Page 29 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 30
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that can only be located on the head. These variants white ground (Shiroji). The word for this is Kasane
should follow the guidelines of each of their constituent which translates to overlapping and is interpreted in
varieties.
many books as simply black on red. The opposite of
For my part I will draw your attention back to those Kasane is Tsubo which I was taught to mean black on
basic principles – taking your eye from front to back white. This is a valid interpretation but we miss
and balance. A quick way to assess that complex something from the actual translation. One of many is
balance is to imagine the Koi being divided into three the term ‘key point’. A well known breeder caused
equal parts, the head section, the mid section and the THE ‘RULE some consternation at a seminar in the UK when he
tail tube (Ozutsu). Each piece should contain enough of referred to the first Sumi Dan of a Sanke’s pattern that
the varieties characteristics to allow you to identify it OF THIRDS’ happened to be on a large Dan of Beni as ‘Tsubo’.
(see ‘Pattern Checking Tools’). That’s when I learned that this word has two meanings.
CAN BE
Kasane and Tsubo Many books will infer that Kasane Sumi is of lesser
USED TO merit than Tsubo Sumi in the black on white sense. It
With a complex pattern the appearance can be certainly doesn’t have the same contrast and impact.
enhanced when the two additional colours stay TAKE YOUR The photo (left) shows a triple Grand Champion Sanke
separated on the skin. When colours overlap, e.g. when EYE FROM (2015-17). I leave you to decide how less a merit it is.
the Sumi on a Sanke appears within a Dan of Beni, it
FRONT TO
doesn’t have quite the same contrast of Sumi on the Pattern Checking Tools
BACK There are two mental tools that I’ve used over the years
to assess pattern, most of the time when discussing
minutiae with other judges. The first, erroneously called
the ‘rule of thirds’ can be used to assess the pattern’s
ability to take your eye from front to back. However,
this tool doesn’t work with any of the Tancho varieties.
Grand Champion Sanke at
The All England Koi Show
2015, 2016 and 2017.
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