| Word(Pronunciation) |
Meaning |
Mado
(mah' dough)
|
Window. Small Shiroji areas occuring
either in Hi plates or Sumi patches that look like windows.
This Shiroji in Hi plates is also called Madoaki. It
is considered a weak point because Mado rarely fill in
and they disturb the dignity of the pattern. If they
help to keep the total balance of the pattern, then they
may be considered acceptable. Mado can be caused by the
inborn character of the Koi or from damaged and/or missing
scales. |
Madoaki
(mah' dough ah' key) |
Window of Shiroji in the Hi plate, a
fault. |
Maki
(ma' key) |
Wrap of the pattern below the lateral
line of the Koi, Hi Maki is desirable in Kohaku and other
Koi based on a Kohaku pattern, Sumi Maki is desirable
in Showa. |
Makiagari
(ma' key ah gah ree) |
Wrap up. The term used to describe Sumi
of the Utsurimono family such as Showa or Shiro Utsuri.
The Sumi of the Utsurimono family rises to wrap the body
from the belly to the back along the trunk, and thus
is the term used only with Sumi for these varieties of
Koi. We do not use Makisagari for Sumi because it means "wrap
down." |
Makisagari
(ma' key sag ah ree) |
Wrap down. A term used to describe a
Hi plate wrapping down from the back to the belly. When
it stops above the lateral lines, it can be said that
the "Makisagari is light." This is term only
used to describe Hi plates. Makiagari is the term for
the Sumi of Utsurimono varieties. |
Maezashi
(my'eh za she) |
Same as Sashi |
Mameshibori
(ma' meh she bow ree) |
One of the two types of ground-color
in Goshiki. Mameshibori refers to a lighter ground color.
Unlike Kuro Goshiki, the netting does not tend to darken
and stain the entire background depeding on water temperature.
The Koi usually maintains a white ground. |
Maruten
(ma roo' ten) |
Round Hi pattern on the head. When a
Koi has only one Hi plate, and it is a round Hi plate
on the head, the Koi is called Tancho. When a Koi has
multiple Hi plates including one round Hi plate on the
head, it is referred to as Maruten. The round Hi on the
Koi's head resembles a Japanese crane called a Tancho
Zuru (crane). The pattern also resembles the Japanese
flag, and Tancho Kohaku are very desirable for this reason.
Large, round, Hi patterns that stay on the head are most
desirable. Small, round patterns on the head are called
Ko (small) Maruten. |
Maruzome
(ma roo' zoh meh) |
Round Kiwa. Kiwa that follows the scallop-shape
of the scales. Also called Tama Giwa. One of the two
primary Kiwa shapes. Often seen in Kohaku of the Dainichi
bloodline. It is highly prized because it resembles the
shape of a cherry blossom petal. The opposite is Kamisori
Giwa. |
Matsuba
(maht' su ba) |
Pinecone. Body ground pattern that has
scales with a dark Ai (indigo) core throughout the body.
Matsuba refers to the pinecone like appearance of the
scales. Unlike Kage which appears on the Shiroji of Nishikigoi
from the Utsurimono family, Matsuba appear on Hi plates
as well. It appears on both metallic and non-metallic
varieties. The Matsuba variety are still appreciated
for their restful and peaceful patterns. |
Matsukawabake
(mahts' kah wah bah' key) |
Black and white Koi, colors change place,
Matsukawabake is the scaled version. |
Medaira
(meh dye' rah) |
Refers to an imaginary line that runs
between the eyes. It is the ideal pattern entry for the
head. When a pattern begins above this line, the pattern
is considered light. An ideal pattern begins a little
bit closer to the mouth than the line and is a bit curved
towards the mouth. |
Meiri
(may' ree) |
The Best. An especially excellent Nishikigoi.
One-of-a-kind. The single best Koi among all the outstanding
Koi. Another term would be Ippin. |
Mekazura
(meh kah zoo' ra) |
Rim of the eyes. Skin and muscle that
surrounds the eyes including the eye lids. When there
is Hi around the eyes, we say "it disgraces Mekazura".
If the Mekazura is white on a Menkaburi pattern, it is
still most likely a high-quality Koi, and the Menkaburi
is not considered a fault. |
Mekiki
(meh key' key) |
Koi expert. An experienced and well-trained
person that can accurately judge not only the present
value but also the future value of a Koi. |
Mena & Kana
(meh nah & kah nah) |
Mena means Female and Kana means Male. |
Menasa
(meh nah saw) |
Shallow or light entry of the pattern
on the head. A Koi with Menasa has wide Shiroji on its
head because the pattern begins further back, rather
than the ideal pattern entry of a curved line between
the eyes. We would say that "This Koi's head is
Menasa."
|
Menkaburi
(men' kah boo ree) |
Hi extending over the eyes on the head,
undesirable, especially on Kohaku. |
Menshiro
(men' she row) |
White face. Indicates that both gill
covers are white. Clean face that has no Hi on the gill
covers. It is particularly important in the Kohaku variety,
but it is not an absolute necessity. Even Menkaburi can
be judged an acceptable pattern when it is supported
with other outstanding features. |
Menware
(men' wah reh) |
Head Divided. Describes a Sumi pattern
seen only in Showa or Shiro Utsuri that divides the head.
An ideal Menware (also interchangeably called Hachiware)
runs in an Inazuma pattern from the mouth to the shoulder,
and gives the Koi the impression of power. See explanation
of Hachiware. |
Midorigoi
(me dough' ree goy) |
Yellow-green, non-metallic Koi, could
be Doitsu or scaled. |
Midori Ogon
(me dough' ree oh' gone) |
Mettalic Midorigoi with some Sumi, Doitsu
only. |
Motoaka
(moh toe ah' ka) |
Hi at the base of pectoral fins. 30%
is ideal. Small Hi that is gathered together at the spot
where the fin meets the body shows the quality of the
Koi's Hi and is a feature of some varieties and patterns.
The rest of the pectoral fins must be white. If it cannot
easily be seen in a Kohaku when the Koi is viewed from
the top, then it is acceptable. If it is obvious, it
is considered a weak point in Kohaku, but a feature in
Asagi and Shusui. |
Motoguro
(moh toe goo' row) |
Sumi at the base of pectoral fins. Seen
primarily in Showa and Shiro Utsuri. It could mean Sumi
in the tail fin. 30% is ideal. But the term is rarely
used for that. Small Sumi that is gathered together at
the spot where the fin meets the body shows the quality
of the Koi's Sumi. If the Sumi is spread like a broom,
it is a fault in Showa and Shiro Utsuri. High quality
Motoguro makes the white pectoral fins appear dignified
and is considered a highlight of these varieties. |
Moyo
(moy oh') |
Pattern. Also called Katatsuki. Pattern
is only one component of Nishikigoi beauty. Conformation
and Quality are even more important. |
Mudagoke
(moo dah' go key) |
Wasteful scales. Irregular scales on
a Doitsu Koi. The straight scale lines starting from
the shoulder and running along both sides of the dorsal
fin are the highlight of a Doitsu Koi's beauty. Any scales
out of order are very noticeable and disgrace the Koi's
appearance. |
| Muji(moo' jee) |
solid color. |
Mukashi Showa
(moo' cash ee show' wah) |
Old-type Showa. Opposite of Kindai (new)
Showa that have much Shiroji. The older traditional Showa
had mostly Hi and Sumi and are now called Mukashi Showa
and sometimes Hi Showa. It is not a variety name, but
rather a description. There are still many Mukashi Showa
with superior Hi quality. |
