Shiro Bekko

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

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