Japanese Showa Koi (Showa Sanshoku) for Sale in Toronto & Canada
A black-based koi with wrapped red (hi) and white (shiroji). Bold, powerful, and — when finished well — the most visually striking of the Gosanke.
Available Showa Koi (Showa Sanshoku)
5 koi available
A 32cm female Showa hand-selected in Japan. A young koi with a black-based body and bold red and white overlay — known for dramatic sumi and unforgettable pattern.Specifications Variety: Showa Breeder: Select Japanese breeder Origin: Japan Size: 32 cm Sex: Female Why collectors choose it Young koi — watch a future show fish develop in your pond. Hand-selected in person for body, skin, and pattern potential. Fully imported, quarantined, and health-checked in Ontario. Great starter size for new and growing collections. Canada-wide shipping and local GTA hand-delivery available. Reserve today — each koi is one of one. Once it's gone, it's gone.
A curated Hi Utsuri & Doitsu Showa collection — bold black bodies with brilliant red overlay (Hi Utsuri) alongside scaleless Doitsu Showa with crisp sumi and hi patterning. A high-contrast, dramatic group. Each fish is hand-selected in Japan, then imported and quarantined here in Ontario.Specifications Variety: Hi Utsuri & Doitsu Showa Origin: Japan Type: Curated multi-koi collection Breeder: Trusted Japanese partners Why collectors choose it Balanced group — sizes and patterns chosen to work together in one pond. Hand-picked at the source for skin quality and body conformation. Fully quarantined and health-checked before hand-off. Canada-wide delivery, with local hand-delivery across the GTA. Ongoing support from our team as your collection grows. Reserve today — each koi is one of one. Once it's gone, it's gone.
A 56cm female Showa hand-selected in Japan. A black-based body with red and white overlay — known for bold sumi and dramatic pattern.Specifications Variety: Showa Breeder: Select Japanese breeder Origin: Japan Size: 56 cm Sex: Female Why collectors choose it Chosen in person from a trusted Japanese breeder — not sight-unseen. Strong body conformation and clean, high-quality skin. Fully imported, quarantined, and health-checked in Ontario. Ready for a well-filtered pond — instant show-grade presence. Canada-wide shipping and local GTA hand-delivery available. Reserve today — each koi is one of one. Once it's gone, it's gone.
A 52cm female Showa hand-selected from Kokugyokan Koi Farm, Japan. A black-based body with red and white overlay — known for bold sumi and dramatic pattern.Specifications Variety: Showa Breeder: Kokugyokan Koi Farm Origin: Japan Size: 52 cm Sex: Female Why collectors choose it Chosen in person from a trusted Japanese breeder — not sight-unseen. Strong body conformation and clean, high-quality skin. Fully imported, quarantined, and health-checked in Ontario. Ready for a well-filtered pond — instant show-grade presence. Canada-wide shipping and local GTA hand-delivery available. Reserve today — each koi is one of one. Once it's gone, it's gone.
A 72cm female Showa hand-selected from Dainichi Koi Farm, Japan. A mature centerpiece fish with a black-based body and bold red and white overlay — known for dramatic sumi and strong presence.Specifications Variety: Showa Breeder: Dainichi Koi Farm Origin: Japan Size: 72 cm Sex: Female Why collectors choose it From Dainichi — legendary Showa bloodline. Fully mature, show-ready size and finish. Chosen in person for body, skin, and pattern. Fully imported, quarantined, and health-checked in Ontario. Canada-wide shipping and local GTA hand-delivery available. Reserve today — each koi is one of one. Once it's gone, it's gone.
Showa Sanshoku was created in 1927 by crossing Ki-Utsuri with Kohaku. The 'modern Showa' seen today — with more white and refined sumi — was developed post-war, and lines like Kobayashi Showa remain influential. Because Showa is a sumi-based fish overlaid with hi and white, it reads as a completely different animal from Sanke even though both carry three colours.
The signature of a good Showa is maki-zumi — sumi that wraps from the back down through the belly line, giving the fish a three-dimensional appearance. On the head, sumi should form a distinct pattern; a lightning-bolt or V-shape across the face (hachiware) is classic. Sumi that only sits on top of the fish rather than wrapping is a Sanke tell, not a Showa one.
The pectoral fins should carry a solid sumi patch at the base (motoguro) — a Showa without motoguro is considered incomplete. Hi should be as deep and evenly-edged as on a Kohaku, and shiroji should read bright even against the dominant black.
Frequently Asked Questions
Look at the head first. Sumi (black) on the head means Showa. Also check the pectoral fins — solid black at the base (motoguro) is Showa; small accent stripes (tejima) suggest Sanke.
More than any other Gosanke variety. Sumi can rise, sink, or shift across the body for the first 3-4 years. This is why Showa is often called the collector's koi — the finished animal at age five looks nothing like the tosai you started with.
Nisai (roughly 25-40 cm) is a sweet spot — sumi has started to emerge, so you can read future development, but the fish is still young enough to finish under your care.
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