Ikarashi Koi Farm(Niigata)

A New Yellow Variant Kawarigoi is Born

Expanding the Possibilities of Goshiki: The Yellow Goshiki “Tamausagi” (Part 2)

In recent years, the Niigata Prefectural Inland Water Fisheries Experiment Station has announced the “Yellow Gosanke,” an increasing number of breeders specializing in unique koi varieties have been working on developing yellow-coloured Nishikigoi.

Igarashi Koi Farm in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, is undeniably at the forefront of this innovation. Toshinobu Ikarashi, who describes his work as a “niche industry” that creates koi no one else does, shared the story behind the birth of the new yellow variant koi, “Tamausagi”.

For improvement, I use Karashi koi from Western Japan.

It has excellent compatibility with ginrin, producing beautiful silver sheen.

— The original bloodline of Tamausagi comes from Karashi koi, but is Karashi koi variety easy to use for breeding improvement?

Toshinobu: I think the original Karashi koi, with a stronger bloodline, might be challenging to work with. For example, Sakai (Sakai Fish Farm, Hiroshima) has crossed Karashi koi with Kohaku. Konishi also crosses Karashi koi with Chagoi, but they are not pure Chagoi. When I was shown the Chagoi he uses as parents, they were chocolate-coloured, so I believe they might have Ochiba or Kohaku in their lineage.

Ginrin Tamausagi / 2-year-old female. The strong influence of Goshiki blood gives it a rich red hue.