Showa Koi (shō – wah)
BLACK KOI with RED and WHITE MARKINGS   

Showa is another of the very popular koi varieties for Japanese koi ponds and water gardens. When you search for quality koi for sale, look for Showa koi that have pleasing Kohaku pattern elements with the addition of black bands, or sumi pattern as seen on Shiro Utsuri.   As a breeder of Japanese koi fish, Kloubec Koi Farm produces Showa and butterfly koi.

Whereas Sanke have red and black markings on the white ground, Showa have red markings on white patterns formed on the black background. They have much more Sumi than the Sanke. We have discerned such different arrangement by observing the processes of fry development. Kohaku and Taisho Sanshoku are almost completely white when freshly hatched. Young fry of Showa varieties (including Showa Sanshoku, Shiro Utsuri and Hi Utsuri, etc.), on the other hand, are almost completely black when just emerged from eggs. As days go by, white patterns become visible against the black background, and red markings will soon appear on the white patterns. We should, therefore, say that Showa have black texture.
 
The Sumi of Showa is very different from that of Sanke. While the latter look more like western oil paintings, the former carry the tone of oriental black-and-white paintings (with ink). Additionally, Showa have Sumi appearing at the joint of the pectoral fins,(motogoro). In other words, the Sumi of Showa seem to be all connected below the surface and encompass the body. Consequently, Showa  appear quite magnificent.