The importance of pattern..............continued

Last week I wrote a blog about - The importance of pattern - which created some interest on a variety of forums around the globe not least a lengthy conversation on the forum of Nippon Nishikigoi - http://www.nipponnishikigoi.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=445.

This post will hopefully build on some of the points made in my original post last week and some of the points that came out of the thread above as well as introducing some new thoughts.

As with last week's thread I'll stick with Kohaku as examples.

All Koi are unique, no two have exactly the same pattern and that is one of the intriguing things about Nishikigoi.  As detailed in last week's post through the process of culling, which commences when the fry are just 1 month old, most of those displaying no pattern, or patterns with undesirable traits, will have been discarded by the breeder long before their siblings are offered to market. 

So, presented with a pond full of Kohaku, and for the purposes of this discussion we'll assume all are equal in terms of body shape and skin, which one should you choose?

The answer to that is fairly simple on the face of it, buy the one that appeals to you most, you are the one that's going to have to look at it in your pond.  I stated last week that I personally feel the pattern has to attract before considering other aspects of the Koi.  In the forum thread referred to above hobbyist Kevin Ellis stated, "If I dont like the pattern dont care how good shape, skin, deportment, barbule conformation or body is".  As I've mentioned previously, Shigeyoshi Tanaka at Maruju recently said the same thing, don't just buy Koi because it has a show pattern, buy the pattern you like, rather more don't reject a Koi because it doesn't have a show pattern if you like it.

That's all well and good but lets consider that you are buying a Koi with a view to entering it into a Koi show, then selecting a suitable pattern is perhaps rather more complicated than just purchasing the pattern that you like.

I think that patterns, remember we are just concentrating on Kohaku now, can loosely be classified into 3 groups, standard/traditional, standard/traditional with a unique 'twist' and finally totally unique.

Let me explain further my reasoning behind this and what each group means:

Standard/traditional - in this group I would Kohaku with simple stepped patterns, nidan, sandan, yondan.  The dans would be uncomplicated even rounded shapes, evenly spaced on the body. Very much text book examples, something like the example below.  Before I forget, the plain base template used for the images below is courtesy of Koi magazine - http://www.koimag.co.uk - thanks Beckie.

Standard/traditional with a unique 'twist' - whilst the example below is a sandan pattern as it has 3 distinct steps it clearly has very unique elements to it, the maruten marking connected to the shoulder pattern making the 1st dan, the white cut into the 2nd dan by the dorsal.

Totally unique - the Kohaku below is modelled on the 2002 ZNA All Japan Grand Champion owned by Masao Kato.  This was a Koi I fell in love with at first sight at the 2001 ZNA show where the Grand Champion, another famous Kohaku known as Sakurahime with it's fairly traditional sandan pattern left me somewhat underwhelmed as the first All Japan Grand Champion I'd seen in the flesh.  Another example would be Loulan, the only Koi to have won the All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show on 2 occasions and a Koi which a number of breeders have stated to me as being the best Koi they've ever seen.

The significance of the 'sandan' pattern

The sandan, or 3 stepped, pattern is considered the 'standard' pattern in terms of desirability, why?  Well the Japanese like things arranged in groups of 3, this can be found in flower arranging, placement of stones in gardens and in the arrangement of types of bonsai.  To take that a step further the first dan should apparently be the 2nd largest, the main dan on the body the largest, finishing with the smallest dan at the tail.  Many a breeder has stated to me that the maruten sandan is the perfect pattern.  Whilst the above may be true it isn't something that is particularly borne out by results of the major Koi shows in Japan.

Categorising All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Grand Champions

The poster below shows the Grand Champions from the first 40 All Japan Shows, click to englarge it.

You can find more pics here - http://www.koikeepers.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=437.

As you look through the images how many conform to what we are led to believe are 'standards' in terms of pattern?  Just 2 have what would be considered reasonably traditional stepped patterns. 

What is obviously apparent is the number of Kohaku that have completely unique patterns and patterns if we are led to believe the text book rules relating to red in the eyes, no tail stop, etc, are fundamentally flawed.

Categorising ZNA All Japan Grand Champions

You can find all of the winners from the ZNA All Japan Show here - http://www.koikeepers.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=583.

As you start going through you'll probably note that many of the Koi are the same as those that won the combined show above, something that more recently has ceased to be the case.

Traditional patterns are perhaps a little, I stress a little, more common than at the combined show, unique patterns still dominate though.

So which sort of pattern should you plump for?

As I've repeated many times, you should buy what you like.  If you are buying for a Koi show outside of Japan, and with non Japanese judges, then you are safest with a Koi with a pattern that isn't too unique.  I've read that judges don't allow their personal tastes to affect their decisions.  I have no doubt that is the case at the highest level, i.e. they can't allow pattern to override other criteria just because they like it.  However, when it comes down to 2 individual Koi with comparable skin, comparable bodies and the decision has to be made on pattern, both of which are comparable, which is the judge going to go for?  This isn't to do with judges credibility, it's just human nature.

For me personally, show me a pond of Koi in the 'standard/traditional' group and I don't care how good the body or skin is it's just a boring Koi.  Show me a Koi with a great pattern, something with interest, something dynamic, something that is truly unique (without braking fundamental rules) and it's time to get excited.  Of course if it's on a skinny body with flat skin then I accept it can't cut it.

I look forward to seeing this Koi come out from the mud in October.....

....when she does she'll be yonsai, sure she breaks some 'rules' but who cares!

Did I tell you the autumn harvests are coming - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/853?