Page 17 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 6

I was glad to see that the Senior Judge was not adverse answer because the segregation of the winners into
to taking a second, third or even fourth look at a Koi. those vats over the road made it easy to show what won
Walking back and forth between vats occurred regularly. any particular category.
Takano San was also aware that keeping the flow of
The Show Committee had organised a judging seminar
results to the admins was important including when a
which I took part in and passed – so did most people.
re-benching required re-judging. Shoji was at pains to Duc Nguyen arrived quite early and I had the pleasure of
point out what was happening when this occurred but talking to another foreigner but one with the local
so familiar was their way of working to that of Western knowledge of the show scene. Duc and his son Oliver
shows that his efforts weren’t necessary. If it wasn’t for
took a lot of photos, some of which I’ve used for this
the Kanji notation I believe I could have walked into their
article. So, thanks Duc, thanks Shoji, thanks Kanto. It
admin area and taken over.
was a great experience.
That leads me nicely to the next bit – the names of the
winners. Sorry, but I don’t know – I was given a list but I
The Kanto Show Classes
couldn’t read it. However, the winner of the NVN
Friendship trophy was a man called Toshio Kawakame a Kohaku, Sanke, Showa, Bekko & Mujimono,
larger than life character that I’d seen at the All Japan Utsurimono, Asagi/Shusui, Koromo, Kawarimono,
Show in Tokyo in February. Toshio was the equivalent of Hikari-Muji, Hikari-Moyo & Hikari-Utsuri,
the Vice Show Chairman. I chose a brilliant Shiro Utsuri Tancho, Kinginrin A, Kinginrin B.
for the prize during the judging. Toshio thanked me for it
during the banquet at the end of the day. I guess his
position gave him access to privileged information.

The evening meal was a pleasure. Although I was the
only foreigner there I was in good company. Sadayuki
Suzuki, an International Judge I’ve judged with before
sat opposite me and kept me and our companions at
NVN Friendship
Trophy Winner. the table amused with recollections of judging abroad.
He also kept me well supplied with beer, wine and sake.
Sitting next to us were Takeshi Yamamoto and Shoji
Saito two judges I had first judged with seven years ago Above: Grand Champion.
in Germany. Elsewhere in the room was Keisuke Karubi Right: Grand Champion
who was in the team in Holland at the first show I ever winner with his prizes.
judged overseas in 2003. The main topic of
conversation was of course Koi. Thanks to mobile
phones we could share photos of our ponds and
favourite Koi. I was a long way from home but I didn’t
feel like an alien. Koi made friends of us all.

Sunday was a day of rest for me where I could walk
around the show, the fish farm and mingle with the
exhibitors and visitors. Mixing with them wasn’t a
problem. A lot spoke English and we could pass the
time of day. Like any show, some of the exhibitors
wanted to know the reason behind particular choices Photographs by
made by the judges. Thankfully they were easy to Bernie Woollands and
Duc Nguyen.
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