The standard for koi fish judging used to be 50 for the figure, 50 for the color, 20 for the pattern.
Recently quality elegance and atmosphere are added to them. When the writer judges a koi, he marks it in the ratio of 30 for the figure, 20 for the color, 20 for the pattern, 10 for the quality, 10 for the elegance and 10 for the imposing appearance.
Since the Writer’s book of Nishikigoi explained how to judge them it has been the way of judging to subtract demerit marks from full marks.
However, it seems to be opposed to keepers, love for their Nishikigoi, so now the way of adding marks for the koi’s merits is used.
For example, a koi with Hi on its fin or jaw used to get demerit marks or to be neglected, but in present koi fish judging quality, it might be a champion, if it had an attractive point which makes up for its demerits.
The ranking is apt to be decided by judges’ first impression. To master powers of appreciation, it is easy to give or subtract marks according to the koi’s merits and demerits.
For example, Hi on the jaw, over the eyes or on the pectoral fin gets minus 2. If a koi gets minus 4 for its two demerits but has a very attractive point, it can have 96 which is sufficient to be a winner.
In short, if only subtraction is always done for demerits, there is a danger that a koi without any merit should be chosen as a champion.
It is more desirable to choose a koi with a charming point in spite of some of its weak points.
1.Figure 30 Marks in koi fish judging
The most important point koi fish judging os the figure including the style of swimming. Even if a koi has has beautiful colors and patterns, it cannot win, if its figure is bad.
Both sides should be symmetrical, but not strictly so. As mens’s faces are not perfectly symmetrical, koi’s bodies are not, either.
The female abdomen with eggs is naturally swollen, so it should not be regarded as an abnormal figure.
There is two kinds of abnormal figure a lack and a deficiency. A koi without an eye or a fin is truly abnormal and should be excepted from judging.
However, a koi with a swollen part of the abdomen or a caved part of the head can be included in the koi fish judging .
Some important points about the figure are as follows
1. Straight line of the back bone and proper curves
It is important that the koi’s line of the backbone is straight, seen from above. The top and the bottom lines should draw proper curves seen from the side. The top line must not curve sharply and the bottom line must not be straight.
The koi which twists itself when swimming is not worthy of being appreciated.
2. Beautiful fins
Beautiful and slightly large fins compared to the size of the body make a koi look beautiful. Pectoral fins are the most important of all. They are apt to be deformed either congenitally or by diseases or wounds. Some Ogons have dwarfed pectoral fins which are definitely their weak points.
Some caudal and dorsal fins are also deformed. Especially dorsal fins of which center are caved are often found. Some pelvic fins or anal fins are deformed, too.
3. A well-shaped head
Some face of koi are good looking and some are not, just like ours. One koi has a nose which leans forward and another has a turned-up nose, Depending on the degree, they may be weak points.
The most conspicuous deformation is that of the jaw most of the deformation are after-effects of gill rot which attacks fry of koi.
The deformed jaws are big.
Their heads are large and square. Gill rot effects deformation of the mouth and the gill.
Eyes, mouths, jaws are better to be well-shaped.
4. Well-balanced height, length and breadth
The ratio of height to length of a koi can tell in general whether is figure is good or not.
The bigger the number of length to height 1 is, the better the figure is. Most well-balanced koi have a ratio of 1 to 2.6 to 1 to 3.0
2. Colors 20 Marks
All the colors of koi should be clear. White should be pure white in every koi. It must not be brownish or milky white.
Especially the head tends to become brownish white. The white texture should not have dirty spots or small Hi spots, either.
It is important that the edge of a Hi marking is clear. Hi must be uniform, that is uneven Hi is worthless.
A Hi marking must not lack a red scale or have white spots on it, either. Thick Layer of Hi is preferable.
Bright Hi with an yellowish brown tint is that best. Hi with a purple tint is regarded less elegant.
Roundish Sumi markings are better than square or triangle-shaped markings. The color should be pitch-dark.
Sumi must not be uneven Bright luster over Sumi markings is indispensable
When they are covered with white membrane. The koi has a cold.
3. Pattern 20 Marks
All the markings on the body of a koi should be well-balanced. A white part either on the mouth and on the tail region is necessary.
U-shaped head Hi used to be ideal, but recently more unique shapes are preferred.
