Page 51 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 75

Japanese means ‘gold’, and while Kin Showa Koi don’t and cultivate the ‘journey’ aspect of Showa Koi, much
necessarily have golden colours, the metallic sheen like they did in various other traditional arts such as
gives them a silky look which is where much of the bonsai, calligraphy, and ikebana.
appeal of Kin Showa lies.
In many ways, owning a Showa Koi allows hobbyists to
Doitsu Showa: Doitsu Showa is another interesting partake in this process, watching as the Koi’s beauty
variation where the Showa pattern appears on a Koi reveals itself over the years – much like the grace of
that has very few or no scales at all, a characteristic slow, mindful transformation celebrated in other
referred to as Doitsu. Doitsu Koi originate from Japanese arts.
crossbreeding traditional Japanese Koi with German
mirror carp, which resulted in Koi with smooth, I write a regular blog on my website to keep everyone
scaleless bodies. In a Doitsu Showa, the typical black, informed on what is happening at the Byer Koi Farm:
red, and white colouration is retained, but it plays out www.byerkoifarm.co.uk
over a smooth, reflective skin rather than across a
THE SHOWA’S scaled surface. The absence of scales often causes the
TRI-COLOUR colours and patterns to appear more intense, especially
the contrast between the sumi and hi. Some Doitsu
PATTERN AND Showa will have a row of larger mirror-like scales along
RICH HISTORY their dorsal line, adding another visual dimension to
their appearance.
CONTRIBUTE Final Thoughts

TO ITS The Showa’s tri-colour pattern, evolving sumi
ENDURING development, and rich history within the Go Sanke AMANDA BYER
contribute to its enduring popularity. For those who
POPULARITY appreciate striking aesthetics combined with the PLAYS AN
excitement of watching a Koi change over time, the ACTIVE PART
Showa can be a delightful addition to any pond.
IN RUNNING
As a breeder myself, I often reflect on the work of those
who first spotted the early signs of sumi and developed THE BYER
the original Showa variety. The recognition of sumi as a KOI FARM
developing trait must have required years of careful
observation and that’s before the many years it must
have taken to refine the sumi. The patience and
foresight in recognising and refining the sumi trait in
Showa Koi were likely influenced by broader Japanese
cultural values, which honoured the slow unfolding of
beauty and the power of small, deliberate steps in
achieving perfection over time.

The process of developing the Showa variety speaks to
the Japanese cultural focus on mastery, discipline, and
respect for the natural evolution of beauty. This cultural
foundation likely enabled early breeders to appreciate

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