ray Jordan ©2006

Koi in Niigata: Three Major Developments

Glossary:
aka, beni, hi = different shades of red
sumi = black
shiro = white
ki - yellow
motoguro= black spots at the base of pectoral fins

There were three additional major steps in the development of the modern koi we see today.

1. Doitsu
First, German carp, which were scale-less and tan colored, were introduced into Japan in 1904. Some early crosses with Asagi produced Shusui, Chagoi, and Kumonryu. These fish, which have very few or no scales, are called "doitsu" - the Japanese pronunciation of "Deutch".

Most types of koi bred today have had a doitsu version produced. Some popular varieties such as kujaku were actually first produced in the doitsu form and later crossed with scaled koi to develop into the form and pattern we know today.

2. Metallic
Second, in 1921, Sawata Aoki heard the story of a special carp with streaks of gold on its dorsal fin, which had been caught in the river near Hirose village about 30 kilometers away. Sawata felt compelled to walk to the area and see this carp. It was a black magoi with a shine at the base of its dorsal fin. He bought it for a high price and took it home.

After he allowed it to grow large he bred it, keeping only the very few babies that had any golden shine. Over the next 25 years he produced koi there were more and more metallic - Kin Kabuto, Gin Kabuto, Kinbo and Sakin.

In 1946 Sawata spent a small fortune, 60 yen, to buy a famous female koi of the shiro-fuji (White with shiny silvery head) type which he crossed with his own most improved metallic offspring. This was at the end of World War II and times were very hard. There was no money to buy food for the koi fry so he would catch insects all day and chew them into tiny bits to feed his fry. The people of his village believed he was crazy.

By the end of the summer there were two koi out of this group that had a shining gold sheen all over their bodies. They were also twice the size of their brothers and sisters. These were the original ogon koi (metallic golden scaled dark koi). Can there be any doubt that the special care and devotion shown by Sawata to his creations has produced generations of ogon koi that seem to be more easily tamed than any other type of koi?

Sadly, Sawata never benefited from his creation. He spent everything he had, and he and his family lived in rags, to produce a few first ogons. Later other breeders like Takehira Hoshide would acquire his ogon offspring and develop more refined brightly colored Yambukis (gold) and Platinums (silver). The first of these 2nd generation ogons sold for huge sums of money. Ogons are the basis for creating all the metallic types of koi we see today, including Kin Showa, Kujaku, Hariwake, Yamato Nishiki, and Kikiuryus.

3. Ginrin
Third, in Hiroshima (Southern Japan) about 1920 some magoi were discovered that had scales along their backs that sparkled like diamonds. These diamond type scales were first called "Dia Ginrin".

Many attempts were made to breed these magoi to get baby koi with these types of scales all over the body. Then these Dia Ginrin koi were bred to popular types of koi.

About 1950 the first kinginrin kohaku appeared. Some of these first Dia Kohakus sold for $30,000 in the 1950's. Dia Ginrin is more commonly called Hiroshima ginrin today.

Several other types of gin rin have been developed including Tama also called pearl gin, beta gin, and kado, also called "edge", gin.

It is amazing to think that in a little over 100 years all the 100+ named varieties we know today were developed. Most since World War II when almost all koi were lost in Japan due to lack of food and orders from the military to forfeit all carp to be eaten. Fortunately the core koi brood stock was hidden in secluded Shinto temple ponds. After the war the survivors were recovered and breeding began again. But that is another story entirely.

Carp/Koi History Terms

• Carp - Common River Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
• Goi - Japanese for Carp
• Magoi - Japanese for black carp grown for food
  
  

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Koi History || Origin/Distribution of Cyprinus carpio || Carp in Eastern Cultures || Carp in Niigata: Breeding for Color Begins || Carp in Niigata: Breeding for Color Continues || Koi in Niigata: Three Major Developments || Koi Pattern Development || Champions, Then and Now || Back to Articles Menu

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