Koi are prized as the national fish of Japan, often called “the living jewel.” They are known as symbols of wealth, power and courage. They are also seen as a symbol of overcoming difficulty. Chinese and Japanese alike tell the story of a koi that swam against the current, jumped over a waterfall, and turned into a powerful monster that warded off all that threatened it. To this day, the genetics of the koi’s color transmission challenge the most sophisticated koi experts and breeders and often defy scientific explanation, as koi ponds become more popular throughout the world.