Two points for judging the pattern are on the head and shoulders and on the tail region.
The former is more important. A Hi patch should spread widely on the head. A white cut on the neck is desirable for a Kohaku and a Sumi marking for a Sanke.
On the tail region a white part is needed. A heavy looking pattern is not suitable on it. Many Sumi marking of the tail region or a plain red tail region red trousers is disliked.
4. Quality 10 Marks
The quality of koi cannot be explained in a word. How to tell good quality from bad is mastered only through experience.
The quality is a synthesis of the white texture, Hi, Sumi and the figure. A predisposition to become a large koi without losing Hi or Sumi is also important.
A koi with such a predisposition is generally round and large headed.
The quality is relevant to every item for judging.
The figure, the color, the pattern and the elegance are all related to the quality. Having a good quality is truly indispensable for a good koi
. It must be valued highly in judging. It is wrong to attach great importance only to the pattern which appeals to judges at first glance.
5. Elegance 10 Marks
A koi which a well-shaped head Hi is regarded good looking. A koi with Hi spreading over the eyes or the nose is thought to be worthless.
Though the shape of the pattern is valued highly, it must be also elegant.
A white part on the tail joint influences koi’s elegance, too.
It is important for the Kohaku as well as for the Taisho-Sanke and the Showa-Sanshoku.
A fat koi or a bad-figured koi is not regarded elegant. Even if it has good luster and pattern.
The shape and the size of the pectoral fins affect the elegance. Large roundish pectoral fins are elegant.
In a word a koi of good quality with an excellent figure and a beautiful pattern is thought to be elegant.
6. Imposing appearance 10 Marks
Generally it concers large koi. Their volume an imposingness are important elements in judging ghtem.
If a Niishikigoi lacked an excellent pattern and clear colors, its imposing appearance would make up for them.
In case two koi take the same marks for other items the larger koi will win.
Since the imposing appearance was included in the necessary points for judging, ample, jumbo female koi have been valued greatly.
However, the imposingness is not necessarily the heavyweight. A large but bad-figured koi is valueless.
A pot-bellied or double-bellied koi is disliked, either. A koi with an imposing and elegant appearance is the best. Sucha a koi can be found among male koi as well as female koi
Comment down below if you have more information about koi criteria for judging
There are two kinds of the show; one is the show held by Nishikigoi dealers and the other is by amateur koi keepers.
Either show has purpose to have a Nishikigoi contest and to cultivate powers of appreciation.
Morever, the dealers can take advantage of the show to sell their fish and the amateur keepers can learn various techniques of breeding Nishikigoi.
The history of the show
It is said that the first Nishikogoi show was held by professional breeders of Niigata around 1912.
The main Nishikigoi producing center is old Yamakoshi including Higashiyama, Takezawa & Ota.
The Nishikigoi Breeders Association was organized in every village.
Then they were united into one Yamakoshi Nishikigoi Breeders Association. From 1919 a show has been opened once a year, sponsored by each village in turn.
In 1951 Ojiya Nishikigoi Breeder’s Association was established and it heald a show once in a year.
In September, 1956, the first Nishikigoi show was held with the Agricultural Festival and the price of the Agriculture and Forestry Minister was established. The first prize of the Agriculture and Forestry was awarded to the writers Kohaku at present Niigata Nishikigoi show is opened every ear, sponsored by the Higashiyama District and teh Takezawa District alternately.
In December, 1968, all Japan Nishikigoi Promoters Association was organized for both breeders and dealers of the Nishikigoi. It opens all Nippon Nishikigoi Show with
the prize of the Prime Minister. The first show was held at Hotel New Otani in Tokyo.
As for the amateur shows, the Hiroshima District was the first one that opened it. The first show was in 1961, but it was carried out by the dealers in Hiroshima with amateur keepers koi.
The first amateur show, in the strict sense of the word, was held in 1962 in Oita.
All the Nishikigoi societies in Western Japan were united into Western Nippon Airinkai in 1965.
The first show was opened in Rakutenchi, Beppu with the prize of the Prime Minister and that of the Agriculture and Forestry Minister.
The writer’s Showa Sanshoku was awarded one of them.
The show has been developing greatly. AT last in 1968 the society covered all Japan and Zen Nippon Airinka was established.
