If showas are black then.......

[RayJordan]

Hi Mike,
I welcome any discussion about koi especially koi/showa history. I am a showa lover also. Look forward to seeing you at the AJS.

You are correct that Dianichi improved upon the Kobayashi showa line. However, the orginal showa was bred by Jukichi Hoshino (Shiro-bei). Jukichi produced the first “orginal style” Showa that looked somewhat like Hi/Ki utsuri in the early 20th century. These early showas had goshiki like(greyish) shiro and striped fins. Next change was accomplished by breeding to asagi which helped produce motoguro marked fins.

In 1964 Tomiji Kobayashi crossed a Male Yogozen Kahaku with a female showa to produce a new style showa with a large crimson red pattern. It also had a brighter white ground without netting. Deep wrapping sumi that forms motoguro and a zig zag pattern on head.

Later improvements to the current quality of showa we see today were made by Dianichi, Isa, and others. Here are a few photos showing the dramatic changes in Showa over the last 40 years.

[koiczar]

Thanks for the lesson Ray. Amazing how one variety could improve so much. Of course, we've yet to see another one like the Dainichi in the last pic of your post. That is just one incredible fish!!!

[maryland_ponder]

I agree what a beautiful fish. Closest I'll ever get to fish that fine is this photo!!

Quote: Originally Posted by koiczar Thanks for the lesson Ray. Amazing how one variety could improve so much. Of course, we've yet to see another one like the Dainichi in the last pic of your post. That is just one incredible fish!!!

[bekko]

C'mon Ray. No offense, but you could have found a little better fish to represent the showa of 40 years ago - especially since the modern showa picture is a one-in-a-million sort of koi. In Glenn Takeshita's book from 1969 he has photos of some showa which would still be considered fairly good today.

-stevehopkins

[MikeM]

The great Showa are few. Then their day is past. ... The one I call "The Dowager". As she was in 2004 and as she was portrayed a few years earlier in her prime (next to Shiro Utsuri).

JR's metaphor of a cut flower is so apt.

[MikeM]

Then, a few thousand miles away, a poor (but photogenic) imitation.

These two show what can happen when magoi blood is mixed into Showa.

[Brady Brandwood]

Mike, where is the left pic (head & shoulders) of the Nogami Showa from? Was this in Japan, or England, at a harvest, or at a show - also, what age? Any details?

Best Wishes,
Brady

[RayJordan]

Steve,
No offense taken. I believe the 1st two photos are representative of very good showas for their time. At least that what their photos indicated. I have looked at photos in every koi book I have been able to locate including Glenn Takeshita's book. I have shown these photos to several Japanese koi breeders and they also confirmed they were top showas for their time as well. Please post some photos of showas taken in the 1960's that you feel were higher quality. I would love to see them.

I agree that the Kado showa bred by Dianichi was at the very top of it's class. Photo was much more professionally done and also enhanced.

The best showas (and every other variety of koi) in the late 60's were far far less in overall quality than what we see today in most local club shows in the U.S. Here is a photo of the koi awarded Best Showa in the 1968 All Japan Show in Ojita. It is really amazing to me to see the dramatic improvment in quality in the past 40 years.

[marco]

Really enjoy that type of thread that shows the improvment of these last 40 years, bur does somebody has some picture of some champion just 10 years ago ?
When does these evolution starts ?
Marco

[MikeM]

Brady: That photo was taken at the 2004 BKKS National. I do not know her age at that point. Here is another view giving an idea of the "body height" remaining despite her decline...makes that huge shoulder area look disproportionately small! She was enormous in pure bulk. I've never seen a Gosanke with such overall bulk, but then, my experience is limited.