Quote:
Originally Posted by
JasPR 
I don't think that is whole answer Eugene? A koi show is part LIVESTOCK show and part ART show. Additionally, judging individual koi is based on rarity. Rarity of traits when compared to the entire range of production out there.
As a live stock show, the judge is first looking for soundness and size as inbreeding tends to reduce fish in size. Second, the breeder judge is looking for a refined fish ( meaning inbred for rare traits) that is part nature but also an impossibility of nature. The tendency for koi is to revert to a more uniform carp appearance. So a hugh bred fish is one that resists reversion to carp phenotype and also 'fights off' the consequences of resisting carp phenoytype- IE small size tendencies.
In this regard this fish expresses power and strength. It is large boned but also a polished nishikigoi ( fancy carp). In addition there is tendency for nishikigoi to LOOSE the refined color traits as they age and get to this size- once again making this a rare fish- especially for the showa variety.
I honestly thought they'd pick the sakai kohaku but I can see how the showa would/could win. Personally I thought it would be second, behind the kohaku as happened when these two same varieties ( different fish of course) competed in the mid nineties for two years in a row. In those competitions, the showa was smaller and lost to the other gosanke each year until the inevitable happened- it showed up one last time and its natural decline in color and volume was very noticeable.