The Kujaku koi, or Peacock koi, features a stunning metallic pinecone pattern with vibrant colored markings. Learn more about this complex variety.
The Kujaku, which translates to 'Peacock,' is one of the most visually complex and stunning varieties in the Hikari Moyomono category. It was first created around 1960 by Toshio Hirasawa of Maruju Koi Farm in Ojiya. Sources differ on the cross: one records a female Shusui bred to Kin Matsuba and Hariwake males, another a Hikari Mujimono × Asagi cross. The result is a metallic koi that features a striking Matsuba (pinecone) pattern overlaid with vibrant red, orange, or yellow markings. This combination of metallic shine, intricate scale patterns, and bold colors makes the Kujaku a true showstopper in any pond.
A high-quality Kujaku is defined by the clarity and balance of its three main components: the metallic base, the Matsuba pattern, and the colored markings. The base skin should be a brilliant metallic white or silver. Each scale within the white areas should have a dark, well-defined center, creating the 'pinecone' effect that characterizes the Matsuba lineage. Over this base, the koi should have bright, clean markings, usually in a deep orange or red hue. These markings should be well-distributed and have sharp edges (Kiwa). One of the greatest challenges in Kujaku breeding is ensuring that the Matsuba pattern remains clean and does not become 'muddy' or messy, especially within the colored markings. The head of a Kujaku should be clear and metallic, though it often carries a portion of the colored pattern.
Kujaku are known for their dramatic appearance and 'heavy' presence in the water. As they mature, the contrast between the dark scale centers and the bright metallic skin becomes even more pronounced, giving the fish a textured, almost armor-like look. They are generally hardy fish and can grow to significant sizes, with their patterns evolving and often improving as they age. For the collector who appreciates intricate details and high-contrast beauty, the Kujaku is an essential variety. It represents a perfect marriage of the ancient Matsuba pattern and modern metallic breeding, living up to its name as the peacock of the koi world.
Keeping Kujaku koi in Southern California
In one breeder's documented sunburn case, only non-metallic white fish developed sun rash. That suggests metallic skin is less prone to it, though there is no controlled study.
Summer care for every koi in SoCal
- Warm water holds less oxygen, yet koi need more oxygen as the water warms. That makes summer the season when oxygen runs shortest.
- Oxygen is usually lowest around dawn, because plants and algae use it up overnight. In summer, keep air stones, waterfalls or fountains running day and night.
- When oxygen runs short, large fish are often the first affected. The bigger and faster-growing your koi, the more aeration matters.
- Published "ideal" ranges vary between sources, from about 59–77°F to 68–78°F. Most sources treat the low-to-mid 80s °F as the point where you should cut feeding, add shade and add aeration.
- At about 82°F and above, feed less than usual. Koi can lose their appetite at 86°F and above, so offer small amounts of an easily digested food and remove anything left uneaten.
- Shade part of the pond, but not all of it, from the afternoon sun. A shade sail, pergola or floating plants will do. Don't enclose the surface so tightly that air can't move over it.
- Inland SoCal is much hotter than the coast. NOAA's 1991–2020 normals give an average July–August afternoon high of about 95–97°F in Riverside, 83–85°F in Santa Ana and 75–77°F at LAX (air temperature). Inland ponds therefore need the heat measures above sooner and for longer.
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