I find it very hard to find a pleasing traditional Ochiba. Ginrin don't do it for me and the doitsu varieties I can't stand. It took me a long time to find an Ochiba I liked with a nice pattern and good reticulation. I tend to view good Ochiba patterns in two types... the "autumn leafs" and the Kohaku patterns. This fish falls into the Kohaku type.
This male Oofuji Ochiba was 40 cm whan I bought it at the end of March and has since passed the 50 cm mark. It had gotten a bit darker and I'm hopping the thin spot on the sholder will fill in a bit at some point. I wish I could take it to the National in Arcen but it is just too many 400km trips to bring it, attend the show and then fetch it, plus an extra month in QT for the little guy when he gets home to be worth while.
B.Scott