http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/blog.php Koi forum and message board about japanese koi hosted by Koi-Bito Magazine. For more information, visit http://www.koi-bito.com en Sat, 17 May 2008 14:47:25 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/blog.php http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/blogs/brian/9-wakagoi-show.html Wed, 07 May 2008 07:14:23 GMT Although this is quite a belated post. I couldn't help but feel that I needed to comment a bit on this year's Wakagoi show in Ojiya.

Overall, I'd have to say that quality is up over past years and that most of the breeders that were going to make it back after the earthquake have staged their comeback.

There was quite a sizable foreign contingent in attendance and it was good to see people such as Mike Hernandez and Mark Gardner.

Adam from Momotaro Koi was asked to judge at the show this year, and listening to his take on the process was quite illuminating to say the least.

Next year's show will be held in Kyushu. Better weather, great food, and lot's of delicious local shochu to be had! Hope to see you there. ]]> Brian http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/blogs/brian/9-wakagoi-show.html http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/blogs/socalsun/8-history-koi-history-world-1-2.html Tue, 19 Feb 2008 08:27:46 GMT THE HISTORY OF NISHIKIGOI
By Chuck Jones

KOI WORLD AND WATERGARDENS 1998-99

It’s hard to believe that the common carp has been developed in to arguably the most expensive ornament fish in the world the koi. There are koi valued at $150,000, $250,000, there's even one valued at $1.2 million. Yes, it’s truly remarkable that the lowly carp has transformed into some of the most beautiful living art treasures in the world.

Koi are descendants of the common carp, Cyprinus Carpio. Thou originally native to Eastern Europe and Persia, Carp were introduced to Europe, North America, South America, Asia and other areas of the world as a commodity in trade or to serve as food for people who were engaged in the business of settling new areas, as was the case when carp were brought to the "New World."

According to "Manual to Nishikigoi," a book by Dr. Takeo Kuroki, the word "koi" was first used about 2,500 years ago in China. Confucius' son, born in 533 B.C., was presented a fish by King Shoko of Ro. The fish was named "Koi." Subsequently, carp were used as the main subject in Chinese artwork and carvings and some Chinese rulers kept carp in captivity for their viewing pleasure.

While there may have been natural mutations of carp which featured patches of color on them in China, the Japanese are generally recognized as the creators of Nishikigoi (LivingJewels). The Japanese werethefirst to take the naturally occurring mutations and develop them further. Japanese rice farmers kept them as food fish but somewhere between the 1820s and 1830s, they began to breed some of the carp for aesthetic appeal.

The farmers kept the colorful carp as pets for themselves. As the farmers developed different color types of koi, interest in koi spread throughout the prefecture (similar to a state in the United States) and then throughout Japan. National interest for koi in Japan increased tremendously when Emperor Hirohito was presented koi for the Imperial Palace moat in 1914.

Most people involved in the hobby consider the Niigata prefecture in Japan as the birthplace from which the Nishikigoi sprang. More specifically, areas in and around Ojiya City in Niigata are regarded as the home of Nishikigoi, and today there are more than 100 different color types and sub-types of koi.

Wild carp were called "Koi" in Japan, but the term was also used to describe colored carp. The name Nishikigoi was given to these "colored koi carp" during World War 11.

Today colored carp are simply called koi and the term has evolved into the common name for them worldwide.

The term Nishikigoi is used as a sort of given, or formal, name. Nishikigoi is used to describe them in written text or describing the fish formally to Japanese people who do not have working knowledge of the fish. Many people in Japan recognize the term Nishikigoi but may not be familiar with the term koi.

So how did the koi farmers take common carp and create the beautiful colored koi carp we now recognize? They simply used three naturally occurring original color mutations of wild carp, crossing them to further develop the varieties of koi that exist today.

It can take 15 to 20 years for a koi Breeder to produce one fish representative of a new type of koi. Even after that one fish is produced, it may be years before the farmer is able to stabilize and improve the new type of koi from a reproductive standpoint. When they finally are considered to be breeding "true," generally no more than 50 percent of the offspring are the desired new type. Then of the total hatch that did breed true, only two to five percent are generally of acceptable quality to sell to the master koi farmers in Japan.

Today, the Japanese term for a wild carp is Magoi. The three naturally occurring color mutations of the wild carp are Tetsu (Iron Magoi), Doro (Mud Magoi), and Asagi (Asagi Magoi).

The skin tone of the Tetsu is close to the black on Showas. Showas are black fish with red and white patterns. Some believe the Showa developed from the Testu because of their similar black coloring. The Showa variety is a fairly recent development in the koi world. It was first produced in 1927.

The Doro has a light browntone to its skin and may have been a mutation from Tetsu. It is speculated that Chagoi (brown koi) and Ogon (metallic koi) may have been created by mating Tetsu (iron) Magoi, Doro (mud) Magoi and Doitsugoi (German scaled Carp). Doitsugoi were brought to Japan from Europe to be used as food carp around 100 years ago.

The modern Asagi has a dark blue and light blue reticulated pattern to its scales and is a direct descendant of the Asagi

Magoi. Asagi are considered to be one of the original Nishikigoi types. Asagi Magoi and then Asagi led to the development of a number of different types of koi. Including: Kohaku (white koi with red pattern); Taisho Sanshoku or Sanke (white koi with red and black pattern); Koromo or Goromo (white koi with red pattern with gray, black, blue or purple reticulation to scales in the red pattern) and Shiro Bekko (white koi with black pattern).

