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Steve
Thanks for the in-depth look into the life of a judge. It's got to be "all about the koi/hobby"! IMHO, I, too have sought out many over my years in the hobby to learn all I can. I guess when you really care about something, you tend to absorb it all like a sponge. I had several mentors along the way, one in particular , who was a Japanese breeder, but who bred his Japanese stock here in the U S. I say Japanese breeder as his philosophies about breeding and what makes a top quality fish came from his upbringing there, not here. I've probably forgotten more than I've retained after all this time, but I still enjoy looking at fish through the teachings of this individual. And, no, it wasn't through Grant, although I still consider him as one of the top contributors.
I agree with your philosophy about waiting to go to Japan til after getting a good base foundation. You tend to appreciate your experiences with a different level of understanding. I also agree with you about spending as much time as you can looking at "high quality" fish. It really spoils you though from the perspective of seeing "high" vs "average" quality when you go to the dealers. They have a different set of parameters to allow them to earn a living. I just can't afford what I "see" anymore so have to be judicious when making a selection. I usually reserve my purchases now for when I go to Japan.
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