[dizzyfish]

Ray just to be clear the article suggested the controversy was over the 2005 winner. Standen was whinning that his documentary was about to be killed since Martin and Mark were notifed that the Maruten that was runner up in 2005 was not going to win in 2006 either.(Well before the show) They were supposedly disheartened but Sakai convinced them to enter Super Mask instead.

I realize the competiton must certainly be fierce, but the result of having a Westerner win could help escalate the value of the top fish for all of the breeders, at a time when interest in the koi hobby was declining in Japan. At least that was what I got out of the article. Did you have the chance to read the article?
Mitch

PS
I just skimmed over the article again. I don't believe Standen is suggesting that the 2006 show was fixed. Only that the Japanese were now willing to sell the top fish to deserving Westerners for the first time. He does however make it sound like much of the drama of who was likely to win was over before the show began.