Quote:
Originally Posted by
JasPR 
This is frustrating to read. Try this---
If the competition is a marathon then the time of a mile runner is not too impressive.
Gosanke have features and characteristics that other varieties do not have. size, dimension, body line, bone structure, skin complexity, color complexity, three dimensional skin depth and pattern accomplishment of the first order.
Among competing gosanke, kohaku is compared to an idea standard and sanke is compared to an ideal standard. It is true that finish on a three colored fish is more difficult than on a two colored fish ( showa vs kohaku as a classic example, not so much sanke as sumi is easily finished on sanke) but finish is not the yard stick for measuring the best fish.
So kohaku still holds the edge as far as greatest overall accomplishments ( many fish come close or equal to the ideal). Yet a great sanke is so rare ( not many can make the ideal level) that it can easily trump the slightly more common excellent kohaku. - JR