Daiki Tani, Tani Koi Farm（Chiba）
Beni Kumonryu embodies art with its charm that transforms endlessly.
Tani Koi Farm in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, boasts top-class production and distribution volumes in Eastern Japan, second only to Niigata.
It particularly excels in the number of varieties it produces, ranking among the top in the country. Among its diverse breeds, Tani Fish Farm is notably recognized for its expertise in producing Kumonryu, which has a history of awards at All Japan.
Did you know that new varieties leveraging the lineage of Kumonryu have been excelling in recent koi shows? That would be the Beni Kumonryu. I will revisit the history of the creation of Kumonryu while interviewing Daiki Tani, who oversees sales as the third generation, about the charm and breeding of Beni Kumonryu.
The birth of Kumonryu and Beni Kumonryu.
First, the ancestor of Beni Kumonryu, Kumoryu, dates back to around 1930 when Shinji Hoshino of Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture, purchased a hageshiro (karasugoi with a white head and nose) with delicate patterns resembling “evening shower clouds” on its head. He named it “Kumonryu”.
Originally, “Kumonryu” referred to Wagoi (a koi with scales), and koi, like the current Matsukawabake, were called Kumonryu. It is said that the current Doitsu Kumoryu originated from Karasugoi, which was born from a mutation of the Asagimagoi lineage and crossed with Shusui.
On the other hand, very little documentation is available on Beni Kumonryu. A note suggests that around 1990, at Hirashin Koi Farm in Matto-cho, Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture, Beni Kumonryu might have been created by crossing Kumonryu with Kohaku. It is also said that Kumonryu might have been crossed with Kikusui or Doitsu Kohaku to produce Beni Kumonryu, but the exact origin is unclear.
As for the Asagimagoi, the predecessor of Kumonryu, some had red pigmentation on their bellies. Therefore, it is believed that when Shinji Hoshino named it, Kumonryu with Hi patterns already existed. However, because this red pigmentation rarely extends to the back, this remains speculative.
In koi shows, many Kumonryu began to be exhibited around 1990, leading to its recognition as an independent variety in 1994. However, because Beni Kumonryu was still quite rare, it was initially classified under the “Kawarigoi” category. After a few years, it became more common and was included in the Kumonryu category.
Beni Kumonryu, introduced as an exceptional koi, was featured in the August 1994 issue of Monthly Nishikigoi magazine. It won the 35bu Kawarimono category at the 24th All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show, exhibited by Tadahisa Aoyama. The article states
“…the producer is unclear, but it is likely connected with Hirashin Koi Farm in Matto-cho, Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture. Beni Kumonryu has not been firmly established as a recognized breed name. They are rarely found in koi shows or exhibited in koi dealers’ ponds. Even if they are, they are not generally recognized enough and might be mistaken for Doitsu Showa.”
