I came across this Doitsu Kohaku this morning while searching for a Doitsu for one of my clients in one of my green ponds.

It think it is going to be a stunning fish when big. 30 cm, bred by Aoki. Pure white with deep red and interesting pattern.

What do you think?

Stunning fish, very bright red. Would be better if we could see him in a blue bowl. The Duitsu varieties always stand out more than the wagoi types.

Looks a bit like beni kumonryu...this is where is usually start to fall out of the bus....Duitso Kohaku or Beni kumonryu? How do you know?

I know that a Beni kumonryu is suppose to have red, white and black but the black is unstable and always changing and could actually dissapear totally for a while.

I have the same problem with Duitsu Sanke and Beni kumonryu. Someone told me long ago if the pattern is running in the length of the body that it is propably a beni kumonryu.

Some other examples of Beni kumonryu looking like Duitsu Kohaku.

Hi Wayne, thanks for the reply.

I would classify your last photo as a Kikusui, because it is metallic.

A kumonryu is never metallic. The metallic version of a Kumonryu is a Kikokuryu.

Even the first one looks a bit metallic to me and I would rather say it is also a Kikusui, but a bit more difficult to see from the photo. However, it might be a Beni Kumonryu, but I doubt that.

A Beni Kumonryu will be non metallic with black and more of an orange red. When it looses the black, you can still see the indication thereof.

Quote :

I would classify your last photo as a Kikusui, because it is metallic.

Got both pictures from the Net....so maybe im not the only one that get confused with the variety,

After looking at your first photo again, I realize that it is not metallic. The second one definately.

If you look at international forums, the experts also differ.

Some people will say that the last one on your photos is a Hariwake, and not a Kikusui.

I have a untrained eye so could someone pls help me by highlighting the demerits and the merits of this koi and also how does one decide on its quality looking at the entire package.

Hi Paul,
The Hi pattern makes me think it is not a Kohaku.
Looks like it will change in future.
The black in the eyes are also not prefered in Kohaku.
Still a stunning koi.