3 koi varieties from Go Sanke.
Go Sanke
Kohaku is the foundation of everything in koi. White skin with red (hi) patterns on top. Simple in concept, brutally hard to perfect. Judges look for bright, clean white ground, deep uniform red, and sharp edges where red meets white. A great kohaku will beat any other variety in competition.
$20-$100,000+
Go Sanke
Sanke is a kohaku with the addition of small black (sumi) accents. The sumi should appear as tasteful spots, mainly on the back and above the lateral line. No sumi on the head is a key rule. Think of sanke as kohaku wearing a little black jewelry. When done right, the three colors balance perfectly.
$25-$80,000+
Go Sanke
Showa is the boldest of the Go Sanke. Unlike sanke, the black on showa is the base color, with red and white painted on top. The sumi wraps around the body and appears on the head. Modern showa lean brighter with more white, but classic showa are heavy on black. Motoguro (black at the base of pectoral fins) is a hallmark.
$25-$80,000+