Showa Sanshoku (Showa) (昭和三色 (Shōwa Sanshoku))
Black-based three-colour — the boldest of the Gosanke, named for the Showa era, and the variety of the 55th All Japan champion.
Showa Sanshoku (Showa): Black base (sumi ground) with red and white markings wrapping the body.
| Pattern (JAS-aligned) | Black base (sumi ground) with red and white markings wrapping the body. |
|---|---|
| Colours | Black, red and white. Black appears on the head, often splitting the red, and black at the base of the pectoral fins (motoguro) is characteristic. |
| How to tell it | Ask where the black lives: if black forms the ground, reaches the head and the fin bases, it points to Showa; if black is spots on white, it points to Sanke. |
The variety in Japanese koi culture
Showa is the variety that most often confuses newcomers with Sanke, and telling them apart is a rite of passage this guide gives its own page to. A Showa bred in Niigata won the Grand Champion title at the 55th All Japan Koi Show in January 2025 from 1,843 entries — a reminder that the boldest pattern can also be the finest. Because the black is the ground colour, a young Showa can look unfinished for a long time; the white and red emerge through it as the fish matures, which is why experienced keepers talk about Showa as a variety you watch develop.
Keeping notes on this page are limited to generally published principles about the variety in Japan. This page gives no diagnosis, no treatment and no prescription for an individual pond or fish. For a fish that looks unwell, contact a veterinarian or your local fisheries office.
Sources: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA — summary in our own words, credit only); All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association official; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and Finance Ministry trade statistics as published; Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) for nishikigoi variety names and definitions (2022); Niigata Prefecture, Ojiya City, Nagaoka City (Yamakoshi) and Nishikigoi no Sato official; Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) visitor statistics; USDA APHIS and Australian DAFF official import guidance. Checked 6 November 2026.