Sanke

Taisho Sanke or Taisho Sanshoku is a member of the Gosanke family, and are most commonly referred to with the abbreviated name Sanke.  Sanke are koi with a solid white (shiro) body, with areas of red (hi) and black (sumi) pattern overlaying the shiro.   

The word "Taisho" in the long-form name refers to the period of Japanese history when the Sanke first appeared.  While the exact date which Sanke first appeared is disputed, it is known that a Sanke was displayed at the 1914 Tokyo Exhibition.  Since this koi was approximately 15 years old at the time of the show, it is widely accepted that Sanke were first bred sometime around the turn of the 19th century.

It is not known if the first Sanke were intentionally bred.  Some of the first Sanke in recorded history were found in Ojiya City, Niigata.  These Sanke, which were found among Kohaku fry, were cross-bred with Shiro Bekko to produce the Torazo bloodline, one of the first distinct Sanke bloodlines.   Most Sanke in the koi industry today can be traced back to the Torazo bloodline.

What To Look For

Sanke have a solid white (shiro) body, with areas of red (hi) and black (sumi) overlaying the shiro.  The shiro should have a snowy or milky-white color, and should be clear and unblemished.  A yellow tint to the shiro is considered undesirable.  The hi should be of a solid, dark red color.  Ideally, the sumi should be a deep, solid, lacquer-colored black.  The hue and shade of the hi and sumi should be uniform in all areas, with both colors evenly distributed about the body, and not confined to one side or one end of the body.  The edges between the shiro, hi and sumi should be sharp and well-defined.

Variations of Sanke

For more Sanke images, check out the Sanke Image Gallery and Butterfly Sanke Image Gallery.

	Doitsu Sanke are scaleless Sanke.
	Gin Rin Sanke have reflective scales which give the koi a sparkling, glittery effect.
	Butterfly Sanke have long and flowing fins, as opposed to the short and rounded fins found in traditional Sanke.  For more Butterfly Sanke images, check out the Butterfly Sanke Image Gallery.
	Tancho Sanke have a single red (hi) marking on the head, and no other hi anywhere on the body.
	Maruten Sanke have a red (hi) marking on the head, in combination with hi markings on the body.
	Kuchibeni Sanke have red (hi) on the upper lip, giving them the appearance of red "lipstick".

For more Sanke images, check out the Sanke Image Gallery and Butterfly Sanke Image Gallery.