What Does Sashi Mean?

Sashi, pronounced SAH-shee, comes from the word Sashikomi. It describes the subtle black or red markings found on Koi fish. As Koi grow older, these markings become clearer and enhance their beauty. Sashi refers to the soft, blurry effect at the edges of some colour patterns, especially in scaled Koi. This effect is most visible where the bright Hi colour or Sumi meets the Shiroji, which is the white background. The blur, often lightly tinted pink, appears where the colours overlap. This shows off the Koi’s beautiful coloration. When the Hi is particularly exceptional, the effect shines even more.