The Asagi Magoi are also responsible for the development of a family tree that included Ki-Matsuba (yellow koi with black reticulation on its scales) and Aka Matsuba (orange koi with black reticulation to its scales). In Japan, many highlights in history are dated and described according to the reign of a particular Emperor. These "eras" in history are also used to date and signify the history of koi development. ]]> SoCalSun http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/blogs/socalsun/8-history-koi-history-world-1-2.html http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/blogs/socalsun/7-history-koi-history-world-2-2.html Tue, 19 Feb 2008 08:23:56 GMT BUNKA AND BUNSEI ERA [1804 to 1829]

During this time the first red koi were produced in Japan. At first, the red (hi) appeared on their cheeks. White koi were also produced and crossed with the red cheeked koi and the result was white koi with red abdomens.


TENPO ERA [1830 to 1843]

Breeding efforts continued to strive for changes that would make the koi more appealing to the eye. White koi with the red located on the forehead (Zukinkaburi), a completely red head (Menkaburi) red lips (Kuchibeni) and finally red spots on the black (Satassa) were developed.


MEIJA ERA [1868 to 1912]

In 1888, the white koi with red spots on their backs developed into the modern Kohaku. A koi farmer named Gosuke in Utogi (now Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture) was responsible for creating the modern Kohaku.


The German scaled carp were first brought to Japan in this era also. These German scaled carp were crossed with normal-scaled koi to create what are called Doitsu scaled koi. Today koi farmers have created German (Doitsu) scaled versions of most types of koi.


TAISHO ERA [1912 to 1926]

The white koi with red and black pattern (Taisho Sanshoku or Sanke) was named in honor of the Taisho era. A Sanke was first shown at an exhibition in 1915 but was believed to be 15 years old at the time. If so, that would mean it was actually born in the Meija era. In 1917, excellent bloodlines of Sanke were developed and Sanke farmers of today can still trace their parent fish bloodlines back to these origins. The Shiro Utsuri (black koi with white pattern) was developed in 1925.


SHOWA ERA [1927 to January 1989]

Many feel the Showa Era had by far the largest impact on koi history in terms of development and improvement in the quality of existing types of koi. During this time koi keeping went from being a local hobby to a national hobby and subsequently to a national business. Koi farmers moved from raising koi as a hobby to making it a full time career. With an expanding market and the number of koi farmers rising, competition and a desire to create new types of koi led to many improvements. The hobby and sales spread worldwide during the Showa Era as well.


The final member of the "Big Three," the Showa(black koi with red and white pattern) was first produced in 1927. Showa were created by crossing Ki Utsuri (black koi with yellow pattern) and Kohaku (white koi with red pattern). Because the yellow and red color mix resulted in a yellowish brown pattern, improvements were sought to improve the color to a red.


Starting in 1964, a gentleman named Kobayashi began accomplishing the improvements in red quality. Today the Kobayashi bloodline of Showa is the main quality bloodline that koi breeders are using to improve Showa.


In 1929, the first Gin Rin (diamond scaled) koi were developed. The reflective quality of the scales earned this breed its name, as they resembled a shiny diamond in the light. The Gin Rin is layered on top of color pigments on the scales.


After 25 years of patient breeding Ogon (metallic yellow koi) were produced in 1946. The modern Lemon Ogon (Yamabuki Ogon) as we know it today was developed in 1957 by crossing the rare Kigoi (non-metallic yellow koi) with the Ogon (metallic yellow koi). This resulted in a significant quality improvement of metallic koi and has led to many metallic versions the other non-metal types of koi.


The Oranji Ogon (metallic orange koi) was developed in 1953 and the Kujaku (metallic white koi with metallic orange pattern and gray or black Matsuba "net" pattern) was first produced in 1960. In the last nine years Kujaku have seen marked increases in quality development and popularity as a result.

Ai-Goromo (white with gray, black, blue or purple reticulated scale) inside their red pattern were created in 1950 by crossing male Kohaku (white koi with red pattern) with female Asagi (dark blue and light blue reticulated net pattern scaled koi which sometimes has orange abdomen color).

Tacho Yoshioka realized a goal of pro producing the first Midori-goi (green koi) in, 1963 after 20 years of effort. Unfortunately the gene to produce Midori-goi is very recessive so few are produced, and most generally turn black as adults.


HEISEI ERA {January 1989---Present}

There are koi farmers today who would like to namea newkoi in honor of this Emperor's era. Some breeders have coined the Doitsu Yamato Nishiki (the leather German scaled metallic Sanke) with the name Heisi Nishiki. Not all farm of this type of koi have adopted this name and still refer to them as Doitsu Yamato-Nishiki.


Chuck Jones is the owner and president of wet Japanese Koi, an importer of Japanese koi and distributor of pond products in Dahlonega, Ga. Contact him at 1085 Mountain Cove Road Dahlonega, GA 30533. Or e-mail him wetpets@stc.net

http://www.geocities.com/koifla/History.htm ]]> SoCalSun http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/blogs/socalsun/7-history-koi-history-world-2-2.html http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/blogs/socalsun/4-where-can-i-join-koi-club-pomona-area.html Tue, 19 Feb 2008 07:35:26 GMT ;) :confused: :rolleyes: ;) :confused: :rolleyes: ]]> SoCalSun http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/blogs/socalsun/4-where-can-i-join-koi-club-pomona-area.html http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/blogs/bob-winkler/3-blog.html Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:20:09 GMT so whats the blog thingie all about? :cool: so whats the blog thingie all about? :cool: ]]> Bob Winkler http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/blogs/bob-winkler/3-blog.html http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/blogs/brian/2-all-japan-reunions.html Sat, 02 Feb 2008 16:39:50 GMT Had a great time at the All-Japan show today after being unable to attend the previous years' show. Was great to see so many familiar faces again. Apologies to those of you that I may have missed, and thanks to all made it a point to come over and say hello.

Hopefully will see more of you again at the Wakagoi show. ]]> Brian http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/blogs/brian/2-all-japan-reunions.html