Wet Pets: Koi - Utsuri

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Kohaku
Sanke
Showa
Utsuri
Asagi
Bekko
Goshiki
Goromo
Kujaku
Tancho
History

UTSURI
(OOT-sir-ee)

Utsuri are black koi with either a white, yellow, or orange
pattern. Utsuri are born completely black and later develop
their pattern color (window) of white, yellow, or orange.
Utsuri are different from Bekko in that Bekko are white,
yellow, or an orange base color with a black (sumi) pattern.

VARIETIES OF UTSURI

Hi Utsuri
Hi Utsuri are black koi with an orange to orangish-red pattern.
The orange pattern (window) develops on top of the black base.
The black (sumi) color of Utsuri and Showa is a flat "coal"
black that appears to have no bottom to it. This is a different
color tone of black (sumi) than Bekko and Sanke.

Ki Utsuri
Ki Utsuri are black koi with a yellow pattern. Sometimes the
yellow pattern can be almost orange and still be identified
as a Ki Utsuri.

Ki Utsuri were important in that they were developed and
popular very early in koi history. In fact, the first Showa
was produced by crossing Ki Utsuri with Kohaku.

Unfortunately the gene for Ki Utsuri is extremely recessive
and very few are born. Therefore it is not economically
feasible for a Japanese Master Farmer to attempt to "produce"
Ki Utsuri. They are then only an extremely rare recessive
"throw" from a Shiro Utsuri or Hi Utsuri hatch. The bottom
line, very few are born and even fewer are quality examples
of the type.

Kin Ki Utsuri
Kin Ki Utsuri are metallic black koi with a metallic yellow
pattern. They are derived from crossing Shiro Utsuri or Ki Utsuri
with Yamabuki (Lemon) Ogon. Because they can be created from
Shiro Utsuri and Yamabuki Ogons, the gene for them is not as
recessive as the non-metallic Ki Utsuri.

Shiro Utsuri
Shiro Utsuri are black koi with a white pattern. Shiro Utsuri
are born black and have to develop the white (window) of color
on that black base. The white color "thickens" with age and
"finishes" to a preferable "snow white" color. The black (sumi)
color on the other hand actually increases in coverage percentage
versus the white areas. As the koi goes through it's youth
and into adulthood, the amount of black may increase in
proportion to the existing white areas.