| Every breeder seems to agree that Sanke are the most difficult. I think this needs to be understood in the context of expectations ... what the market of hobbyists and judges expect, and what the breeder seeks to accomplish. A Sanke of modest accomplishment remains more refined that an Ochiba Shigure, albeit an Ochiba of high accomplishment for that variety. When it comes to Sanke, the goal is a Kohaku with strategically located lacquer sumi that elevates the Sanke to a higher plane. All the conformation, quality and pattern issues of Kohaku, plus all the complicating problems of the sumi quality, finish, balance and position. It is more than simply increased complexity, IMO. It is the belief in the dream... that Sanke should excel... confronting the reality of randomness in koi genetics. The breeder has the challenge of unpredictability of tosai development, complicated by sumi that comes, goes and "moves", and the hobbyist/judge has the expectation that it will all finish at the same time. With Showa we have a lesser expectation, and forgive much that would not be forgiven in Sanke. JMO. |