The fundamental difference in Showa sumi is also illustrated by its appearance and location. Menware (sumi on the head) and Motoguro (sumi at the base of the pectoral fins) are especially representative and illustrative of the nature and presentation of Showa sumi. In good examples of Showa, both these elements can be extremely impressive. By contrast, poor representations of either or both, do more harm than good. In such cases, none is better than poor.
While these Showa elements could be considered details, and to some degree they are, they are also defining when assessing or judging Showa, and more important perhaps highly relevant when considering a potential purchase, as paying attention to such details will at the very least help you make better buying decisions.
Head & Menware
Showa head sumi also has a specific reference term – Menware. While this maybe just one element, and given its specific location a relatively small one, the overall impact of Menware, of the overall impression offered by Showa, is significant and in fact disproportionate.
Pectoral Fins & Motoguro
The location and presentation of sumi is an important differentiating feature for Showa. and location of sumi in the pectoral fins of Showa is specific, it also has a specific term. Motoguro, the block sumi found at the base, or knuckle of the pectoral fins on Showa.
Motoguro can be a fickle element in Showa. In the best examples, it’s striking and enhances the overall appearance of the Koi. If however, the quality of sumi in the Motoguro is poor, or there’s too much, it can be overpowering and instead of enhancing, detracts from overall impression by virtue of its over presence.
Beni
It’s important to consider that there are many ranges of beni quality, and realistically distinguishing them is a myth shrouded topic. much more the realm of professional Koi breeders to humble Koi dealers, there are some clues. We’ve already learned that high-quality beni is thicker, denser and has enhanced qualities of elasticity. So while we might not be able to distinguish these, we can look for the consequences as they’re manifested in our Koi, and that detail translates into the consistency of appearance. So whatever your colour preference, beni with a more consistent appearance is also more desirable and stable.
Genetics
The complex nature of Koi generally, and Showa in particular, inevitably exact a genetic toll. For Showa that cost is even higher, than for most varieties, and manifests itself primarily two ways. Firstly, Showa display an increased propensity for structural anomalies and malformations. This presents in many ways, some subtle and hard to spot, and some obvious. The subtle list includes deformed heads, mouths, fins and individual rays of fins, the less subtle list includes: twisted bodies, under/oversized fins, heads, and missing fins and eyes! Pointed heads and weak peduncle joints are also potentially problematic with Showa. It’s important to pay close attention to all these, and to the swimming action which is often affected, even when the physical cause might not be visible.
Secondly, Showa display an annoying propensity to stop growing at 65cm-70cm. This is far too frequent to be a coincidence, and despite the best keeping conditions lavished, even in 2020 and beyond 80cm+ Showa are noteworthy and 90cm+ Showa, very rare. This is despite the increasing propensity for the quick and significant growth of Tosai, and Nisai Showa.
Mystique
Showa are with the possible exception of Goshiki, the most beguiling and mystique rich, of all the varieties. They are also one of the most recent. Interestingly also there are no definitive Showa bloodlines. While many individual breeders have become famous for producing them, including; Dainichi, Sakai Hiroshima, Matsunosuke, Sakuma, Ogata, Ogawa, Momotaro, Ueno, Gamo, Seijuro, Yamaguchi, Nogami, Sekiguchi, and the most recent Showa superstar maker – Isa, there are no definitive Showa bloodlines, unlike the Sensuke, Yomoin, and Sensuke Kohaku Bloodlines, and Torazo, Sadazo, and Kichinai Sanke bloodlines.
The Future
Given their propensity for change, with Showa, clairvoyance is also a very useful ability to possess. While that might not be a realistic option for most, one eye to the future very much is. This isn’t quite so intimidating when we remember of the three colour variable in Showa, it’s only sumi with the potential to change most radically. That doesn’t mean we don’t need to worry about the shiroji and beni, in fact, the reverse, but what it does mean is that while evaluating the shiroji and beni is, at least to a degree only one dimensional – because what you see is what you get, the sumi should exercise your powers of prediction. This is important specifically for the sumi per se, and also for the shiroji and beni, especially if any currently present or especially attractive beni, might subsequently be obscured by emerging recessive sumi.
Understanding and developing the ability to predict this to any degree of accuracy, really is a long term goal, and realistically is only achieved with experience. The other harsh truth at play here, is that for some, no matter how hard you try – you’ll never get it. That’s fine too, because being aware of such a personal limitation, ironically also helps negates the problem in the first place, at least to a degree!
