Bekko & Utsurimono

[Terri]

We’re going to combine these next two simply because there is often much confusion as to which is which ;)

….. The Cow Fish! Bekko and Utsuri

BEKKO
Description: a solid coloured body koi with black markings along the back - two coloured koi. Bekko can be normally scaled (wagoi), ginrin, or doitsu. 'Bekko' means tortoise shell.
Bekko are produced in the process of breeding Sanke (either Sanke to Sanke or Kohaku to Sanke).

Variations of Bekko:
Shiro Bekko – a white based koi with a dappled black pattern along the back.

Aka Bekko – a red (or deep orange/red) based koi with a dappled black pattern along the back.

Ki Bekko – a yellow based koi with a dappled black pattern along the back.

Patterns:Unlike some koi varieties, the bekko are not considered to be glorious or flamboyant fish, but they do offer their own style of simplicity and grace.The head of the Bekko should be free of black markings and the base colour the same as the body.
In Shiro Bekko the white ground in the head region is especially liable to amber/yellow discoloration. In Aka and Ki Bekko the colour on the body should be even from nose to tail and wrap down to the belly. The black markings should be balanced patches (not speckled) along the body of the Koi – above the lateral line. A Bekko’s fins can have black, similar to the striping in Sanke.

Utsurimono
Description: a black based koi which is accentuated by a contrasting colour, white (shiro), red (hi), or yellow (ki), giving the suggestion that the colour is being ‘reflected’ off a black background. 'Utsuri' means reflection in Japanese. Utsuri can be wagoi, ginrin, or doitsu.

Variations of Utsurimono:
Shiro Utsuri – a black koi with white accents.

Hi Utsuri – a black koi with red (orange-red) accents.

Ki Utsuri – a black koi with yellow accents.

Kage Shiro Utsuri – black pattern like Shiro utsuri but in the white (shiro) each scale has a Asagi-like pattern.

Kage hi Utsrui- black pattern like Hi and Ki utsuri but in the red (hi) or yellow (ki), each scale has a Asagi-like pattern.

Gin Shiro – metallic shiro utsuri, classified under Hikariutsuri

Kinki Utsuri – metallic hi or ki utsuri, classified under Hikariutsuri

{KAGE means ‘shadow’}

Patterns:an Utsurimono should have sumi at the mouth or nose. It is considered an added asset if an Utsuri has a ‘lightening bolt’ of sumi running down the face at an angle between the eyes, known as Menware (literally "broken mask"). As in Showa, sumi is desirable at the base of both pectoral fins (Motoguro) and at the base of the tail for Shiro Utsuri - Hi Utsuri and Ki Utsuri pectoral fins do not show motoguro, but are striped instead. The large sumi pattern of the Utsuri are like that of Showa, the black predominates over the contrasting colour, appearing from head to tail, giving the koi an overall dark image.
Ichimatsu (checker-board) is the mostly highly desirable pattern for Shiro utsuri.
Tiger stripe or triangular black patterns are sought after for Hi and Ki utsuri.

History: Ki Utsuri came before Showa and were one of the most popular varieties at that time (70+ years ago). Shiro Utsuri and Hi Utsuri were derived from the same lineage as Showa.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r256/TJcanada/Koi%20Photos/beko_utsr.gif

Please feel free to add your own comments and/or pictures of your Bekko and/or Utsuri!! If you have questions then by all means ask!!

My examples... BEKKO
http://backyardpuddle.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_Koi-4-Sale_001_jpg_resize.jpg http://backyardpuddle.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_LL206-20_43_resize.jpg http://backyardpuddle.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_Bekko01_04-9-04_resize.jpg http://backyardpuddle.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_LL60_25_jpg_resize.jpg http://backyardpuddle.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_LL90_19_resize.jpg
My examples... UTSURI
http://backyardpuddle.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2004SU01_003_resize.jpg http://backyardpuddle.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_ShiroUtsuri1_02-29-04_resize.jpg http://backyardpuddle.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_ShiroUtsuri5_06-10-04_resize.jpg http://backyardpuddle.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_HiUtsuri01_12-22-03_resize.jpg http://backyardpuddle.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_dec5_04_resize.jpg

[Jackie Ramo]

Is the third one Itzi????

too much info in one post for my head, I've read it 4 times and am still not sure which cow is a fish.

[Peg]

OK, If I understand from the discriptions here would be my example of our BEKKO. Ok Terrie what are her good and bad points. Sorry not the greatest pics but the most recent. The first two are from this fall and the last three are from this spring

[Jackie Ramo]

Here is Itzi taken just now. Not as black as when he first arrived but it seems his pattern is still strong.

[Terri]

Peg, attached is a photo of Magma (taken 3/2006). Study the pattern details from head to tail and the fins. Keep in mind that Magma is still young and there is much development to come in overall appearance of his pattern. Read the pattern descriptions again for Bekko and Utsuri.

Magma would fall under the classification of Utsurimono (let's not get into comparing details/differences of longfin vs nishikigoi - just basics of colour and pattern)
What tells me this...? The way in which the sumi is 'emerging' through the contrasting colour (hi) - while it seems 'scattered' in places this in time should solidify into larger heavy blocks of sumi. The promise of more sumi to come on the face/head. The pattern of the two colours in the pectoral and caudal fins. The colour of the eyes (like that of a Showa).

Magma has nice even colour - the photo's do not show the 'depth' nor the fact he is doitsu, deep black which hopefully will not become 'speckly' as he ages, nice strong body shape (more like nishikigoi - long and tapered from head to tail), his pec fins are pretty even more 'wide' than long which I personally prefer. He would not win any prizes at a koi show but he should be a handsom fish once his pattern sets.

[Peg]

Lets see if I've this right. Magma by discription is black with the orange being the reflective colour. The black is the more dominate colour and the black is over a larger part of the body area? where a bekko only has the second colour on the back above the lateral. I always thought of him as being orange and the black being the colour on top. I'm so :confused: I think I'll stick to buying the ones I like and then you can tell me what I got :lol:

[dcny]

I couldn't find any bekkos but here are a couple of utsuri.

[Jackie Ramo]

Perhaps one of members whould claim ownership of this one and post the model's picture.

You there Mark???

[flywheel]

Here is my utsuri before and after, this is my first one, why do they do the disappearing sumi and when will it come back? :-x

[flywheel]

Here are my bekkos, the first one is a japanese doitsu and one of my personal favorites, the second is something I just have as a learning experience and the third one is in memory of the first koi I had, probably the ugliest fish in the pond but I still like him. Is there any real hope for this guy?

[Jackie Ramo]

With the Utsuri, I can still see the dark sumi pattern so it may return. Cindy and I are having similar problems with ours. Itzi looks darker now with the cold water but not as black as he once was. Like yours the black is still there sothere is still hope.

[Jackie Ramo]

I see why you like the first Bekko, I like it too!

As for the red and black one, with a bit of luck more red will appear. I have one that seems to change each year. This year she just glowed and I now call her my forest fire fish.

[Elizardbreath]

I see why you like the first Bekko, I like it too!

As for the red and black one, with a bit of luck more red will appear. I have one that seems to change each year. This year she just glowed and I now call her my forest fire fish.

My first fish is (was?) a bekko. We call him Tank. He was in a fish tank before we put him in a pond. He has made it through a bunch of ponds. He is a bigguy now thus the name Tank. I will take his picture tomorrow.
It is good to be seeing and playing with my fish again.
Beth

[Jackie Ramo]

Beth its good to see you. Look forward to the pictures.