How to Select Young Sanke

By Tri-Star Koi

Sanke offer the ideal intersection of elegance and complexity. In my opinion, this variety might be one of the most difficult variety to select. With the simplicity of Kohaku and the boldness of Showa, Taisho Sanke bring a quiet strength to any collection. Their beauty lies in bright white skin, bold red patterning, and precisely placed sumi that adds contrast without overpowering.

But when selecting tosai Sanke (under one year old), things are rarely clear. Young fish often have undeveloped sumi, unbalanced patterns, or misleading color that makes selection challenging. What separates good from great is an understanding of structure, skin, and most of all, long-term potential.

At Tri-Star Koi, visit breeders in Japan like Torazo, Matsue, Marudo, Takigawa, Marujyu, and Taniguchi to learn how to evaluate young Sanke from the ground up. This guide shares what we look for when selecting tosai with future value fish that will grow into mature, balanced, and striking koi.

Hassei Takigawa San of Takigawa Koi Farm selecting his higher-quality Tosai.

What Is a Sanke?

Taisho Sanke are a three-color koi variety made up of:

• Shiroji (white skin)

• Hi (red markings)

• Sumi (black markings)

The key feature of Sanke is that sumi appears only on the body, not often on the head. That’s one of the most important traits that distinguishes Sanke from Showa. And unlike the bold, wrapping sumi of Showa, Sanke sumi is more refined. It should enhance the pattern without dominating the fish.

A beautifully developed Sanke doesn’t shout. It stands out through crisp contrast, graceful placement, and balanced flow.

Sanke from Matsue Koi Farm. The sumi is still sitting down.

The Legacy of the Matsunosuke Bloodline

To understand Sanke is to understand the Matsunosuke bloodline. Nearly every high-quality Sanke in the world today can trace its lineage back to this foundational line.

What is the Matsunosuke Line?

Developed by Mr. Torazo Yamamatsu of Niigata in the mid-20th century, the Matsunosuke line emphasized:

• Bright, thick white skin

• Refined red patterns with soft edges

• Late-developing but high-quality sumi

• Large growth potential and long body conformation

This line revolutionized Sanke breeding and set the standard for what we now consider modern Sanke: elegant, powerful fish with clean contrast and balanced sumi.

Why It Still Matters

Most of the top Sanke-producing breeders today including Sakai Fish Farm (SFF), Matsue, Marudo, and Momotaro have based at least part of their bloodlines on Matsunosuke. Even when the bloodline name changes, the traits remain visible:

• Large frames with strong shoulder structure

• Clean sumi that emerges slowly and with purpose

• A tendency for tsubo sumi black that lands in exactly the right white space

Understanding Matsunosuke DNA gives you a major edge when selecting tosai. Many of these fish don’t look “finished” as babies but they’re designed to blossom over time.

The 6 Key Traits to Evaluate When Selecting Tosai Sanke

1. Body Conformation – The Structural Foundation

Every great koi starts with the body. Conformation isn’t just about size—it's about proportion, balance, and growth potential.

What to look for:

• A thick, muscular shoulder area that tapers smoothly to the tail

• A straight, symmetrical spine

• Wide, even fins that match the body size

• No deformities or imbalances in body height or posture

A koi with great color but a weak frame won’t hold its presence over time.

Sanke from Takigawa Koi Farm with a nice upper half

2. Skin Quality – Clean and Reflective

In Sanke, the white skin (shiroji) acts as a canvas. Poor-quality skin will make even the best pattern look dull. Good skin should be:

• Pure white, not yellow or muddy

• Glossy, with a natural sheen

• Free from blemishes or scars

Excellent skin sharpens the contrast between the red and black.

This Sanke has soft, milky skin with excellent texture. While it may not stand out now, we believe it will become a showstopper in three to four years.

3. Hi (Red) Quality – Strength and Stability

Hi is usually the most developed color on a tosai Sanke. Focus on:

• Deep, even red tone

• Consistent coverage

• Clear, tidy kiwa (edges)

• Good placement across the head and body

Avoid hi over the mouth, fins, or covering both eyes. Red should feel balanced and organic, not overreaching.

Hoshi is quite prominent in this Sanke, and both the kiwa and sashi are beginning to refine nicely on this Sansai Matsue Sanke.

4. Sumi (Black) – Controlled Contrast

Sumi is the most unpredictable element in tosai Sanke. It may be:

• On the surface (visible)

• Developing just under the skin (sub-sumi)

• Absent but genetically coded to rise later

Look for:

• Glossy black with tight edges

• Signs of sumi forming near the shoulder, flank, or tail

• No sumi on the head (that's a Showa trait)

Breed lines like Matsue and SFF often show sumi later, so learn what to expect based on bloodline.

The sumi on this Sanke shows excellent potential. The sumi over the hi plate is deep, lacquer-like, and intense, while the tsubo sumi on the shiroji remains light, indicating it will continue to develop with age.

5. Pattern – Flow and Breathing Room

Great Sanke have balanced patterns that allow each element (red, white, and black) to breathe.

Look for:

• Red pattern that flows from head to tail with proper ma (white space)

• Even distribution on both sides of the body

• No overloading of color in one zone

• Clean odome (white tail stop) for polish

Classic patterns like sandan (three-step) are timeless, but what matters most is how the pattern complements the koi's structure.

