Shiro Bekko

Shiro Bekko are koi with a solid white (shiro) body and areas of black (sumi) appearing on top of the shiro.  As with all Bekko koi, the sumi appears mainly above the lateral line, with very little or no sumi wrapping around to the bottom half of the koi, below the lateral line.

Shiro Bekko are a derivative of Sanke.  Basically, they are Sanke with the red (hi) removed.  Most scaled Shiro Bekko will have a flat, matte white color as the base color.  However, you will occasionally see Doits Shiro Bekko with a metallic white base color, similar to the white found in Platinum Ogon.

What To Look For

The white base color of Shiro Bekko should be as close to pure white as possible, with no yellowing or other flaws to the color.  The head of Shiro Bekko typically do not display any sumi, and should be soild white with no blemishes.  A cloudy head on a young Shiro Bekko may or may not clear up with age, there is no definitive way to tell.

The sumi should be similar to that of Sanke, with a deep, consistent black color across the entire body.  The sumi should be moderate and balanced along the body.  Since the pattern is a very simple two colors, too much or too little sumi, or sumi confined to one end or side of the body will detract greatly from the beauty of the koi.  The edges between the sumi and shiro should be sharp and well defined.  Avoid any young Shiro Bekko with blurred edges to the sumi, as this will only become more apparent with age.

Remember, even the slightest hint of red (hi) on the body, head or lips makes the koi a Sanke, not a Shiro Bekko.

Variations of Shiro Bekko

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

	Gin Rin Shiro Bekko have reflective scales, which give the koi a glittering, sparkly appearance.
	Gin Shiro Bekko have a bright, metallic-white base, as opposed to the flat, matte-white base of Shiro Bekko.
	Doitsu Gin Shiro Bekko are a scaleless version of Gin Shiro Bekko.
	Butterfly Shiro Bekko have long and flowing fins, as opposed to the short and rounded fins found on traditional Shiro Bekko.

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