Nishikigoi Classification

Kevin Warren
May 5
6 min read

In 2022, the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) for Nishikigoi was formally established, marking a significant step in the ongoing evolution of koi classification. Initiated by a proposal from the All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, the standard was enacted following careful deliberation by the Council for the Japanese Agricultural Standards. This landmark initiative defined official terms and classifications for 21 recognized Nishikigoi varieties. Its purpose was to bring clarity and consistency to terminology within the koi community—both in Japan and abroad—reinforcing the cultural and commercial significance of these “Living Jewels.”

JAPANESE AGRICULTURAL STANDARD

(Tentative Translation)

Date of Establishment: 2022-02-24 JAS

0020: 2022

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

NISHIKIGOI－Vocabulary

Scope

This document defines terms and definitions for nishikigoi.

Normative references

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes requirements of this document. The latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. JIS Z 8102, Names of non-luminous object colours

Classification

The classification of terms shall be as follows:

a) general;

b) nishikigoi variety.

Terms and definitions

The following terms and conditions apply

General Terms and Definitions

Nishikigoi

General name of carp (Cyprinus Carpio) with appearance characteristics for appreciation.

Original Japanese Text: 錦鯉

Nishikigoi Variety

Type of Nishikigoi improved and selected according to certain appearance characteristics, and classified as the same unit.

Note 1 to entry: The variety differs from the biological species.

Appearance Characteristics

Characteristic property appearance, such as body shape, body background color, imprints, size (total length, body height, weight, etc.) and how it shines.

Note 1 to entry: The body background color is basically named in accordance with JIS Z 8102, but since Nishikigoi has an individual difference as a property of living organisms, it includes the similar colors.

Body Shape

Form of figure of appearance.

Note 1 of entry: The body shape includes such as shapes of scales and an arrangement of scales.

Imprint

Pattern made of a body background color and other partial colors.

Note 1 of entry: The color of imprint is basically named in accordance with JIS Z 8102, but since Nishikigoi has an individual difference as a nature of living organisms, it includes the similar colors.

Nishikigoi Varieties

2001 Kohaku

Nishikigoi with a white body (hereinafter referred to as “white background”), and red or scarlet imprints (hereinafter referred to as “hiban”) across the body.

Original Text to Japanese: 紅白こうはく

2002 Taisho-Sanshokau

Nishikigoi with a white background, and hiban and black imprints across the body.

Original Text to Japanese: 大正三色たいしょうく

2003 Show-Sanshoku

Nishikigoi with a black body (hereinafter referred as “black background”) and hiban and white imprints across the body.

Note 1: In general, the base of the pectoral fin is on a black background, but in the processs of growth, there are some that change from a a white background to a black background.

Note 2: Show-Sanshoku has continuous parts of black background without imprints (referred to as “utsuri-zumi”)

Original Text to Japanese: 昭和三色しょうわく

2004 Shiroutsuri

Nishikigoi with a black body and white imprints across the body.

Note 1: Shiroutsuri has utsuri-zumi

Note 2: Shiroutsuri is similar to, but distinguishable from Bekko (no. 2019), since it has a black background

Original Text to Japanese: 白写りしろうつり

2005 Goshiki

Nishikigoi with an Indigo or light blue body, except for the head, a mesh pattern on the entire dorsal part but to an arrangement of scales (referred to as “asagi background”, and hiban on the dorsal part.

Original Text to Japanese: 五色ごしき

2006 A-Ginrin

Nishikigoi with shiny golden scales (on parts of hiban etc.) or shiny silver scales (on parts of a white background, etc.) having the appearance characteristics of kohaku, taisho- sanshoku or showa sanshoku

Original Text to Japanese: 銀鱗ぎんりん

2007 B-Ginrin

Nishikigoi with shiny golden scales (on parts of hiban etc.) or shiny silver scales (on parts of a white background, etc.), but not classified as A-Ginrin.

