Here's my take on the fish, which I will tell my friend in person. Plus I need my good friend BNKOI to translate what I am saying to him. My friend has come along way in this hobby and further than most in the 2 years. Me and my friend BNKOI have been mentoring him in the hard on his education and purchases. So, I know he will take what I have to say as well as others to further his education in koi.
Anyways here's opinion of the fish from a future potential and Japanese Style judging:
1. The conformation is very strong, that is the first thing that should stand when viewing such a fish. Outzu is thick which complements the strong shoulders and wide head. Most fish you will start to see a pinching at the gill plates which will make the lines of the fish off a bit. The fins look to be in right portions and the little bit of motoguru balance the out in the coming years...
2. Shiroji is so-so, but at this time of the year the shiroji should look in prime condition. Prime condition will come out in colder water. With that in mind, the condition will get a bit whiter once the temps get cooler here in Northern California.
3. Sumi, the balance of finish on both the sumi and beni are about the same, with the sumi being much higher quality than the beni at this point in time. As pattern goes the sumi seems to be coming up in all the right places or "text" book pattern in Kindai Showa. The sumi we see now will take a couple of years to truely take it's fully effect on the overall apperence of the pattern.
4. Beni, since this is the growing season, which the Showa shows well in the conformation but the beni looks too hard. In the growth season beni should be down a bit.
Point 1 is the beni is too hard, which gives a false effect of depth on the fish. The deep kagura red is very misleading to the eyes of the true quality of of the overall quality.
Point 2 by the pic you can see a slight hint of white between each scale. Even at this point of the year you should see the star effect in the scale, but you can't see this in the fish. This tells me the beni is at prime condition now and has only to go down hill later.
5. Pattern, very pleasing. It is balance on fits the frame well on this text book style Kindai Showa.
Conclusion: To me the fish had peaked. The sign of this is the beni and the timing of the finish between the sumi and beni. Sumi is an on going change, where as the beni peaks at a certain point and bound to go down hill soon. None the else the Showa is nice for a Show, but how well it will do it depends on the Judge's judging style.
