Koi Variety Spotlight: Ki Utsuri - The Unique Black and Yellow Gem of the Koi World
Koi carp have captivated enthusiasts for decades with their vibrant colours and graceful movements, each variety showcasing its own unique charm. Among the many types of koi, the Ki Utsuri stands out as one of the most striking. The vivid contrast of yellow and black on the Ki Utsuri koi brings to mind the bold colour patterns seen in nature on animals that naturally draw attention like bumblebees.
And that is a good enough reason to make Ki Utsuri the subject of our first Koi Variety Spotlight!
In this blog post, we’ll explore the key attributes that make the Ki Utsuri koi such a sought-after variety, focussing on it's appearance, including the colours and pattern. There are very few Ki Utsuri breeders in Japan, with one of the best being Maruhiro - who supplied our Ki Utsuri brood stock. I'll do some investigating when I'm next in Japan (Feb 25) on the history and origins of this variety and hopefully gleam some useful tips on them from Maruhiro.
What is a Ki Utsuri Koi?
The name Ki Utsuri is derived from the Japanese words "Ki," meaning yellow, and "Utsuri," meaning reflection or transition. This aptly describes the koi’s striking pattern, where bold patches of yellow and black flow seamlessly across its body with the pattern alternating from front to back, creating a contrasting, almost chequerboard-like effect as the colours oppose each other on either side of the koi. While a perfectly neat black and yellow chequerboard pattern is exceptionally rare, the alternating pattern elements are what give Ki Utsuri its unique and eye-catching appeal.
Appearance: The Hallmark of Ki Utsuri
A common question that arises with all Utsuri varieties is whether the black colour represents the pattern or the base colour. Specifically, for Ki Utsuri, one might wonder: is it a black koi with a yellow pattern or a yellow koi with a black pattern? As a breeder, I observe the development of these fish from larva stage, where only the black larvae develop into Utsuri koi. While other opinions may exist, I consistently see Ki Utsuri developing from black koi larva so our perspective on this age-old question is a Ki Utsuri is a black koi with a yellow pattern.
The primary characteristic of the Ki Utsuri koi is its striking black base, overlaid with vibrant, mustard-yellow patterns. Ideally, the black should be a deep jet black, covering a significant portion of the body, including the head, fins, and tail. The yellow markings should be clear, well-defined, and bright, creating a compelling visual contrast.
The best Ki Utsuri koi display a balanced distribution of black and yellow across their bodies, ensuring that no single colour dominates too heavily. The quality of a high-grade specimen is determined by the depth of the black (referred to as sumi) and the vibrancy of the yellow (Ki). A high-quality fish has a balanced pattern that highlights its natural beauty as it swims. The sumi appears in eye-catching, stripe-like designs that wrap around the koi, connecting above and below the side line. These can be both narrow stripes and thicker bands, creating a harmonious look that adds to the charm of the Ki Utsuri.
Let's take a moment to contrast the sumi on a Ki Utsuri (and all Utsuri varieties) against a different types of sumi found in another koi variety, namely, Sanke. On Sanke, sumi typically appears as small patches of black, which are generally round in shape a bit like that shape of a pebble, and primarily located on the koi's back. This more sporadic distribution of black contrasts sharply with the continuous and flowing banded nature of the sumi in Ki Utsuri. By comparing and contrasting, we can better understand the unique style and elegance of each type of sumi.
Origin and Development
Ki Utsuri koi are part of the Utsurimono family, which also includes the more common Shiro Utsuri (black and white) and Hi Utsuri (black and red) varieties.
Buying Tips for Ki Utsuri Koi
When considering a Ki Utsuri koi, it’s essential to factor in the age of the fish, as this can significantly influence your choice.
Here are some key tips to guide your purchase:
Balance of Colours: Look for a koi that exhibits a roughly even balance between sumi (black) and Ki (yellow).
Coverage of Sumi: When assessing the pattern, consider the distribution of sumi across all parts of the koi, including the head, body, and fins. A good Ki Utsuri should have a well-developed pattern that enhances its overall appearance. Look for a black and yellow pattern that wraps around the body, and alternates from side to side.
