The body changes depending on the condition; ultimately,

the one that wins has the glossy red.

— Kanno’s Gosiki variety is impressive for its conventional black Gosiki and metallic body colours Goshiki. 

Hirasawa: Goshiki (Photo 11), which had a luminous appearance, won the overall championship consecutively at the 45th All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show and the 31st Young Koi Show. It was two years old and had a blueish tone, but perhaps the Narita Koi Farms Japan water suited it, so it became luminous there. However, now it’s not shining at all. It’s a male and has been used as a parent. It’s probably around 60cm in size.

— What are the elements you look for in parent koi?

Hirasawa: I look for a good body in females and exceptionally high quality in males. The Koi won the overall Young Koi Show, or the other koi Kokugyo Award, 50bu (12), at the 50th All Japan Koi Show; these were all males and often bred. The Sogyo category (13) overall in the 51st All Japan Koi Show is a female, and I’ve been using her as a parent.

— Are good fry being born?

Hirasawa: That’s the tricky part. I had good ones this year, but last year, I didn’t. It might also depend on compatibility with the males. When using Koi as the overall winner of the Young Koi Show or getting an award like Kokugyon 50bu, people think they can come up with something good, don’t they? But that’s not how Koi works. Anyone could produce them easily if it were just about crossing good ones.

— Do you sometimes bring the parent koi from elsewhere?

Hirasawa: I have also brought quite a few from Yozen and Kawakami

— Do you have both production types, one with a shiny body and the other completely black?

Hirasawa: I don’t particularly differentiate between them.

— Can both types come from the same parents?

Hirasawa: That’s right. The overall winner of the Young Koi Show isn’t shining at all now. It depends on the season or the conditions.

— It’s been quite a while, but the Goshiki (14) that won the overall championship in the 65bu at the 2009 Agricultural Festival (49th) had a fantastic metallic luster, didn’t it? 

Hirasawa: That one was shining brightly.

— Was it shining continuously regardless of water temperature?

Hirasawa: That’s right. However, I haven’t seen one like that recently.

— Did you use that one as a parent?

Hirasawa: Before being the parent, it died in the mud pond. Even if someone asked for a similar Goshiki to be produced, I wonder if it would be possible. Last year, for the first time in a while, I crossed a pair of shining males and females, but I had a terrible experience. It was a complete failure. The success rate was incredibly poor. There is nothing to select.