Red Headed Step Child — 2026 Omosako Tancho Shiro Utsuri Grow-Out Contest
One rare Tancho Shiro Utsuri. One year. One shot at glory.
Most Shiro Utsuri are sumi-on-white. Then there's the Red Headed Step Child — the rare Tancho variant, born with a single hi marking on the head, like a sun rising over the snow. These don't come up often. When they do, they don't last long.
You're buying into a group of 8 hand-selected Tancho Shiro Utsuri from Omosako Koi Farm in Kure, Hiroshima — a family-run breeding house with a global reputation for Shiro Utsuri. After purchase, you'll be randomly assigned one of the 8 koi in this category. We do the assignment after sales close so nobody can cherry-pick — every buyer gets a fair shot at every fish in the group.
What you'll receive
- One Nisai (2-year-old) Tancho Shiro Utsuri, approximately 44–52 cm
- Free overnight shipping to your door via Southwest Cargo (continental US)
- Entry into the 2026 Omosako Grow-Out Contest — judged by the Omosako family themselves
- Eligibility for the Best of Red Headed Step Child prize — your choice of 15kg or 20kg JPD koi food (floating or sinking)
- Eligibility for Grand Champion — JPD food plus a JPD automatic feeder
- A year of bragging rights, watching your fish develop, and being part of a tight community of growers
What you'll do
This isn't just a koi purchase. It's a year-long project.
- Receive your koi in late June 2026 and acclimate to your pond
- Grow it out — feed it, watch it develop, photograph the journey
- Submit final photos & a short video by July 24, 2027
- Find out if you won — Omosako family judging, winners announced August 6, 2027
About the Tancho Shiro Utsuri variant
A true Tancho Shiro Utsuri carries a single round patch of red on the head, ideally centered between the eyes, with the rest of the body presenting classic Shiro Utsuri black sumi on white. The combination is uncommon — most Shiro Utsuri bloodlines don't produce hi at all — which makes these fish a collector's specialty.
The hi marking is finalized; the sumi pattern is what you're growing. Watch how it deepens and tightens over the next 13 months.
Why Omosako
Omosako Koi Farm has been producing premium Shiro Utsuri since 1949 — three generations of breeders refining a single signature variety. Shawn (Mystic Koi & Water Gardens) has personally selected these fish from Omosako's Kure ponds. The lineage is documented and the relationship is decades deep.
Shipping & arrival
- Free overnight Southwest Cargo shipping, continental US
- We coordinate the delivery date with you after sales close (week of June 27, 2026)
- IATA-certified live animal packing
- Live arrival guarantee — see FAQ below for full terms
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Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions
Order
After sales close on June 26, 2026, we randomly assign one of the 8 koi from this category to each buyer. The assignment is recorded, photographed, and emailed to you before shipping. No cherry-picking — every buyer has equal odds at every fish.
Yes. If your koi arrives dead, contact us within several hours with photos and we'll refund or replace at our discretion. After acclimation, the fish is your responsibility.
Absolutely. We're at 1250 W Arrow Hwy in Upland, CA — open Tuesday through Sunday. Call ahead and we'll have your koi assignment ready to view. as well as in store pick up!
Yes — the fish is yours forever, contest or no contest. Many growers continue showing their contest koi at later events.
The Omosako family reviews every submitted photo set and video. They judge based on body conformation, sumi development, hi quality (for Tancho), skin quality, and overall presence. Their decision is final.
Yes, to the continental US. Hawaii, Alaska, and international buyers, please contact us before purchasing for a shipping quote.
Yes — but each koi is a separate contest entry. You can buy up to all 8 if you want them all (and want to compete against yourself).