Welcome to the color koi encyclopedia, describing the different koi
breeds and koi-related terms.
Nishikigoi have been called the national fish of Japan. Hundreds of
years ago in the mountains of Niigata, the farmers in the village of Yamakoshi
noticed a red carp swimming among the black carp that they raised to supplement
their diet of rice and vegetables.
Through the years and through selective breeding, Japanese breeders
have created the over 100 named varieties of Nishikigoi that we see today.
Nishikigoi are available in sizes anywhere from four inches to over
three feet long and can be kept in a wide variety of situations, from small
aquariums to large outdoor ponds.
Today, Nishikigoi are bred not only in their place of origin, Niigata,
but all over Japan, and are exported all over the world. Nishikigoi continue
to gain worldwide popularity as the ultimate pond or garden fish.
As Nishikigoi were developed in Japan, the language of Nishikigoi is
Japanese. Japanese is used not only to name the varieties, but also for
many of the terms used to describe their colors and traits.
Often referred to as Living Jewels or works of art, I hope that you
too may discover the joy of koi keeping and the beauty of Nishikigoi.
Click on START to begin learning about the different breeds of koi,
or page down and select the specific breed you are interested in. Most of all, have fun.
Koi Breed Index
This site was created by Eduard Freeman.
Photo's and text are from "Koi Ichi Ban (Japan)"
© Copyright 1996-1998 By
Eduard Freeman