The history of Koi is the history of the World. 2/2
Posted 02-19-2008 at 05:23 PM by SoCalSun
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
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
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