It is said that there are more than 140 varieties of Nishikigoi with different colors and patterns, and Nishikigoi that do not belong to the 20 regulated varieties such as Kohaku and Taisho-sanshoku are collectively called Kawarigoi. The name Kawarigoi has two meanings. The first represents things that cannot be produced stably or that have appeared mutated, and the other represents things that can be produced stably and have conventional names. The latter includes cultivars such as Ochiha-shigure and Beni-kikokuryu, which are also popular at competitions.

JAS No.2008 Kawarigoi

Kawarigoi are not classified as Kohaku, Taisho-sanshoku, Showa-sanshoku, Shiroutsuri, Goshiki, A-ginrin, B-ginrin, Kujyaku Kumonryu, Doitsugoi, Hikari-moyo, Koromo, Tancho, Hikari-Utsuri, Hikari-muji, Shusui, Asagi, Bekko, Hiutsuri, Kiutsuri and Muji.

Kanoko-kohaku has a white body, and part of the scales is dyed red and has a dotted pattern across the body. Some have scarlet imprints and some do not.

Kanoko-sanshoku has the appearance characteristics of Taisho-sansoku, with part of the scales dyed red and a dotted pattern across the body.

Kanoko-showa has the appearance characteristics of Showa-sansoku, with part of the scales dyed red and a dotted pattern across the body.

Kanoko-asagi has the appearance characteristics of Asagi, with part of the scales dyed red and a dotted pattern across the body.

Kanoko-kin-showa has the appearance characteristics of Kanoko-showa, and the whole body shines brightly.

Goshiki-shigure has an "asagidi" pattern and yellow imprints across the body. It is gently glowing all over.

Kage-showa has a black body, and there are scarlet and white imprints across the body. It has a mesh-like thin ink pattern in the scarlet and white imprints.

Kage-shiroutsuri has a black body, and there are white imprints across the body. It has a mesh-like ink pattern on white imprints and "utsuri-zumi" pattern.

Kage-hiutsuri has a black body, and there are red scarlet imprints across the body. It has a mesh-like ink pattern on red scarlet imprints and "utsuri-zumi" pattern.

Kage-kiutsuri has a black body, and there are yellow imprints across the body. It has a mesh-like ink pattern on yellow imprints and “utsuri-zumi” pattern.

Cha-utsuri has a black body, and there are brown or reddish brown imprints across the body. It has a "utsuri-zumi" pattern.

Hajiro has white pectoral fins, and the whole body is jet black except for pectoral fins. In some individuals, part of the pectoral fin turns black.

Beni-matsukawa-bake has scarlet patterns on the body, and the appearance characteristics of Matsukawa-bake.

Matsukawa-bake has white and jet black patterns across the body, and the whole body except for the head is covered with scales. Due to changes in the environment in which they live, the jet-black pattern may change frequently in a short period of time.

Ginga has a white body and shiny scales all over the body It has an ”asagidi" pattern across the body.

Beni-ginga has a white body and shiny scales all over the body It has an ”asagidi" pattern and red imprints across the body.

Kirin has golden imprints across the body, and the whole body is shining. In Kirin, part of the scales are dyed in light black, and the entire body has a mesh pattern.

Ochiba-shigure has a light pale yellow body, and there are earthenware color imprints across the body. It has a mesh-like pattern on the entire back due to the arrangement of scales.

Ochiba-utsuri has a light pale yellow body, and there are earthenware color and black imprints across the body. It has a mesh-like pattern on the entire back due to the arrangement of scales.

The whole body of Kogane-ochiba shines brightly, and those having the appearance characteristics of Ochiba-shigure.

Metalic-doitsu-ochiba has almost no scales, the skin is exposed, the whole body is shining, and it has the appearance characteristics of Ochiba-shigure. The entire back is shining silver.

Kikokuryu has its whole body shines, and those having the appearance characteristics of Kumonryu.

Beni-kikokuryu has its whole body shines and scarlet imprints across the body. It has the appearance characteristics of Kikokuryu.

Kin-kikokuryu has its whole body shines and golden imprints across the body. It has the appearance characteristics of Kikokuryu.

Kinsui has its whole body shines and the appearance characteristics of Shusui.

Kosui has a white body and there are scarlet imprints on the abdomen as a general rule. It has almost no scales on the whole body and the skin is exposed.

Koyo has a white background or a color close to white with yellow imprints across the body.

Midori-goi has a yellow body with no imprints, and a olive-green back or green scales on the back.

Aya-wakaba has almost no scales on the whole body and the skin is exposed. There are yellow imprints across the body, and the scales and the skin on the back are light black.

Kijiro has almost no scales on the whole body and the skin is exposed. There are lemon color imprints across the body. Some individuals has scales on the whole body.

Ginrin-koromo-showa has shine golden or silver scales, and has the appearance characteristics of Koromo-showa.

Ginrin-kanoko-karashi has shine golden or silver scales, and has mustard-colored body. It has a reddish dotted pattern on some of its scales. Some individuals have mustard-colored imprints and red dotted pattern on the body. It is commonly called to as "golden-corn" because of its external characteristics.