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Koromo

Koromo is the Japanese term to describe the blue or black "robing" or outlining of scales on red markings that result in a mesh pattern. It also applies to the brushed or smeared effect of sumi onto hi. Koromo is the collective name for Koi with koromo scalation.

The Koromo variety is a hybrid between the Asagi and the Kohaku, or Taisho, or Showa Sankes.

• Aigoromo

  This is the most typical Koromo and is produced by breeding Kohaku to Asagi. For maximum effect, the koromo must be contrasted with a ground of thick but pure and unblemished white and the hi pattern must be as that of Kohaku. The addition of the Koromo allows for a readily acceptable, more broken, and flowery pattern.

  The robing for Aigoromo is blue fukurin (edging) in a half moon shape on the posterior side of the scales. It should not extend onto the white ground but be confined within the hi marking. No robing should be seen on the head. Moto-hi but not motoguro is allowed on the pectoral fins.

  It takes time for it to stabilize and mature. In most cases the robing will only achieve its full effect when a fish is four or five years old. A young fish with dirty-looking hi and just a hint of indigo will eventually achieve the desired quality of robing. Unfortunately, the white ground is prone to develop jami, or stains, making it difficult to find outstanding specimens of Aigoromo.

  The Aigoromo was established around 1950.

• Budo-Goromo (Budo-Sanke)

  Budo can be translated as “grape” and the patterning must resemble clusters of grapes. The wine colored markings are best revealed when they show up in relief on a top quality white ground.

• Sumi-Goromo

  As indicated by the name, the koromo will be sumi rather than ai. The sumi does not “fill” the scale but spears as though it was brushed on or smeared unevenly. It also does not have the fukurin effect as in Aigoromo. The sumi appears on the hi marking of the head and the overall impression of the Koi is that it looks austere.

• Koromo-Sanke

  A cross of Aigoromo and Sanke, it features a mesh pattern of indigo koromo over the hi markings of a Sanke. In other words, such a Koi has two types of sumi, that of Sanke (hon-zumi) and of Koromo (koromo-zumi).

• Koromo-Showa (Ai-Showa)

  A cross of Aigoromo and Showa. The indigo koromo creates a mesh pattern over the hi markings of a Showa.

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