Ginrin Hi Utsuri – Koda Koi Farm
Ginrin Hi Utsuri is a Hi Utsuri covered in reflective ginrin scales. At heart it is still the black-and-red member of the Utsurimono.
About the Hi Utsuri
Hi Utsuri pairs bold black with red. Seen from above it has a fiery look, and good examples are rare. The Utsurimono, or 'reflection' koi, are black-based fish whose second color appears as if reflected through the black. The family includes Shiro Utsuri (white), Hi Utsuri (red) and Ki Utsuri (yellow). They share Showa's style of sumi: wrapping bands, sumi on the head, and motoguro in the pectoral fins. Hi Utsuri was developed in the early twentieth century from Ki Utsuri and Showa lines. Breeding deep, even hi alongside strong sumi on the same fish is difficult, which is why top-quality Hi Utsuri are uncommon.
Color and pattern
Sumi wraps over the body and onto the head in Showa-style bands, with motoguro in the pectoral fins. Every space the black leaves is filled with hi. The ideal is deep, even red rather than orange, though many fish show an orange cast or faded hi on the belly. Look for a clean edge where the red and black meet, and stable sumi with no small black spots scattered through the hi.
Ginrin scales
Ginrin ('silver scales') koi carry reflective crystals in their scales, so the body sparkles as the fish moves. On white or black areas the sparkle shows as silver (gin), and on red or yellow as gold (kin), which is why Japanese shows judge these koi together in the Kinginrin class. Ginrin comes in several forms: beta-gin, where the whole scale shines flat; kado-gin, where only the edge sparkles; pearl or tsubu-gin, a raised, pearl-like center; and the newer, very intense 'diamond' ginrin. Good ginrin covers the body evenly in neat rows and holds as the fish grows.
In your collection
Utsurimono reward patience. Their sumi often starts grey or patchy in young fish and comes up deep and glossy over several years, and cooler, harder water tends to bring it out. In a pond they give strong visual weight and contrast, and they pair well with Kohaku and Platinum Ogon.
What collectors look for
- Deep, even hi rather than orange, holding color down the flanks
- Strong, glossy wrapping sumi with motoguro
- Clean borders between black and red, without scattered sumi flecks
- A balanced pattern from head to tail
- Even sparkle across the body in neat, consistent rows
- Sparkle on the sumi as well as the white and colored areas
- Ginrin that does not hide the quality of the underlying colors