Motoguru Consideration: Pay attention to the motoguru, which refers to the sumi markings at the base of the pectoral fins. This feature is often a strong indicator of future development potential. I use the quality of motoguru in all the Utsuri types as a key indicator of future potential when we are selecting koi through our breeding process. When selecting koi for your pond, having motoguru adds to the visual appeal of the variety but it's not a strict requirement. Its presence is generally a promising sign, but it is no guarantee of future quality as many factors can influence development. And it's omission need not be a concern.
Environmental Factors:
The environment significantly influences the development of all koi, and understanding this connection is essential. There may be differing opinions among breeders and hobbyists about the impact of various factors, but there can be no doubt that good water quality and husbandry are essential for bringing out the best in your koi, and this applies to all varieties. For Ki Utsuri and other Utsuri types, factors such as light levels, temperature, diet, and water chemistry can significantly influence the intensity and distribution of the patterns. From our experience, ponds with lower light levels tend to promote better sumi development in Utsuri varieties. Ultimately, while many factors contribute to a koi's development, a good example should thrive with proper care and pond maintenance.
Expectations for Buyers:
The Unique Yellow Colour (Ki)
One of the distinctive features that makes Ki Utsuri so special is the vibrant Ki (yellow) colour. Very few koi varieties showcase yellow as a primary colour, and even fewer do so in a patterned form. This rarity adds to the allure of Ki Utsuri, making them a standout among koi varieties. The bright, mustard-yellow hue creates a striking contrast against the black sumi, further emphasising the fish's bold and dynamic appearance. For enthusiasts who appreciate something different, the Ki Utsuri offers a unique and eye-catching alternative to the more common red, white, and black koi varieties.
Fukurin
If you appreciate the beauty of Fukurin on a koi, then the Ki Utsuri should be on your shopping list. Fukurin occurs when the skin grows around the edges of the scales, creating a subtle 3D effect that gives the fish a sculpted, honeycomb-like appearance. It's a hallmark of excellent skin quality. This effect, often likened to the dimples on a golf ball, adds height and depth. The enhancement in height and depth from Fukurin is only a slight change in the actual surface texture. However, this small physical detail per scale when it features across all the scales on a koi, creates a significant visual impact. It amplifies how light and shadow play across the koi as the fish moves enhancing the koi’s overall visual appeal. Interestingly, in our experience, Ki Utsuri tend to have a higher chance of developing Fukurin compared to almost all other non-metallic Wagoi (fully scaled) koi.
Sumi Development.
On all Utsuri varieties, the quality of the sumi is one of the most, if not the most, important factors in appreciating the koi. Sumi is an Utsuri koi’s defining feature, adding depth, contrast, and visual interest as the pattern changes over time.
When purchasing a Ki Utsuri koi, it’s important to keep in mind that the sumi pattern will develop over time. If you are looking for an Utsuri koi with the highest quality, thick, and glossy sumi, you are more likely to achieve that with a Showa, or perhaps a Shiro Utsuri, followed by Hi Utsuri, rather than a Ki Utsuri. In terms of pattern, Ki Utsuri koi have a similar chance to the other Utsuri varieties of achieving neat, consolidated black markings. However, sumi on any of the Utsuri varieties often develops in a more unpredictable manner compared to the uniformity of red patterns seen in varieties like Kohaku. Sumi on Utsuri koi tends to grow, recede, and shift in intensity as the fish matures, sometimes resulting in less homogeneous or perfectly neat markings. This variability is part of the charm of Utsuri koi. For example, we have customers who take this to the extreme and prefer to buy Utsuri koi at tosai (one summer old) with little to no sumi present, so they can enjoy watching the transformation as the sumi develops and interacts with the other colours to form the final pattern. Buyers should have some tolerance for how the sumi pattern ultimately settles, as this is part of the journey with Utsuri varieties. A final note: Utsuri koi that develop thick, inky black sumi with consolidated and well-balanced pattern markings are rare, and customers should expect a hefty price tag when such high-quality sumi is present.
Final Thoughts
Finding a Ki Utsuri with a neat and tidy pattern, where the sumi consolidates over time into a relatively homogeneous black-and-yellow banded pattern, is achievable. However, part of the appeal of Ki Utsuri lies in their unpredictability—this unpredictability makes each fish unique. Whether the sumi develops into bold stripes or softer, more diffused markings, the transformation is a fascinating process that enhances the appreciation of the koi as it matures. As long as the overall balance between the black and yellow remains pleasing, the koi will continue to be an impressive addition to any collection.
Reviewed By: Woody of @koi_in_the_uk (over on instagram)
