[dick benbow]

I'm glad to see more and more interest in the tosai. Not so much because you can pick an instant winner but because you have an opportunity over several years to see the development which I feel helps you to better understand a breeder's koi. the difference I've found is that there are those who can pick winners right now out of a shipment and there are those that want to pick one that ends up in the same place only years down the
road. The last decade or so I have found myself among the latter half, having spent the previous years looking for now fish.
I think the biggest argument I've run across ( since i give seminars on selecting Tosai)
is that when tosai are sold they have been given up on by the breeder and therefore have lost any worth for serious consideration. I find this to be very wrong for many reasons.

I think the biggest enemy to learning for beginners and tosai is that they are often too ready to give up on them. Many serious Showa and sanke take years to develop their sumi.
It should be looked at with each selection, that a committment is being made for 3-5 years
to really understand what is possible.

for those of you that are kicking themselves for missing the sakai seminar, you have another great shot for learning. This september in Idaho, Sakai san will be back, along with Mat Mc Cann and looking now to confirm Kodama, all with instruction in a series of seminars during the PNKCA Convention. I'm looking forward to being a part of the continuing education.....you can find out more on the world wide web under the Pacific Northwest Koi Club Association.