Koi pattern recognition starts with the arrangement of colors, then adds skin sheen and scale type. Counting colors alone will not reliably identify a variety.
Begin with the Whole Fish
Look from head to tail and, where visible without handling, along the sides. Note the main ground color, the position of contrasting markings, and whether the fish is metallic. Reflections can imitate white patches or hide black areas, so one photograph may be insufficient.
The Gosanke Group
VarietyUseful starting descriptionKohakuWhite with red markingsTaisho SankeWhite with red and separate black markingsShowa SanshokuRed, white, and substantial black patterning, often involving the head and lower bodyThese are starting descriptions, not a complete judging checklist. Young fish and unusual patterns can make Sanke and Showa harder to distinguish.
Utsuri and Bekko
Utsurimono includes black-based contrasts with white, red, or yellow. Bekko describes white, red, or yellow fish with black markings. Shiro Utsuri and Shiro Bekko are familiar black-and-white examples, but neither family is limited to those two colors.
Metallic and Reflective Features
Ogon are single-colored metallic koi, including yellow Yamabuki Ogon and white Platinum Ogon. Ginrin refers to conspicuously reflective scales and can occur on different varieties. Doitsu describes reduced scaling, rather than a pigment or a universal single-color pattern.
Use Names as a Viewing Aid
Pattern balance and finish matter in show evaluation, but an identification feature is not automatically an ideal show trait. For example, red on a fin is not a general requirement for a good Kohaku. Compare the ZNA variety profiles and the fuller color-and-pattern guide.