Sanke

Sanke History

Sanke were among the first Koi ever exhibited. A male Sanke, owned by a man called Gonzo Hiroi from Shoiya, was shown at the Tokyo Exhibition in 1914, where the Emperor’s son saw Koi for the first time. The names of the first breeders of Sanke were not recorded, but, as this Koi was approximately 15 years of age at that time, the first Sanke were probably produced at the end of the nineteenth century (or between 1868 and 1912-the Meiji era of Japanese history).

Over the past 60 years the markings of the Sanke have changed quite dramatically. The first Sanke were very striped in appearance but today’s show winning Sanke is a beautifully balanced Koi whose sumi, although deeper in shade, is more delicate in appearance then that of its ancestors. Many distinct lineages have been developed. Among the better know is the Sadazo Sanke bred by Sadazo Kawakami, which has bright hi markings with small sumi markings that do not overlap the hi.

Sanke Colors

The Sanke is a three-colored Koi with hi (red) and sumi (black) markings on a white base. As with the Kohaku, the depth of these colors is very important. The white should be the color of snow-a yellowish white does not give a good background for the pattern to stand out against, it gives the Koi a dull appearance, and generally lacks the visual impact of a pure, opaque white.

The hi should be a deep hue and of uniform shade. The proportion of red to white should be the same as on a good Kohaku. Sanke are basically Kohaku with Bekko markings.

The sumi of a Sanke, like all other Koi colors, should be fine, uniform in shade, and with a good depth of color. It should be shiny in appearance, like Japanese lacquer. As sumi should overlay the Kohaku-style pattern, the markings need to be clearly defined in order to stand out. They should also appear in a balance pattern.

A Koi with poor sumi will obviously never make a good show Koi because the pattern may fade when it is bowled, giving it the appearance of only a second-rate Kohaku. Sumi that is apparent in fry and remains in the adult Koi is known as “moto”, or original sumi, and that which appears later is called ‘ato’, or late sumi. Keep in mind when buying young Sanke, the fact that a Sanke’s sumi can change in quality throughout its life. Good sumi in baby Koi, for example, can deteriorate as the fish grows; it is rare for a Sanke with good sumi markings as a baby to keep in that condition above a size 4. A Sanke that has underlying sumi markings-known as ‘sashi’ - as a baby, on the other hand, becomes more stable with age.

Sanke Patterns

Although Sanke differ from Kohaku in that they have three colors, the criteria by which the two varieties are judged are very similar. The balance of color and pattern is of the greatest importance on Koi. Very simply, if the sumi were removed from a well marked Sanke it would be a good Kohaku, whereas if the hi were removed, it would make a good Shiro Bekko.

Sanke Head

There should be no sumi on the head of a Sanke. The head pattern required is the same as on a Kohaku; that is, a large U-shaped marking, which should not extend down over the eyes, the face, or as far as the mouth.

Sanke Body

Large hi markings are preferred down the length of the Sanke’s body, complemented by sumi markings, which should also extend the length of the body. Sumi markings should start on the shoulder, along with a hi marking, giving a balanced pattern down the body.

Sumi markings should be small in number, an excessive amount of smaller sumi markings gives the Koi an untidy appearance, and should not extend below the lateral line of the Koi.

Sanke Tail

Sanke tend to suffer with too much sumi toward the tail, and this can be detrimental to the fish’s appearance. As with Kohaku, the pattern over the body of the Koi, of both sumi and, even more importantly, hi, should end cleanly just before the tail joint.

Sanke Fins

Striped sumi is preferred in all the fins, but especially in the caudal and pectoral fins of the Koi. Sumi in the fins is a sign of stability in the sumi over the body of the Koi. Too large a number of sumi stripes can lead to a loss of gracefulness in appearance, however. Solid sumi in the joint of the pectoral fins, and then in any of the fins, is also considered detrimental. Sanke may have no color in their fins.

• Aka Sanke This is a Sanke whose hi marking extends the length of the body.
• Maruten Sanke This is a Sanke with a separate hi markings on the head.
• Fuji Sanke Not a variety as such, this is the name given to a Sanke with a highly metallic luster on the head, visible as minute bubbles. Such markings tend to disappear when the Koi grows.

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