Top Picks from This Week’s Online Release - Sanke, Kujaku, Gin Matsuba, Kohaku
This week marks a milestone at Byer Koi Farm as we continue to grow the Japanese side of our business alongside our own UK breeding programme. By combining homebred koi with carefully selected Japanese koi, we’re able to offer an even wider range of top-quality koi covering more varieties.
Back in February, I travelled to Niigata to handpick tosai, which we then brought back and raised here to nisai. Now, with the harvest complete, it’s exciting to see how they’ve developed.
From Hosokai, my focus was on Kujaku, supported by a few Gin Matsuba and a Kohaku. From Marudo, I selected exclusively Sanke.
Before we get into my top picks from each group, please see yesterday's blog which shows footage from the harvest so you can see them in action. And you can see videos of small groups of these koi on the blog here as well.
Top Picks From This Week's Online Release Of Japanese Koi
1. Sanke
This Sanke carries an intricate two step beni(red) pattern with the main beni pattern running cleanly across the body. The hi is thick and even, with sharp kiwa edges. The sumi placement is bold and balanced, landing strongly on the shoulder and again toward the tail, helping anchor the pattern. The shiroji (white ground) is bright and clean, providing crisp contrast.
Why it stands out: textbook step pattern, high-quality hi, and strong sumi placement creating excellent balance.
2. Sanke
With a slightly more open pattern, this Sanke displays a playful distribution of sumi patches over its strong beni foundation. The white face and clean shiroji give it a refreshing look, while the red across the head forms a neat mask. The sumi shows good inky depth and is well spaced along the dorsal line, ensuring the koi looks interesting from every angle. This sanke also has a textbook sumi pattern, with the patches of sumi flowing along the body like stepping stones across a pond.
Why it stands out: clean, bright face with well-balanced sumi patches and strong growth potential.
3. Gin Matsuba
This Gin Matsuba is a fantastic example of the variety, with an even silver ground overlaid by a tidy, consistent matsuba pattern across every scale. The body is slender but strong, with excellent symmetry down the dorsal line. The lustre of the skin is bright and reflective — a key point for metallic varieties — and this koi already shows the shine needed to become a pond centerpiece.
Why it stands out: even, tidy matsuba paired with a clean, metallic sheen.
4. Kujaku
The Kujaku combines a classic red beni pattern with striking matsuba and metallic skin. The head shows a bold red plate and is well placed, forming islands of red that contrast against the bright white and metallic lustre. This fish has both elegance and presence, with great promise for further refinement as the matsuba deepens with age, and the fukurin develops around the scales.
Why it stands out: excellent balance of beni and matsuba and metallic skin; strong metallic sheen ensures presence in the pond.
5. Kohaku
This Kohaku displays a traditional three-step pattern with thick, even hi and sharp kiwa edges. The white ground is particularly impressive here — bright and blemish-free, making the red patches stand out. The body is well proportioned with a broad head and good shoulders and clean fins. As it matures, the simplicity and boldness of the pattern will only grow in impact.
Why it stands out: simplicity and refinement — a strong example of a three-step Kohaku with excellent shiroji. A koi show quality example.