The first show was grandly held in Nagasaki.
In 1976 the 12th all Nippon Show was held at the Festival Square of Expo Memorial Park in Osaka.
The entry was 3656 fish. That was the biggest show we had ever had. The show was also international with many attendants from
the United Sates, England, Canada, Mexico and the Republic of Korea and Taiwan.
Beside its all Nippon show the Zen Nippon Airinkai opens shows of cities, prefecturers and districts i order to increase the members.
The three biggest Nishikigoi shows in Japan are the All Nippon Show of the Airinkai, the All Nippon Nishikigoi Show of the All Japan Nishikigoi Promoters Association and the show of the Zen Nippon Nishikigoi Dealers Association.
The All Nippon Nishikigoi Show accepts amateur keepers koi as well as professional breeders and dealers koi.
The last one is held only for the members of the Association and the judges for the show are chosen from the members of the Airinka. They always open auction after the show.
Chairman Kuroki giving an opening address
15th Niigata Nishikigo Show (Niigata)7th Nippon Nishikogoi Show (Tokyo)
12 th All Nippon Show of the Airinakai (Osaka)
Classification of koi for judgement
As it is impossible to judge koi of all kinds and sizes at once, koi are grouped according to the kind and the size
Seven groups were established according to their sizes. The size of a koi is decided by measuring it precisely from the mouth to the end of the tail
Size 1. Up to 18 centimeters
Size 2. Up to 25 centimeters
Size 3. Up to 35 centimeters
Size 4. Up to 45 centimeters
Size 5. Up to 55 centimeters
Size 6. Up to 65 centimeters
Size 7. Up to 75 centimeters
Size 8. Over 75 centimeters
The classification differs with koi keepers societies.
The simplest classification for the kind is according to Hikarimonos and non-Hikarimonos.
In the more detailed classification, koi are grouped into the Kohaku, the Taisho-Sanke (including the Bekko) the Showa family (teh Showa-Sanshoku, the Utsurimono other Kawarimonon the Shusui family the Shusui teh Asagi, the Kinsui, the Ginsui and the Ogon, the Orange-Ogon, the Yamabuki-Ogon, the Hariwake
The classification of the Zen Nippon Airinkai is as follows.
measuring koi fish
1.Kohaku
Taisho-Sanke
3.Showa-Sanshoki
4.Utsurimono
5.Bekko
6.Asagi, Shusui
7.Koromo
8.Kawarimono
9.Ogon
10.Hikarimoyo-mono
11.Kikari-Utsurimono
12.Kinginrin
13.Tancho
judging koi fish
The Art and Science of Koi Judging. Read More. Common Koi Varieties. Color. When rating color, a judge looks at the depth and intensity of the color, as well as the appearance of the color throughout the body of a fish. Deportment. Pattern. Conformation. Preparing Fish For A Show.
Regulations of the entry and awarding
The show should be worked with the entry fee instead of the donations. Usually there is no limitation of the number of the entry in order to collect money for the show.
When the level of each members koi is greatly different in a small group, it is better to limit the number of koi entered for a show by a member.
The system of gradual increase of the entry fee is suitable in this case.
Those who enter many fish in the show pay high entry fee.
It is importantn that every member equally participate in the show.
On the contrary the System of gradual decrease is better to be taken, when the level of each members koi is not so different.
It will encourage people to enter as many fish as they can.
The more the number of koi is the more enjoyable the show becomes.
It will also help koi keepers to increase their power of appreciation.
In a big show like the All Nippon Show
high-class koi gather it is not necessary to limit the entry.
High entry fee would naturally limit the number of the entry.
Though a person who enters many fish may become a winner in a small show, it is not necessarily so in a big nationwide show.
In general the entry fee is from 200 yen to 5,000 yen. As the Nishikigoi show is not a business, it is better to reduce the entry fee as much as possible, only the deficit being avoided.
Sometimes a show is supported by the donations, but it should be run only by the entry fee in principle.
Some shows are run by the annual membership fee, but considering that not all members enter the fish in the show, it is still reasonalble to manage it with only the entry fee.
As the purpose of the amateur show is not making money but establishing deep friendship between the members and increasing the power of appreciation, it is important to settle
a reasonable entry fee to avoid the deficit and to run it smoothly without any trouble.
