The History of Showa:
It was developed in 1927, in Nigata, by Jukichi Hoshino, who crossed a Ki Utsuri with a Kohaku. In 1965 the strain was improved by crossing female Showa with male Sanke, resulting in the deep scarlet hi, glossy black and snow-white skin we appreciate today.
Showa identification:
Showa closely resemble their forebears, for Sanke, as both varieties are red, black and white. However, Showa are black fish with red and white markings. The traditional Showa usually has red as the dominant colour, with sumi and white in roughly equal proportions.
Koi Definitions:
Hi Showa - More than half the body viewed from above is red
Kaga Showa - Shadowy black reticulated marking over white
Tategoi - 'Unfinished' koi of any age that should continue to improve
Kindai Showa - Where white skin predominates
Doitsu - Koi with no scales other than the enlarged scales along the lateral line and two lines running either side of the dorsal fin
Sumi - Black |
