Kujaku

Kujaku are a metallic variant of Matsuba Koi but with a Kohaku type patterning. Matsuba refers to the pine cone pattern of the black in the base of the scales of the Koi that give it its unique look.

This picture is of one of the best Kujaku we have seen in a long time. Being a metallic Koi the skin and lustre of the fish is of critical importance and even on this photo you can see the lustre of the Koi leap out of the page at you. The white glow and intense purity is incredible and just look at the pectoral fins.

With Kujaku the black in the scales should be muted when the Koi is young as when the Koi grows older the black tends to darken. In a young Kujaku with too much black in the scales, although pretty when young, can be overwhelmed into a much darker Koi when it gets older.

Each scale should be clearly defined and have good black evenly distributed and each scale, as in this Koi above, should be as uniform as possible.