It has been said that a tategoi is like a flower that has the potential of coming into full bloom just once in its lifetime. Some blossom into full glory early in life only to fade just as quickly. Others are slow-comers, taking years to reach their potential. The most common variety are those that swim through life steadfastly refusing to bloom at all, happily consuming expensive feed and overloading our filtration systems.

Shigekatsu Takahashi purchased this goshiki as a two year old and watched it develop into the spectacular koi that took highest awards in its 9bu Goshiki class in the 22nd All Japan Show in January of 1990. The stunning round red marking on its forehead set against a charcoal sumi (black) background earned this unique goshiki the nickname "Hinode" or Sunrise.

Goshiki
2 years old
January 1990

Kawarimono
Winter 1993

One can imagine Mr. Takahashi's dismay when later that spring he noticed that the fiery red color that had propelled "Hinode" to national fame, had started to lose its luster and had begun to fade. Within a relatively short period of time, the red disappeared completely, leaving a muddy white field against an indistinct grey background.

By the winter of 1993, the sumi had reestablished itself into a crisp reticulated pattern against a now snow white field, prompting Mr. Takahashi to enter it in the 24th All Japan Show where it took first place 60bu Kawarimono.

What sets this koi apart from all others is the fact that it blossomed twice, once as a goshiki and once as kawarimono.

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