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I do not doubt the quality of the Sumi, Ray. She has the look of one that could well be awesome in a couple of years. The reason for the question, as you say, is because Sumi in Sanke seems to take different routes from line to line; but I do not know enough to understand what I see, especially in a photo. Sometimes Sumi will seem to be finishing early, but then expands ... what were small spots become bold patches. Other times the Sumi will rise and fall, seeming never to become fully fixed, but at the same time showing great shine and deep blue under the skin. Still others stay as they are by the time they are nisai, with the Sumi expanding only enough to maintain proportion. How many more variations?...I don't know. From pics of Momotaro Sanke in Japanese shows, I'd guess they are in the "rise and fall" group, but that is just a guess. And even if I guessed right about them, I do not know if the trait is uniform across the spectrum of tosai produced or how to tell in a younger fish if the trait is present. ...Despite her appearance, this is a young koi. And, whatever the type of Sumi behavior, it seems to me she will only get better.
It seems no matter how much is learned about koi, I am always realizing how little I really know.
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