[aquitori]

1.Relative to pricing, are these fish deemed tategoi more expensive than say
Grade AAA or Show Quality?

Usually these "Tategoi" labelled fish are a bit more expensive or usually not for sale. In general tategoi is a term used year to year after the growing season. A fish labelled tategoi one season doesn't generally mean it will be tategoi the next. There are some people that have spent alot of money on tategoi only for it to be sent back because it no longer was one in the breeders eyes.

2.I thought tategoi was a koi deemed not worthy for export, is this true?

The supposed true tategoi will be asked to stay in Japan, if the breeder feels that it is best interest of the fish. There's a difference between buying a breeder's "tategoi" at his retail shop than the ones kept in his secret "tategoi" greenhouses.

3.What are some of the bench marks that breeders use to proclaim a fish tategoi?

Bench marks would be overall quality, or the best of best of that years harvest. That is the bench mark of the breeders.