The ever-increasing number of Koi varieties and their seemingly arbitrary classifications are apt to confuse the new koi keeper. The abundance of Japanese names, too, can be bewildering. Unfortunately no ‘Westernised’ names and groupings have been devised and so we have to adhere to the traditionally accepted Japanese variety names and classifications.

Most classifications are made up of Japanese words that describe a single aspect of the koi. as you can imagine, many koi are produced that do not fit easily into the confines of a specific variety. The Japanese, are adept at accepting new and interesting koi (and thinking up new names) and their classifications for showing purposes reflect this.

So although your koi may not have a specific variety name, you should be able to place it, however tenuously, in one of the classifications below:

Kohaku	Taisho Sanke	Showa Sanshoku	Bekko
Utsurimono	Asagi	Shusui	Koromo
kawarimono	Philharmonic	Hikari-Utsurimono	Hikarimoyo-mono
Tancho	Kinginrin	Goshiki	Doitsu