Shiro Utsuri – from Hero to Zero

The Shiro Utsuri is one of the varieties of koi that I keep. 'Utsuri' is the term applied to a koi that has a single base colour of white (shiro utsuri), or red (hi utsuri), or yellow (ki utsuri). A Shiro Utsuri is white base with black markings. The black markings (sumi) must be deep, solid, and shiny lacquer-black. Sumi actually develops as the koi grows older. Undeveloped sumi may appear grayish instead of solid black on a young koi.  In fact, choosing a shiro utsuri at a young age involves good anticipation of how well the sumi will develop in the next few years. The base colour of white must not exhibit any sign of tint of a different colour, especially yellow.

I also kept Showa which is one of the variety of koi like a Shiro Utsuri but with Red (hi) markings. The Showa has a black body with red and white markings or some even say, a white body with red and black markings. The hi (red) markings on the white body must be solid, deep, and evenly-coloured throughout the entire body. Some has said that a good Shiro Utsuri is like a Showa without the red pattern.

  One of my Showa.

A koi is either a good Shiro Utsuri or a good Showa, not both. Difference is in the red markings.

Over the years of koi keeping, I have the unpleasant experience of faint red markings or spots appearing on some of my Shiro Utsuri. This happens to about 50% of my young Shiros that I bought over the years. They are excellent specimens of Shiro Utsuri when young (less than 2 years old), some of which are from reputed bloodlines and breeders but somewhat develop orange/red spots (not solid red markings like in a Showa!)  a few years later. An excellent Shiro Utsuri has now become a poor example of a Showa or worst, cannot even be classified as a Showa!)

  Two of my Shiros that became “Shirowa”! Hopefully, the red markings on the one on the right will go away as the fish aged.

Fact of the matter is that the Shiro Utsuri as a variety is developed from Showa over many years of selective breeding. So, it is natural that they still carry some Showa genes in them. As the fish aged, the red markings may appear in some of the fish. Some “shiro utsuri” are actually offsprings of Showa parents that happens to be white and black with no red (until later where some Red appears!). I actually heard of  Showa that has its red markings fading away as it grows bigger.

I think it would be better to buy a matured Shiro Utsuri next time, rather than to buy a few of the younger ones. Cost more but it will save the owner some heart-ache a few years down the road.