Note 1: A-Ginrin and B-Ginrin are together called “kinginrin”

Original Text to Japanese: 銀鱗ぎんりん

2008 Kawarigoi

Nishikigoi which is not classified into the varieties specified in 2001 to 2007 and 2009 to 2021

Note 1 to entry: At Nishikigoi competitions, those with remarkable appearance characteristics and those with many appearance characteristics are classified as Kawarigoi. Once those classified as kawarigoi become remarkable popular, a new conventional name is given. Karaigoi with conventional names are, for example, beni-kikokuryu and ochiba-shigure.

Note 2 to entry: There is a possibility that those classified as kawarigoi will be independent as another variety in the future.

Original Text to Japanese: 変わり鯉かわりごい

2009 Kujaku

Nishikgoi with an adagio background, hiban on the dorsal part, and a shine whole body.

Note 1 to entry: Some kujaku have appearance characteristics of doitsugoi

Original Text to Japanese: 孔雀くじゃく

2010 Kumonryu

Nishikigoi which originally has a black background, with a black cloud-like pattern which seems like having emerged across the whole body, as white parts increased during the growth process; and having appearance characteristics of doitsugoi.

Note 1 to entry: Some kumonryu change their black cloud- like pattern frequently in a short period of time due to changes in the environment.

Note 2 to entry: Some kumonryu have hiban.

Original Text in Japanese: 九紋竜くもんりゅう

2011 Doitsugoi

Nishikigoi with almost no scales on the whole body, having their skin exposed.

Note 1 to entry: Edible carp bred in Germany were imported to Japan and crossed with various varieties of Nishikigoi, resulting in Doitsugoi. Since they strongly inherit appearance characteristics genetically, many nishikigoi varieties with appearance characteristics of doitsugoi have been produced.

Original Text in Japanese: ドイツ鯉どいつごい

2012 Hikari-moyo

Nishikgoi with imprints across the body other than a black background, and a shiny whole body.

Original Text in Japanese: 光り模様ひかりもよう

2013 Koromo

Nishikigoi with hiban across the body and the tips of scales on the hiban dyed indigo or black in a half moon shape.

Note 1 to entry: Those with the tips of scales on the hiban dyed in indigo a half moon shape, are called “ai-goromo,” and those with the tips of scales on the hiban dyed black in a half moon shape, are called “kuru-goromo” or “budo- goromo.”

Note 2 to entry: Koromo is similar to , but distinguishable from Goshiki, since it does not have an adagio background.

Original Text in Japanese: 衣ころも

2014 Tancho

Nishikigoi with a circular form of hiban on the head.

Note 1 to entry: Circular imprints may be imprints of a color other than scarlet.

Original Text in Japanese: 丹頂たんちょう

2015 kikari-utsuri

Nishikigoi with a black background, imprints across the body and a shine whole body.

Note 1 to entry: Kikari-utsuri has ustsuri-zumi

Original Text in Japanese: 光り写りひかりうつり

2016 Hikari-muji

Nishikigoi with no imprints across the body, and a shiny whole body.

Note 1 to entry: Some cultivars of hikari-muji have conventional names such as orange-gan, platinum-icon and matsuba-ogon.

Original Text in Japanese: 光り無地ひかりむじ

2017 Shusui Asagi

Number 2018 with appearance characteristics of doitsugoi.

Original Text in Japanese: 秋翠しゅうすい

2018 Asagi

Nishikigoi with an adagio background, and in general, with hiban on the abdomen.

Original Text in Japanese: 浅黄（あさぎ）

2019 Bekko

Nishikigoi with a white, yellow or red body, and clustered black imprints shaped like spots across the body.

Note 1 to entry: Those with a white body are called “Shiro Bekko”, those with a red body are called “aka Bekko”, and those with a yellow body are called “ki Bekko.”

Note 2 to entry: Bekko is similar to, but distinguishable from hiutsuri and kiutsuri #2020, since it has not a black background.

Original Text Japanese: べっ甲べっこう