The systematic breeding of ornamental koi in Japan began in Ojiya and Yamakoshi in the Niigata Prefecture (located on the northeastern coast of Honshu) in the 1820s. Selective breeding gave rise first to red carp, then to pale blue "Asagi" and white, red, and yellow "Bekkou". The "Sarasa" variety, with a red on white pattern, was created around 1830. Later, a yellow-based "Ki uturi" variety was born. From this original handful of koi varieties, all other Nishikigoi varieties were bred, with the exception of the Ogon variety (single-colored, metallic koi), which was developed relatively recently.