Chagoi and Soragoi: Are they the same?

This is one of the questions that have been recently put to me; in fact Chagoi and Soragoi are separate types. Chagoi is a product of the Taisho Era, while Soragoi did not make its appearance until the Showa Period. However, the two are closely related.

First, let us consider Chagoi. They were first produced in the Taisho Era, it is a dull brown or greenish brown all over with prominent scales, not all that different from the common Black Carp (Magoi). It grows extremely quickly, and it has a disposition to grow to a large size. Kataoka Masanaga, the author of the earliest data we have regarding Nishikigoi, surmised

that Chagoi was a mix of Asagi, Black Carp and Doitsu-goi. In passing, let me mention that the Chagoi featured in my "Manual to Nishikigoi" is a greenish-brown Doitsu-goi, while the Chagoi in my "Modem Nishikigoi" is a greenish-brown Wagoi. At one time we did also see many dull brown Chagoi, but in recent times Chagoi are bred with Black Carp in an attempt to produce Chagoi that are even bigger in size. Nowadays they can grow to be larger than 11 O cm and seem to have a monopoly on the Jumbo prizes; but the colouring has grown lighter, and is now closer to that of the Black Carp.

Soragoi on the other hand belong to the Ogon group of koi, which appeared in the Showa Period. Soragoi is an abbreviation for Sora Ogon. Colouring ranges from a pale ultramarine to a deep sky-blue. Characteristically the scale edges are more pronounced than they are on the Chagoi.There can be shine (Hikari) on the top of the head and the fins, but this is not prominent.

Now Ogon was produced from Kin Kubuto, which was originally produced from Chagoi; so that Soragoi, which is an offshoot from Ogon, has Chagoi as its ancestor; this is why we can say that the two are closely related.

According to a breeder in Echigo that I spoke to, when Chagoi breed the offspring include, in addition to Chagoi, some Soragoi and some Ochiba Shigure, which have the characteristics of both Chagoi and Soragoi. The proportion of Soragoi fry is very low, only about 1% appear in much the same way as Kohaku produces shirako (all white fry) amongst its young.

In addition Soragoi makes such rare appearances that it is hardly ever mentioned in books on Nishikigoi, including my own books and the relatively older. Appreciation and Care Of Nishikigoi" by Amano Masayuki. Still, in "Lessons on Nishikigoi" by Kataoka Masanaga, which is the earliest literature, we have, it is clearly described as a separate type. However

this book is a later compilation of the writings of Kataoka Masanaga by his son Takayoshi.