[Maurice]

Mike asked me to put together a few photos of poor sumi, as he does not have any koi with poor sumi!!!

Heard it all now!!!!



Well I’ve found a couple, while looking I also found some photos to highlight other points Mike has been trying to make.



First off is low class sumi. The only solid sumi showing on this koi is on the hi plate, any showing on the shiroji is kage.

I bought this koi in Japan January 2002, on returning home my pal in Japan asked me to e-mail him photos of my purchases. His critique of this koi follows along these lines; ‘typical kasane sumi (sumi which is placed on the red) showa, the sumi showing on the shiroji (white skin) will never come through. This sort of koi is sold to the western market, as Japanese hobbyist will not buy these koi.’ He holds no punches when talking koi with me!! I had just paid a lot of money for this showa!

I still own this koi and he was totally right, the sumi has never changed on the white skin.



The next shows the same thing, the only dark black sumi is on the red, in fact it covered the red in time, but none of the kage (net pattern) effect ever filled in. This showa is in fact a sandan, but the last dan has completely filled in with sumi, yet none of the sumi on the white has changed.


Maurice.