Selecting Tosai, pointers...

[TylerJ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gallagher Here's an example of what not to buy. The 2 pictures are the same fish. I bought from a very well respected Dealer and Breed. I bought this from a picture on his web page (said picture looked a lot better than the fish looked in person) The reason I bought this fish was to double up on a shipment. Bad idea! this has turned into a $300 shiro mugi. Lessons lerned. Never buy a fish w/out seeing it in person. had I seen this in peron I would never have purchased it since you'ld have to be blind not to notice the hi was fading.

wow how long did it take for that to happen?

[mitten]

Because this thread has veered off the road already, let me land my favorite spaceship and add this to the discussion...humility is teachability and is an essential for spiritual wellness.

I would think humility/teachability would be an important trait for a koi judge to have and I know it is second only to money as an important trait for a show koi buyer to have when traveling to Japan.

During the Orlando show I will be looking at all of the fish, both show fish and vendor offerings. Learning is the thrill for me and though I certainly love the biggest baddest fish I have no compulsion to poccess them. Hopefully this year the judges will review and answer questions again on Sunday morning - my favorite time of every show. This is the approach I will use at the All Bay show and either the Koiphen or Chicago ZNA show (tough choice) when I attend them this year. When I make my first trip and my fiftieth trip to Japan I will bring the same powerful tool...open mind.

How do I pick tosai? I use every bit of learning I have soaked up from fellows like Ray Jordan to decide. I also acknowledge that it is a numbers game when dealing with tosai in the cost range I can participate in. Buying some boxes??? Buy in spring.

Mickey the windowman

[dechoong]

"It appears that tategoi, koi destined to be great, are comparatively light in colour when small with a strong, solid body and uniformity from the head to the tip of the tail. A relatively high percentage of koi with too bright a red retire early. I think the patterning is likely to disintegrate"

"When we cull, pattern is surprisingly a secondary factor: emphasis is placed on bone structure, even in small koi. There are koi that appear big for 20cm and koi that appear small even when they actually do measure 20cm. I believe that koi that appear big make good tategoi and that pattern is completely secondary"

"I select koi with good bone structure even if the pattern is simple since koi like these tend to possess elements that give them a comparatively high added value. It seems to me that a "tategoi" with a good pattern and too bright a red stands little chance of doing well."

-Hiroji Sakai, SFF

Hi guys,

The above are quotes extracted from an interview with Mr. Hiroji Sakai (Nichirin 95-1, No.329, May 1995). Hope it offers some help from the master himself on selecting tosai. Every serious hobbyist has to tread his/her own path and pay their dues before developing an eye for quality koi, especially tosai. You can take the word of a dealer, even reputable ones, only to a certain extent before deciding for yourself.

Cheers,
Dennis

[dechoong]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gallagher Here's an example of what not to buy. The 2 pictures are the same fish. I bought from a very well respected Dealer and Breed. I bought this from a picture on his web page (said picture looked a lot better than the fish looked in person) The reason I bought this fish was to double up on a shipment. Bad idea! this has turned into a $300 shiro mugi. Lessons lerned. Never buy a fish w/out seeing it in person. had I seen this in peron I would never have purchased it since you'ld have to be blind not to notice the hi was fading. Now did this dealer notice this and make a last minute call to his customer to say 'ah Jim I don't think the tosai you picked out looks right etc.ect.etc. let me replace it with another. NO! Lessons learned Jim

Hi Jim,

Is the first picture the same used on the dealer's web page? It is quite obvious the hi is breaking up.

Dennis

[Kohaku]

Buffalo is quite a few hours from me! Anything closer? Boston or closer?

[Gallagher]

Is the first picture the same used on the dealer's web page? It is quite obvious the hi is breaking up.

Dennis[/quote]
Hi Dennis,
To answer your question, No. However I never considered returning it, maybe I should have. This koi literally lost all it's color w/in a month. lesson learned.

Toni,
This was not purchased from JKO, but from a much higher end dealer on the west coast.
Jim

[luke frisbee]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kohaku Buffalo is quite a few hours from me! Anything closer? Boston or closer?

go to the MAKC website.., but also look on the AKCA website for clubs with websites...some of them will have shows