I have not yet captured the elusive magnificent koi photo that I’m hoping for on this trip, but I thought the coloring on this particular nishikigoi (koi) was certainly interesting and unusual enough to share.
Beyond the unusual blue color overall, the mottled burgundy and indigo effect from the more vividly colored scales on this carp’s back makes it even more attractive to me. I could be wrong, but I would guess this fish would be prized far more than a basic $500 nishikigoi specimen.
There were a few particularly distinctive koi in Maruoka Castle’s beautiful and diversely populated koi pond. I have a photo of a brilliant and unique yellow koi from this same pond that I will add to the site before my next trip to Japan.
For a little insight into how the word koi is misused in the west and what it really means in Japan, I wrote a little about its true meaning in the entry accompanying the koi in Photo #49.
Dan Savage [Email]
Living in Japan – 3 Months at a Time
Woah this is beautiful. In Tokyo there are a lot of ponds that have koi in them but they are mainly orange or a diseased color (albino koi maybe?)
I have never ever seen a blue one. Also its such a healthy blue. Its kind of the same blue as my betta fish. Really nice find.