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The Shinkoikai All Japan Shows are dealer/breeder shows. All the judges are dealers/breeders. There are about 75 judges that get a equal vote for top awards like Grand Champion. Winner must have more than 50% of the votes. There is a very fierce competition between the breeders/dealers of the north and those of the south. It is beyond my comprehension that 70+ judges from all over Japan including 6-8 foreign dealers could/would get together and decide to subvert their decision for the reason implied.
Keep in mind that these koi are huge and badly stressed by being transported and shown at these sizes. They are judged on Friday and can look even more stressed by time the public views them on Saturday/Sunday.
I was at the 2006 AJS and saw the top koi. At this level the competition is not about the most photogenic koi. It is about the one that projects the best Body, Presence, & Power. The Reserve Champion was more elegant and beautiful with a better pattern and better shiro but lost to sheer size, body shape and incredable dense thick hi.
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