My Koi Garden

Kawarimono and pond favorites

Ochiba Shigure

Ochiba Shigure means an autumn-leaf impression: brown pattern over a gray or blue-gray ground.

Real ochiba koi photograph 1.
Real koi photo from Wikimedia Commons: Ochibashigure. Credit: Maxikoi, CC BY-SA 3.0. Source.
Real ochiba koi photograph 2.
Real koi photo from Wikimedia Commons: Koi. Credit: The original uploader was Necrophorus at German Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0. Source.

How to identify Ochiba Shigure

  • Gray or blue-gray base like Soragoi.
  • Brown or bronze pattern should read like fallen leaves.
  • Often appreciated for calm character and large-pond presence.

Quality points

  • The contrast between gray ground and brown pattern should remain clear.
  • Scale alignment should be neat, especially on larger fish.
  • Pattern should balance from shoulder to tail rather than crowd one area.

Common comparison

Think of Ochiba as a visual bridge between Soragoi and Chagoi: gray ground with warm brown pattern.

Look first atGood signBeginner caution
BodyBalanced frame, smooth swimming, no deformity.Do not let rare color hide weak conformation.
Skin and colorClean, readable, and consistent for the variety.Muddy color usually becomes more distracting with size.
Scale or luster traitEven rows, sparkle, reticulation, or metallic quality depending on the group.Random patches, dull fins, or broken scale rows reduce impression.

Sources and editorial note

This page follows the variety structure used by Japanese koi references and the book notes in the My Koi Garden research library, especially the distinction between true variety groups and cross-cutting traits such as Doitsu and Gin Rin. Photos are limited to real images with source and license notes.