Koi Breeds Names in English with Their Pictures

Koi are decorative pond fish admired for their bright colors, balanced body shape, and graceful movement. Each koi breed is carefully developed to show specific color patterns, markings, and scale styles that make it different from others. Some varieties are known for bold red and white patches, while others display black, gold, silver, or mixed tones. Understanding these breed names in English helps readers clearly identify and compare each type. In this article, you will learn Koi Breeds Names in English with Their Pictures, making it easy to learn and recognize every koi variety in a simple way.

Table of Contents

20 Names of Koi Breeds

Kohaku
Sanke
Showa
Utsuri
Bekko
Asagi
Shusui
Tancho
Goshiki
Ogon
Kujaku
Koromo
Hikari
Ginrin
Doitsu
Matsuba
Chagoi
Soragoi
Ochiba
Kumonryu

Names of Koi Breeds in English with Pictures

Kohaku
Kohaku is a white-bodied koi with bold red patterns on top. It is the most famous and traditional koi variety in Japan, valued for clean white skin and balanced red markings.
Sanke
Sanke is a white koi with red and small black markings. The black never appears on the head, and the variety is admired for its elegant, balanced, and refined color placement.
Showa
Showa is a black-based koi with red and white patterns layered over the body. Unlike Sanke, black appears on the head, giving it a stronger and more dramatic appearance.
Utsuri
Utsuri is a black koi with bold contrasting white, red, or yellow markings. The deep black base makes the lighter colors stand out strongly in pond water.
Bekko
Bekko is a single-colored koi—white, red, or yellow—with small black spots on the body. It has a simple and clean pattern without heavy color mixing.
Asagi
Asagi is a traditional blue-gray koi with red or orange on the belly and fins. It has a neat net-like scale pattern across its back.
Shusui
Shusui is the scaleless (Doitsu) version of Asagi. It has smooth skin with a straight row of dark scales along the dorsal line.
Tancho
Tancho is a white koi with a single red circular mark on the head. The mark resembles Japan’s national flag and is highly prized.
Goshiki
Goshiki means “five colors” and combines red, white, black, blue, and gray tones. The body often shows a dark net pattern under red markings.
Ogon
Ogon is a single-colored metallic koi, usually gold, platinum, or yellow. It is valued for its bright shine and solid, unbroken color.
Kujaku
Kujaku is a metallic white koi with black reticulated scales and red or orange markings. The net pattern resembles peacock feathers.
Koromo
Koromo is similar to Kohaku but has blue or black edging around the red patterns. The scales create a net-like overlay effect.
Hikari
Hikari refers to metallic koi varieties that have shiny, reflective scales. The body glows under sunlight and appears bright in ponds.
Ginrin
Ginrin koi have sparkling diamond-like scales that reflect light strongly. The glittering effect makes them stand out clearly in water.
Doitsu
Doitsu koi are German-scaled varieties with very few or no scales. Their smooth skin gives them a unique and clean appearance.
Matsuba
Matsuba is a single-colored koi with black centers in each scale, forming a pinecone-like pattern across the body.
Chagoi
Chagoi is a brown koi known for its friendly behavior and fast growth. It often becomes large and interacts comfortably with humans.
Soragoi
Soragoi is a solid gray koi with calm temperament and steady growth. It adds a peaceful and balanced look to ponds.
Ochiba
Ochiba means “fallen leaves.” It has gray or blue-gray skin with brown leaf-like markings resembling autumn leaves floating on water.
Kumonryu
Kumonryu is a black and white koi whose pattern changes with seasons. Its markings can shift dramatically over time.

Names of Koi Breeds in English with Pictures

Kikokuryu
Budo
Aka
Ki
Shiro
Hi
Midori
Yamabuki
Platinum
Hariwake
Kikusui
Yamatonishiki
Kin
Ginga
Benigoi
Hajiro
Hoshikin
Kanoko
Kawarimono
Karasu

Types of Koi Names in English with Pictures

Kikokuryu
Kikokuryu is a metallic black and white koi that belongs to the Doitsu group. Its shiny skin reflects light beautifully, and its pattern can change with age, temperature, and water conditions.
Budo
Budo koi display deep grape-like red or purplish coloration. The name means “grape” in Japanese, and the rich tone gives this variety a bold and uncommon appearance in ponds.
Aka
Aka refers to solid red koi varieties. These fish have consistent red coloration across the body without additional markings, creating a strong and simple visual impact.
Ki
Ki koi are yellow-colored varieties that range from soft lemon shades to deep golden tones. Their bright color adds warmth and visibility to any pond setting.
Shiro
Shiro means white and refers to pure white koi varieties. These koi are valued for clean, snow-like skin quality without blemishes or mixed coloration.
Hi
Hi describes the red pigmentation seen on koi. Varieties labeled under Hi typically emphasize strong, vibrant red coloration as their dominant visual feature.
Midori
Midori koi show greenish body tones, which are rare in koi breeding. This unusual coloration makes them highly interesting to collectors seeking something different.
Yamabuki
Yamabuki is a bright yellow metallic koi known for intense shine and smooth color consistency. It stands out clearly even in deep pond water.
Platinum
Platinum koi are solid metallic white fish with a brilliant reflective body. Their smooth shine gives them a clean and luxurious pond presence.
Hariwake
Hariwake are metallic white koi with yellow or orange patterns. The contrast between the shiny white base and warm-colored markings creates strong visual appeal.
Kikusui
Kikusui are Doitsu-scaled metallic koi with orange or red patterns over a bright white body. Their smooth skin enhances the clarity of colors.
Yamatonishiki
Yamatonishiki is the metallic version of Sanke. It features white skin with red and black markings combined with a reflective, shimmering scale surface.
Kin
Kin means gold and refers to metallic golden koi varieties. These koi shine brightly and are often associated with prosperity and good fortune symbolism.
Ginga
Ginga koi have sparkling, galaxy-like scale patterns across their body. The shimmering effect gives them a starry appearance when swimming under sunlight.
Benigoi
Benigoi are solid deep red koi with even color distribution. They are appreciated for strong pigmentation and steady growth in pond environments.
Hajiro
Hajiro are black koi with distinct white markings on the tips of their fins. The contrast between dark body and light fins is visually striking.
Hoshikin
Hoshikin is not a color type but a respected koi bloodline known for producing high-quality patterns, strong body structure, and excellent skin clarity.
Kanoko
Kanoko koi display a spotted red pattern that resembles deer markings. The speckled appearance gives them a delicate and textured visual effect.
Kawarimono
Kawarimono includes koi varieties that do not fit into standard classifications. This group contains many unusual and experimental color patterns.
Karasu
Karasu koi are mostly solid black with very dark appearance. Their deep coloration creates a bold and mysterious contrast in bright ponds.