Page 50 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 5

On Thursday, the day that the Koi are brought in, you
can actually do only one thing. And that is going to the
vats and taking in each Koi separately. Of course we
always make a game of it in advance: “Who will be
crowned tomorrow as the most beautiful in the world?”
There had been pictures on the internet for days already
of 20 possible candidates, all over 80cm or perhaps
85cm and all with that one question – which Koi would
be among the contenders? It goes without saying, that
you do not like to be influenced, but a Kohaku, owned
by Yohannes Jusuf, was tipped as candidate winner.
More than 90cm and recently winner of the Rinyukai Koi
Show. With that result to your name, you obviously have
everything you need to take the title at the Shinkokai or
at least be a firm candidate.

On doing the rounds of the vats that first afternoon I
Baby Champion.
managed to take about 1,000 pictures of those
swimming jewels. And like every other year your mouth
falls open again and again in amazement. Surprise at the
entries in terms of quality, surprise as to the fact that this
is all possible! In Benelux you may have one candidate
for the Grand Champion with at most one or two
competitors who might come close when they are in
their very best condition at the show weekend. But this
weekend in Japan is a bit different. Here there are
maybe 10 to 15 candidates swimming around who could
in one way or another lay claim to that supreme title. You
suddenly come into contact with quality of which can
only make your mouth water, but where that quality is so
high, that the difference between the best and for
example the number 5 is often very minimal.

I walk around the hall that first afternoon to pick out my
personal favourites. In the evening I like to present it
all neatly on ‘Koi Zanmai’ (Facebook page) to be able
Young Champion. to compare my predictions with the results the
following day.
I pick out three Koi that day, and speculate about them
on the Facebook page that evening. Three Koi that I
Left: think would undoubtedly claim the biggest title, plus a
Candidate No. 4
Yohannes Jusuf Kohaku. few remarks and comments.
More than 90cm and
recently winner of the First of all, there is that incredible Momotaro Showa.
Rinyukai Koi Show. 108cm, if you please! A Koi that we have been following

00 51