Ginrin Kumonryu – Takatatsu Koi Farm

Ginrin Kumonryu is a Kumonryu covered in reflective ginrin scales. At heart it is still the doitsu black-and-white 'dragon' whose pattern changes.

About the Kumonryu

Kumonryu ('nine-crested dragon') is a doitsu black-and-white koi whose bold pattern can change dramatically through the seasons. It is judged in Kawarimono, the 'unusual' class of non-metallic koi that do not belong to any of the other groups. Kumonryu developed from doitsu Matsukawabake lines in the 1980s.

Color and pattern

Smooth doitsu skin carries a bold black-and-white pattern, often with black fins and a white head. The pattern can expand or recede with water temperature and age. Kumonryu is famous for the way its pattern shifts. Some fish go almost all black in winter and show much more white in summer, and the overall pattern changes over the years. Many fish have a black head with white or black fins.

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. Because the Kumonryu is a doitsu-type koi, the sparkle is concentrated on the scales it carries along the dorsal and lateral lines.

In your collection

Kawarimono add variety and personality to a pond. Many of the solid-colored types (Chagoi, Soragoi, Karashigoi, Kigoi, Benigoi) are calm, people-friendly fish that grow large and help settle a group of more nervous koi. Because their colors are simple, judges look closely at body shape, skin and even color.

What collectors look for

• Deep, glossy black
• Clean white
• Straight dorsal scales
• A flowing pattern
• 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