The accounts of the show should be always kept clear.
Deciding the champions is done as follows in the case of the Airinkai
a reasonable entry fee to avoid the deficit and to run it smootly without any trouble
The accounts of the show should be always kept clear.
Deciding the champions is done as follows in the case of the Airinkai
There are the grand champion on in all, the first, the second and the third place for each size and each kind and prizes for good fish which are not elected champions
First koi are grouped according to the kind and the size, Thirteen kinds and eight sizes have been settled in the Airinkai.
Therefore there are 104 groups in all
As the first step for deciding the champions, some excellent koi are chosen from each group.
They are to number one-third or one-fourth of all the koi in a show.
If the total number is 3000,1000 or 750 koi are chosen first.
The second step is to decide the first, the second and the third place in each 104 groups.
They are the champions of each kind and each size.
So there are 104 first place koi, 104 second place koi and also 104 third place koi.
All the other koi in the group chosen at the first step will be awarded prizes as good koi
Receiving a price at koi show
The third step is to decide
the first, the second and the third place according to each size, 1 to 8, among 312 koi which have won at the second selection. There are eight koi chosen for each place. The prizes are mostly awarde to the Kohaku, the Taisho Sanke and the Showa Sanshoku.
Mr. Jun Se Kyu receiving a prize
They are the three strongest families of all
The fourth step is the final judgement to decide the grand champion in all.
The competitors are 24 koi selected at the third step. Only one among them is to be awarded the grand championship in all.
Full of Trophy
Though the All Japan Show awards only one koi the grand championship, some district shows have the second, the third or the fourth grand champion
Most of the grand champions are koi of size 7 or 8. The Kohaku usually pre dominates.
There is a contest of getting high marks between individuals or groups. For example, a koi which is awarded the first place is counted as 5 marks, the scond place gets 3 marks, the third place gets 2. Koi in a good koi group get 1 each Each participant sums up his marks and winners are decided
Containers
Show using Sanmoh in a big poolKoi Show using vinyl pools
Vinyl pools or Sanmoh in a big pool are useful. Airation is present oxygen shortage is necessary in the former pools.
Water should be examined before hand. City water must be kept for a day before koi are put in it lest its bleaching powder should harm them.
Koi are to be carefully treated
Here’s a video guide also on how to transport koi fish long distance
Watch now
Koi exhibited in the show should be carefully treated so that koi should not be stolen, jump out of a pool, and suffer from oxygen shortage.
When koi are taken out of a pool, they must be treated gently by men’s hands or by a plastic bag, but never by a net which might hurt them.
Sending in of koisPicking up koi show prize winner koi fishadding medical oxygenbagging the koi fish in vinyl baglive koi fish transportationplacing the koi fish in the boxtransporting koi fish by planetransporting koi fish through car
Standard Tosai & Jumbo Tosai 2 Grow out in 1 event Soon!!!
What is a Tosai koi?
The meaning of Tosai, Nisai & Oya (Sansai) TVR. For those who are going into japan TVR. Tosai means same year fish. So if someone is selling a Tosai now, it means he is selling a fish that is born in this fiscal year. Nisai means two-year-old fish.
Get you kois ready and join the 3rd Davao Koi Club Open Koi Show!
Witness beautiful swimming jewels and learn the art of koi keeping
from the judges, hobbyists, dealers, and enthusiasts.
This is a great learning and fun activity for everyone!
Join the show, learn new things, gain new friends, and maybe win some awards! 😉
Come and join us!
January 12 and 13, 2019
MTS, Davao City
Reserve your vats now and avail of the early bird discount!
Pay only P2,000.00/vat until Dec.31, 2018
Pay P2,500.00/vat on Jan. 2019
Only paid reserved vats can enjoy of the early bird discount. Reserved vats paid on the day (Jan. 12, ’18) will be subjected to full amount of P2,500.00 regardless of reservation date.
Grab the chance to avail the discount!
MKCA out of town winners and for those who are willing to join the
Open Koi Show,, we are offering free handling of your entries for MKCA 2019 battle of the champions.
We will pick up at airport and pack it again for shipping for free.
3rd Davao Koi Club Open Koi Show! 2019 List of Winners
