Shiro Utsuri Koi for Sale

Quick answer: A Shiro Utsuri is a black-and-white Japanese koi: a black base with a bold white pattern, and black on its head and at the base of its front fins. It is one of the most popular koi outside the Gosanke. At Toyoma Koi, hand-selected Japanese Shiro Utsuri cost $1,200 to $3,500, and most sell for about $1,800.

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Shiro Utsuri (SHEE-roh oot-SOO-ree) means “white reflections” in Japanese. It’s a black koi, with a black base called sumi, and a bold white pattern called shiroji. There are only two colors, so the contrast is striking.

Shiro Utsuri belongs to the Utsurimono family of black-based koi, which also includes Hi Utsuri (black and red) and Ki Utsuri (black and yellow). It shares the Showa’s black pattern without the red, and it is one of the most popular varieties in the hobby. A great Shiro Utsuri regularly competes for top awards at major koi shows.

Most Shiro Utsuri are classic, fully scaled koi, but you’ll also see:

• Ginrin Shiro Utsuri: a Shiro Utsuri with sparkling, reflective scales, which give the white an extra shine.
• Doitsu Shiro Utsuri: a Shiro Utsuri with few or no scales, which makes the black and white look especially clean and graphic.

Its close relatives are Hi Utsuri, which has red instead of white, and Ki Utsuri, which has yellow. When we have them in stock, you’ll find them under all available koi.

With only black and white, a Shiro Utsuri is all about the quality of those two colors and how they’re balanced. Look for:

• Deep, glossy black. The sumi should look like black lacquer, not gray or brownish.
• Bright, clean white. The white should be snowy, without a yellow tint and without small stray black spots.
• Bold, wrapping pattern. Large black bands that wrap around the body look better than small, scattered patches.
• Black on the head. A black marking that splits the head, often in a lightning or “V” shape (called menware), is a classic trait.
• Black at the base of the front fins. Called motoguro, this is expected on a good Shiro Utsuri.
• Balance. Roughly even amounts of black and white across the whole body.

On a young Shiro Utsuri, the black is often grayish or blue and still developing. It can take several years to come in fully, so experienced buyers look for strong, even black underneath the skin.

A Shiro Utsuri’s price depends on its size, age and the quality of its black and white. Here’s what our Japanese Shiro Utsuri cost (October 2026):

• 20″ to 21″ (2–3 years): $1,200 to $1,800
• 24″ to 26″ (2–4 years): $1,800 to $3,500, typically about $3,000

Overall, our Shiro Utsuri range from $1,200 to $3,500, with most selling for about $1,800. For prices across every variety, see our koi price guide.

These three are easy to mix up. A Showa has the same black base and head pattern as a Shiro Utsuri, but adds red, so it has three colors instead of two. A Shiro Bekko is the opposite of a Shiro Utsuri: it’s a white koi with small black spots on its back, and no black on its head. A Shiro Utsuri is a black koi with a white pattern, with black on its head and at the base of its front fins. Compare them yourself: shop Showa koi for sale, or see all the varieties in our guide to types of koi.

Toyoma Koi has imported koi from Japan since 1975. Every Shiro Utsuri we sell is hand-selected from Japanese breeders. You can buy a Shiro Utsuri at a fixed price or bid on one in our online koi auctions.

We ship within the continental United States and send you an exact shipping quote once your koi is packed and ready to travel. Local pickup in Tustin, California is always free. See how shipping works.