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I think when it comes to pattern there is the traditional or orthodox pattern , the unique pattern and the poor pattern ( that lack all balance and expression). But coming from a different perspective, there are patterns that fit fish and patterns that fit or don’t fit fish based on size, volume, sex and skin type. The tancho kohaku is one such example. A square tancho on a male fish looks out of place. Yet on a wide female, with a broad head, it is just the ticket to make the fish look very impressive.
When we judge koi in a show, we divide judging criteria into three priority systems based on age and size of koi. This is very hard to grasp for the beginner or the Internet koi keeper who has learned how to evaluate koi based on pictures of koi. Yet I’ll bet everyone can understand that we make allowances for shape and pattern development in tosai that we would not forgive so easily in adult koi? The same is true for pattern, that is, it is judged according to the fish, it’s age, size and sex.
So in juvenile koi ( Tosai and Nisai) we judge with an eye towards color and pattern and level of finish for the fish. This is because a koi show is a beauty contest and not a tategoi contest. The problem always arises however when a tategoi , in and of itself, is beautiful!? It breaks all rules as it is NOT finished and NOT about the pattern, but it is the best fish in competition. This is were subjectivity comes in. But that is a unique situation and a conversation for another time. Back to pattern. We all know that certain patterns are too heavy for baby show fish. Their time to show will be later on . Maybe when they reach adult size. We also frequently see fish with too small a pattern for any adult, win hands down as the thinner body and male white makes these patterns very beautiful. The male body line is ideal for this look. And a young ‘budding’ female body has to great advantage and is likely not going to be as finished in color as a young male so body can’t push a well patterned male out of the way so easily as it can and will at size 60 cm.
There is also an evolutionary consideration to pattern in young koi. I’ve noticed that from ‘picture judging’ the new enthusiast is often not aware of this. Inazuma pattern can look very good on a young male show fish. Yet inazuma pattern is a primitive pattern and very easy for a fish to come by. Five step patterns ,on the other hand, with good dorsal arrangement are not so common. So in a competition of equal males, the rarer pattern will win.
Koi judging is about rarity. And the koi standard is about levels of accomplishment or put in the most basic term, it is about rarity. It is rare to see a perfectly patterned finished gosanke with deep color and a normal, but pleasing, physical shape for the pattern the fish carries.
Running long----- JR
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06-25-2007
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Jokes aside, I feel a bit more shiroji would have further added to the quality of the fish as it would make that incredible hi stand out even more. Granted pattern is the least important factor amongst the judging criteria, but let me put it another way - IF you were asked to name something that could have made this koi even better than it already is, chances are you'd say a little more white around the shoulder area. The quest for the perfect koi (if ever there was such a thing) never ends!!
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