The Asagi and Shusui Koi

An amount of Hi should be seen in the pectoral fins; it should be solid that radiates from the body and it looks at its best if it covers about half of the fin. Some Hi may be seen at the base of the dorsal fin, but in others this fin is pure white. As the Asagi pattern goes down the sides of the Koi, so it changes from a clear pattern to a more blurred and fainter one, finally vanishing at or just above the lateral line. Below this point, the Asagi should be white but a small amount of Hi on the abdomen is quite acceptable. Again, if this is a large area, then as the Koi matures it will creep up on the sides and be visible from above. In Japan they like Asagi with no Hi on the abdomen. There are a number of variations on the Asagi basic pattern and these are as follows:

Konjo Asagi

This is the darkest form of Asagi; indeed at its extreme form it would have to be called black. It is not especially favored.

Narumi Asagi

This is a lighter shade of blue where the center is dark blue and gets lighter at the edges. Narumi is a town in Japan that produces a cloth similar to the Asagi pattern. This is the most commonly seen form and is very attractive if the pattern is distinct.

Mizu Asagi

This is the lightest of all the blues and may sometimes be seen under the name Akebi. They are highly valued.

Asagi Sanke

Here the Asagi pattern is combined with the Hi markings of the Sanke which appear on the head an upper abdomen. The lower abdomen must be pure white and when such a rare Koi is available it will be very expensive. Sometimes you will see an Asagi with a really smart circular patch of Hi on its head but this cannot be called a Tancho Asagi because the Asagi will have other Hi on the fins and a Tancho is only such when it is the only Hi on the Koi, plus white, and maybe black.

Taki Asagi

This is an Asagi that has a red abdomen but then has a white streak between this red and the Asagi pattern. It is a favored form but is not common.