[dizzyfish]

Quote: Originally Posted by JasPR It's just an odd ball- but proof that genetically, true yellow and true red can exist. This fish competed in a 1989 ZNA show Diz, Joe is right, the classification for SKIN like metallic is more dominating than any color combination. Also kin showa is not yamabuki. You will get all this detail down as you ask more questions so don't get discouraged. Showa is a three colored fish but some kin showa can range from red to orhange to a brown red color. It is just the effect of heavy luster cell content within the metallic skin. When you look at the different colors in that skin just interpret what you see as 'shades of the same' rather than a true color. JR

JR I must confess to plagiarizing that yamabuki reference from Kodama-san in "Kokugyo". I'll just give the entire quote. Under Kin Showa on page 70 he writes "It was developed by adding the shine of Yamabuki to Showa Sanshoku. Because the strength of the metallic shine and the Sumi thickness are inversely proportional just like Yamato Nishiki, stronger shine weakens the Sumi. Again, Koi with both strong shine and thick Sumi are considered excellent. It is a challenge for breeders to create this koi." He also includes probably the best photo I have seen of a Kin Showa with yellow, white, black, and pinky/orange color.

While I don't believe Kodama-san can walk on water, his book does happen to be the best book on koi development I currently have in my collection. The book is likely to have mistakes, some of which could happen in the translation, but none the less it is a good source of information for discussion. I like it.
Mitch