This Takigawa Koi Farm Tosai Sanke still has a lot of development ahead, but the balanced pattern elements already give it a cohesive and promising look

6. Tsubo Sumi – The Sign of a Refined Sanke

Tsubo sumi refers to sumi that appears in the white (shiroji), separate from the red patches. It:

• Adds deliberate contrast

• Enhances depth and pattern complexity

• Balances out the visual flow

In tosai, tsubo sumi may be subtle or just emerging. Watch the spacing carefully—it’s often the sign of a future Grand Champion.

"The sumi (black) on this Tosai Sanke is classified as 'tsubo sumi,' appearing on the shiroji (white areas) rather than overlapping the hi (red pattern).

Tejima – Black in the Pectoral Fins

Another hallmark trait in some high-quality Sanke is tejima—black stripes or rays that appear in the pectoral fins.

What Is Tejima?

Tejima (also called tejime) is sumi that forms in the jointed rays of the pectoral fins. It usually appears as:

• Thin black lines or streaks

• Symmetrically placed on both fins (ideally)

• Often subtle in tosai, but may strengthen over time

Is Tejima Desirable?

In most cases, a little tejima adds character and elegance, especially when it matches well with the body sumi. It gives a visual anchor at the front of the fish and can help emphasize the koi’s structure in motion.

However:

• Too much tejima (heavy black coverage) is undesirable

• Uneven tejima (on one fin only) can throw off symmetry

• It should not interfere with the fin shape or health

In high-end Sanke, a small amount of tejima is often seen as a bonus, not a flaw—particularly when paired with tsubo sumi and strong body lines.

Tejima refers to the black markings found in the fins of this Torazo Koi Farm Tosai Sanke.

What to Avoid in Tosai Sanke

Watch out for flaws that tend to worsen with age:

• Sumi on the head (a Showa trait)

• Fuzzy, dull sumi or scattered black specs

• No odome (tail stop)

• Red over eyes, lips, or in fins

• Narrow body with thin shoulders

• Hi that bleeds or has inconsistent color

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Why Bloodline Matters When Choosing Tosai

Tosai Sanke are young and unfinished. You may not see all the traits clearly yet—sumi could be dormant, hi might be thin, or body lines may still be developing. But the bloodline gives you a roadmap.

Knowing the line helps you answer critical questions:

• Will the sumi rise?

• Is this type of sumi typical for the breeder?

• Will the hi stay strong or thin out with growth?

• Does this line typically stretch patterns as the body grows?

• Are the parents massive, refined, slow-developing, or fast-growers?

A tosai from a proven bloodline with a track record of beautiful, award-winning adults has a far better chance of becoming a standout fish—even if it looks subtle now.

A key part of working with Tosai koi is learning to observe and interpret what you see. From my experience with the Takigawa Koi Farm bloodline, the beni often appears weak at the Tosai stage (one year old). However, as the koi matures, the beni typically thickens and deepens in quality. This is why, in koi like this one—where the sashi and kiwa may seem questionable at first glance—understanding the bloodline allows us to recognize the potential beneath the surface.

Why It’s Important to Buy from Breeders You Trust

Bloodline tells part of the story, but who you buy from completes it. Whether you’re purchasing in Japan or through a dealer, working with people you trust gives you confidence in:

• The health and quarantine process

• Accurate lineage and farm origin

• How the koi was raised and conditioned

• What to expect in terms of development

A trusted dealer will be honest with you—not just about what looks good today, but about what’s realistic down the road. They’ll tell you whether a certain bloodline is slow to finish or if a specific fish’s sumi is expected to strengthen or fade.

At Tri-Star Koi, we develop alot of our tosai from various farms and we observe what charateritics tend to happen.

That means:

• Understanding how the Beni (Red) will develop

• Watching the body development

• Seeing the development of their tosai and nisai over time

• Understanding their approach to quality and consistency

  
  

This connection allows us to confidently guide our customers not just toward a beautiful fish, but toward a fish that will live up to its promise.

Sanke Development: What to Expect

If you choose well, your Sanke will evolve beautifully:

• Sumi will rise and tighten over the first 2–3 years

• Hi will deepen and become more stable

• White skin will brighten with proper care

• Tejima and tsubo sumi may become more defined

Don’t expect your tosai to look like a finished fish. The key is spotting the framework for greatness.

Sanke is a variety that rewards patience, knowledge, and vision. When selecting a tosai, you’re not just buying what you see—you're investing in what it can become.

Look for strong body conformation, clean white skin, deep hi, and the promise of elegant sumi. Watch for tsubo sumi in the right places. And don’t overlook the quiet beauty of tejima when it's balanced and subtle, it’s a mark of class.

At Tri-Star Koi, we select tosai Sanke based on their potential not flash.

— Marlon Ngo @ Tri-Star Koi

Takahiro Iitsuka-san of Matsue Koi Farm carefully selecting potential Tosai for future development.

Matsue Koi Farm Sanke Tosai Koi Selection

Tosai Sanke from Torazo Koi Farm featuring deep, lacquer-like sumi.