What Makes Koi Beautiful? With Yusuke Ogata | Ep. 1

What makes koi beautiful? Join me at Ogata Koi Farm in Japan as Yusuke Ogata walks us through seven koi and explains what makes each one special—from body shape and skin quality to color, pattern, and bloodline. We mark up the photos together to explore finished and developing sumi, clean and even beni, and why a balanced pattern doesn’t have to be symmetrical. We also discuss when overall quality matters more than checking every box. Along the way, Yusuke explains what his family looks for in Benigoi, shares the story behind Ogata’s black Budo Goromo lineage, and introduces a parent koi alongside two of her award-winning offspring. This is What Makes Koi Beautiful: a closer look at koi through the eyes of the people who breed them. And Yusuke’s advice for hobbyists? Don’t forget to enjoy your koi. CHAPTERS 00:00 A koi deal on camera? 00:15 Welcome to Ogata Koi Farm 00:48 Showa: body, balance, beni & sumi 06:42 Ginrin Showa: quality & future potential 09:42 Shiro Utsuri: white skin & balanced pattern 12:08 Benigoi: what makes a great red koi? 15:07 Budo Goromo & Ogata’s black lineage 18:25 A parent koi & her award-winning offspring 21:18 Yusuke’s advice for koi hobbyists Which of these seven koi is your favorite, and what makes it beautiful to you? Let me know in the comments. Subscribe to House of Koi for more from the What Makes Koi Beautiful series. #Koi #OgataKoiFarm #Nishikigoi