New Showa

[bigred]

Here's a pic of my new showa. It's 10.5". LEt me know what you think.

Steve

[MikeM]

The minimal amount of white makes it more a Hi Showa. (People will debate the amount of white that can be visible and still be considered a Hi Showa.) Unfortunately, it is difficult to tell the quality of the red pigment in most photos, which is key to long term enjoyment. The Sumi is still "young", but reasonably well distributed in an old-style pattern I find attractive. I generally do not care for Hi Showa. My personal preference is for at least 25% white above the lateral line. Many people like Hi Utsuri, but the tendency of that variety to have poor, orangish Hi and speckly Sumi eventually causes most folks to lose interest in them. The Hi Showa tends to avoid these problems (but not always). So, for a person who likes the look of Hi Utsuri, but not the price of the few quality specimens occasionally available, the Hi Showa provides a nice substitute that can be enjoyed far longer. Hi Utsuri also tend to suffer from thin peduncle somewhat similar to Shiro Utsuri. The Hi Showa tends to avoid that hurdle as well.

Enjoy your Showa and please post a progress photo when it reaches 20". While it is not to my personal taste, I expect I'll really like the Sumi pattern after two more growing seasons.

[Tamianth]

I'm no expert, but in a way, I like the fish and the pattern of the sumi with the Hi. I do think more white would do this fish a lot of justice! But I like it...

I have to go along with Mikes post, I think I find the old style pattern more appealing to my taste also.

Enjoy! Lovely Koi....

[Clay]

I really enjoyed the picture of the young fish. It will fill out with age. At this age, you pay for the red and pay for the white and pray for the black (or so I have been told recently at a seminar). The fish is too young to say what it will look like when it is older. I love the very even and balanced motoguro on the pecs.

Also look forward to some more photos as the fish ages. Congrats on your new addition.

Rick

[dick benbow]

I thought Mike's comments pretty sage.

I personally like the koi. I think in a moving mass of color at feeding time your eye would be drawn to it first because of the bold and dramatic color. I have never been able to tell very well from a photo much more than the impression the pattern makes.So you are offically challenegd to make the very best water you can to continue to improve the koi....

Your koi reminds me of an old friends Aka bekko that always took it's class and many special awards till the white on the belly started to show more and more each year forcing us to now class it as aka sanke and then it's show days were over.even then I still liked the koi and would look for it first in the pond when i was over for a visit......

always appreciate when folks take the time to show us their new additions....thank-you.

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by bigred Here's a pic of my new showa. It's 10.5". LEt me know what you think. Steve

The motoguro is a telling sign for Showa. The motoguro on this Koi is covering too much of the pecs. Also, when the motoguro goes to the edge of the pecs like it does on this it shows that the Koi is finishing, it is done.

[Clay]

Quote: Originally Posted by Russell Peters The motoguro is a telling sign for Showa. The motoguro on this Koi is covering too much of the pecs. Also, when the motoguro goes to the edge of the pecs like it does on this it shows that the Koi is finishing, it is done.

Russ, the fish is 10.5 inches long now. I've seen showa with solid black pecs that receed or pull back with age. Your'e more knowledgeable than I concerning this but you feel there is too much there at 10.5"? Just currious, thanks for the comments.

[rockman]

bigred,

A nice Hoi Showa, I like the balance of the markings. I also just recently purchased a Showa (as a birthday present to myself). It will arrive next week, maybe I will post a pic like you did!

[MikeM]

LOL, Dick. People always gripe about the Sanke that became a Shiro Bekko. That's the first I've heard of a Bekko sadly becoming a Sanke.

[Sangreaal]

Personally, I like the pattern of this showa. I like the minimal touches of shiro that delicately accent the hi and sumi. Looks really finished for such a young koi, but I am no expert on the progression of showa. My own 10" showa has been developing sumi in a back and forth pattern all summer, and is just starting to get "inked out" from back to front. It will be interesting to watch yours as it grows through the seasons.

Who is the breeder?

Marie