Matsunosuke - 20 Boxes

[Russell Peters]

Kari and I received 20 boxes today from INC. The shipment included 170 10" to 12" jumbo tosai 140 6" Tosai 24 14" - 16" Nisai and a couple of 20" Nisai Showa. Here are some group shots of the jumbo tosai.

[Russell Peters]

These pictures were taken within a minute of taking this sanke out of the box. The shiroji is snow white.

[Russell Peters]

Have sanke will showa..........u

[Russell Peters]

I asked Mr. Sakai to send me a couple of Showa that represent his different style of Showa. This first one is a more developed Showa with his new style sumi. It is a 20" Nisai female with an old style pattern - lots of sumi.

[Russell Peters]

Here are a couple up close and personal shots.

[Russell Peters]

This second Showa is quite different. The sumi still has a few years before it comes up. It will not have as much sumi as the first one. Mr. Sakai says that with this Showa you must be patient. It is a 19" Nisai female.

[Russell Peters]

I will try to post some more pictures of the "New Arrivals" this weekend.

[John F]

Nice looking fish! I am curious though. Those 10"-12" Tosai, were they bred spring of 07" ? If so that is incredible for the size they are in only 4 months. If not I guess they would not be Tosai huh.

[mstrseed]

That 2nd Showa looks nice ................

[JasPR]

Too many windows on the showa, does not bow well for future development. You also don't want to see sumi and beni mix on top of one another ( you will notice that this effect looks like brown when the light is strong or the koi's luster is down for any reason).
The separation of sumi, shiro and beni to a great degree is of course difficult and makes those specimens prohibitively expensive. But if you can get sumi on shiro ground and beni on shiro ground you have deeper, more stable color in the long run. And windows are ultimately a stability issue also, that is why they are considered a demerit in judging. The judging should re-enforce the breeding standard and elevate soundness of body and color. - JR