The Maruyama Showa

[MikeM]

I finally received the latest issue of K-B. I had to stop everything and read the Maruyama Showa article. Amazing to have a koi with such a history of winning competitions over so many years!

In the "windows" thread we began talking about her because a small area of Shiro that seems to have disappeared in some photos, and in others seems to have been painted out by a "glamour shot" photographer. But what stands out to my eye in examining the photos taken over more than a decade is how her Beni alters from year to year in small ways. If you have the magazine, compare the photos focusing on the Shiroji across her shoulders. Look at the edges of the Hi along that area and the appearance of an isolated spot of Hi. It varies in every photo, sometimes expanding and sometimes contracting. If it only contracted, it could be made to fit into some presumptions about Hi that we often read and hear about. But after some seasons in the mud, the Hi expands to cover scales which were perfectly white.... with no underlying Hi showing as Sashi.

My intial impression of the Hi on this koi was that it was "splattered", and as I look at the photos this impression grows. There are none of the sharp edges we have come to expect from a Sakai Hiroshima Kohaku. There is something of the feel of Matsunosuke, but it seems the genetics are Dainichi. The enormous length and bulk of this fish are out of character for the old Showa genetic lines. I would assume there was Magoi in there, but the age of the fish would place its parents so far back in the history of introducing Magoi genes that I'm not comfortable jumping to any such conclusion.

Altogether, I am left wanting to know a lot more about her genetics than the article reveals.... not only about her parentage, but also how her siblings have developed. Have there been a dozen seasons of the same Oyagoi being used? And, if so, out of the millions of fry produced, is there any that are in the same league? Is she a genetic one-off? The plan to spawn her is unclear...Was she to be bred in the 2005 spawning season, or held a year, making this the year she she will be mated? If spawned in 2005, why nothing heard about tosai produced from her? Or, was spawning attempted, but failed?

Excellent article. Wonderful pictures. So much more to know.

[RayJordan]

Hi Mike,
I talked with Futo Maruyama about some of these same questions last week. The GC showa was the very best of the 1st spawn of a new set of parent koi bought by Futo the 1st year he took over the family business. Apparently there was only this one spawn with the orginal parents. I was told all Parent koi were Dianichi bloodline Showa not mixed Showa and Kohaku that had been rumoured. I got the impression that one parent died but this was not stated for certain why they were never sucessfully spawned again.

This is a magical story with lots of twists and turns over her 13 years including a miracle survival of the huge earthquate in Niigata last year. A drop in health/appearence after the earthquake described as going from near perfect condition to maybe only 60% then improvement the month before the show to maybe 70-75% and still being voted GC as the best koi at the show on that day. WOW, Hollywood needs to jump on this story.

There are lots of stories of years spent trying different combinations of parents and when finally the magic combination is discovered a single spawn or few special babies produced and one of the parents die and it has to start all over again. If you think GC koi are expensive imagine the value of a proven set of parent koi.

I hoped I would be able to see her in person but was told she had gone to her owners pond. I was shown a number of other parent koi - all were kohaku.

I was told there were plans to use this showa as a parent but I was not told if this had already occurred or when it would be attempted. I toured the maruyama tosai house and there were only a few showa tosai seen - similar to visits. in past years.

I guess you have to expect some secrecy with the stakes as high as they are. One thing for sure if and when she is sucessfully spawned you will see some significant marketing and can expect to pay a premium for her babies. The Japanese are terrific at marketing and with all the efforts over the years needed to produce a few great koi - I don't blame them for wanting to cash in whenever they can.

[marco]

It's seems that a lot of Japan breaders are near to pass the one meter lenghs with go sanke females, but what size are the best male ?
I finally receive my first Koï bito magazine two weeks ago, and I was impressed by the quality of the differents koï in competition. (thanks Brian )
If it seems easy to understand the classement for the biggest koï category, but it's not the same about the little size one. Maybe is more difficult to judge the small one for what they will be in future...
When big koï are judged, does all the judge agree ? Does they have more problems for the small one ?

[KoiCop]

Quote: Originally Posted by MikeM Excellent article. Wonderful pictures. So much more to know.

I agree, an extraordinary article. I scanned all pix of the showa to post for poor koiczar (no Bito 10, yet), but haven't received permission from Brian yet to post 'em.

If we can get them up here on the board it should make for a great discussion thread.

[aquitori]

I have read a bit on the Maruyama Showa awhile back. Pretty amazing story what this fish has gone through.

[KoiCop]

Quote: Originally Posted by RayJordan I was told all Parent koi were Dianichi bloodline Showa not mixed Showa and Kohaku that had been rumoured. I got the impression that one parent died but this was not stated for certain why they were never sucessfully spawned again.

thanks for your up-close and personal insight into this magical GC.

The K-B article also confirms that both parents were Dainichi and even has a photo of a maruten showa the oyagoi descended from.

[MikeM]

Ray: Thank you so much for filling some blanks.

[koiczar]

STOP THE PRESSES!! I GOT MY ISSUE 10 TODAY - FINALLY. Definitely have to speak to Brian. Postage paid doesn't seem to equal what I was told it was. Anyway, if that gets corrected, we can expect them to arrive within a week of being sent.

Now on to more important issues - the Maruyama showa - what an article. Very in depth and informative. I looked at all the pictures of the fish and in some you can't see the window and some you can. Definitely enhanced versions of the original pics!! I would love to see pictures of this fish when coming out of the mud. It must have taken their collective breaths away if it was only 70% at showtime. As to breeding her as oyagoi, I would guess that that is why she wasn't present and accounted for at this year's show. Giving her a chance to rest and bulk up for the hard work ahead.

As Ray mentioned, Maruyama's greenhouse was full of tosai kohakus but only about 350-400 showas. I'll be curious to see what it looks like the next couple of years if this fish's spawning is successful.

[aquitori]

What is funny to me is that breeders who solely breed Showas can't even achieve this feat. Also, the fact that the breeder is relying on this one fish to bring glory is amazing....

But as the saying goes Dainichi is still the best bloodline for Showa..