| Mike, I think you are confusing the judging concept of conformation against a standard and the Japanese breeders concept of 'body', with is purely a live stock/soundness consideration? You have to be careful that you are within the context of the speaker/interviewee. If it is a ZNA judge, you are talking about defects vs. deformities (Kesson and Ketson) and an ideal shape (including artist elements of grace, imposing appearance etc). Not the same, necessarily, for a breeder's eye.
Yet ironically, the two worlds, balance one another. The breeder culls the defects and deformities through out right extermination and then, via sales. The judge re-enforces standards and eliminates from competition the ones sold that are not worthy of the ideal or even a ranking.
JR
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