SAKOI NEWS

In This Issue

From the Chairman

Committee Members

New Certified ZNA Judges

Identifying Koi—Part One

2016 All Japan Koi Show

Demistified

25th Anniversary Badge

Dates To Diarise

Editors Choice

South African Koi Keepers Society Gauteng Chapter Newsletter March 2016

A big welcome to our new members so far this year:

Morney Viljoen

Kevin Rolfe

Aquarium Depot

We hope that you enjoy your membership and we look forward to seeing you at our events.

If you are interested in advertising in the new-letter or have an interesting article to add please contact Bronwyn on

gauteng@koisa.co.za

Good day Members

A lot is on the go at the moment. Our committee is in full swing

planning the up coming show. We would like to ask if there are

any members who are able to assist us on the show weekend

please could you let us know. We are looking for volunteers to

help in many areas around the show. It is very interesting and

you will be able to interact with not only the committee but also

the judges and entrants a like.

In the next issue you can read all about the wonderful pond safa-

ri that was held in the Centurion/ Midrand area. It was great fun

and enjoyed by all who attended.

The new membership structure is going very well, if you have not

yet renewed your membership please don’t forget to do so,

memberships to SAKKS run from March to April and we would

really appreciate your continued support.

Enjoy the newsletter!

Stephen Galgoczy

Members Responsibilities Email

Stephen Galgoczy Chairman info@steveskoi.co.za

Larry Hubbard Treasurer larry@biocentric.co.za

Chris Neaves Website & Newsletter neaves@mweb.co.za

Michael Segal Dealer Liaison michael@wcb.co.za

Tony Nogueira Show setup tony@wcb.co.za

Kevin Till Marketing kevin@green4life.co.za

Lee Oberholzer Show Administrator & Facebook leeo@wirelessg.co.za

Thinus Marais Committee Member thinus@thinusmarais.co.za

Bronwyn Galgoczy Administrator & Secretary gauteng@koisa.co.za

The following judges were certified on 30 Jan-uary 2016

Local Certified Judge

Henry Wong (Singapore) Josef Wong (Hong Kong) Hung King-Wen (Yang-Mei, Taiwan) Santi Maensiri (TKKG, Thailand)

Assistant Certified Judge

Alan Stein (Southern California) Bernie Woollands (Holland-NVN, UK) Ronald Stam (Holland-NVN) Rene Shoenmaker (South Africa) Honorary Certified Judge Keiichi Iwahashi (Tokyo)

Phil Bamrungcheep (TKKG, Thailand) Govit Patoomnakul (TKKG, Thailand) Chumpol Sriyapai (East Thailand) Miki Mo (Western Australia) Cheng Chor-Wai (Hong Kong) Yasuo Iwamoto (Yamaguchi) Shiro Kishimoto (Hyogo)

In the Special Edition January 2016 Nichirin Magazine

you can read all about the 51st ZNA International

Show

KOHAKU – A white Koi with red pattern. This variety is, by far, the most produced and, po-tentially, the most valuable variety of Koi by far. It is also the most difficult variety in which to produce a perfect example hence the reason why the vast majority of Japanese breeders almost always include this variety in their par-ent stocks. There is an old saying in Japanese Koi circles that ‘We start with Kohaku and finish with Ko-haku’. This generally means that when we come into the hobby there are usually more Kohaku for sale than other varieties and so we buy. Af-

terwards we become more interested in other – dare I say? – ‘Less boring’ varieties. However, it is only after we have built up experi-ence and then attended serious Koi shows where we can converse with other enthusiasts that the true beauty of Kohaku can really be ap-preciated. Below I have included several popular ‘pattern styles’ of Kohaku as examples only and NOT as requirements.PW

By Peter Waddington

By Mark Gardener

As everyone reading this is hopefully aware, the

greatest Koi show on earth, the 47th All Japan

Koi Show, 2016 Nishikigoi of the World, takes

place on 30th and 31st January 2016 at Tokyo

Ryutsu Centre.

Back at the beginning of December we provided

more information for the would be visitor to the

show – http://wordpress.niigata-

nishikigoi.com/2015/12/02/visiting-2016-japan-koi

-show/

We reported the other day that over 1700 Koi had

been entered into this event – http://

wordpress.niigata-nishikigoi.com/2016/01/14/over

-1700-koi-entered-into-2016-all-japan-koi-

show/. It was subsequently confirmed that the

total entry number was a massive 1781, around

200 more than the 2015 event.

Quite simply this is the pinnacle of Nishikigoi

shows, by a long distance, nowhere else on the

planet will you find that number of Koi, of the level

they are.

For the first time visitor the whole experience can

be somewhat overwhelming, it’s not surprising,

there is simply so much to see and take in, so

many Koi, so many prizes.

In this article we’ll try to explain some of the what

and whys, look at how the show is broken down

into varieties and sizes, how each prize is decid-

ed, what each prize means, and where you can

find the winners.

In the article a few days ago –http://

wordpress.niigata-nishikigoi.com/2016/01/14/over-

1700-koi-entered-into-2016-all-japan-koi-show/ – we

mentioned how each Koi is pre-entered into their ap-

propriate size and variety classes.

Size classes

Size divisions are from 12cm up to 90cm, 12cm, 15

cm and then in steps of 5cm, i.e. 20, 25, etc.

The number represents the maximum length of Koi

in that division apart from 90cm, the largest division,

which is effectively for any Koi over 85cm.

The division is referred to as ‘bu’, i.e. 25bu, but

please note that ‘bu’ is not a direct translation of ‘cm’,

i.e. 64bu is incorrect.

Koi up to 50cm in size are judged together irrespec-

tive of their sex in 20 variety classifications.

Above 50cm male Koi are judged separately in a re-

duced set of variety classifications.

Variety classes

There are now 21 ‘general variety classes’ with the

introduction of the Mujimono class for the 2016 show

– http://wordpress.niigata-nishikigoi.com/2015/11/28/

new-mujimono-variety-class-for-2016-all-japan-koi-

show/. As detailed above 50cm and above male Koi

are placed into the ‘male variety classes’.

General Variety Classes:

Kohaku Taisho Sanke

Showa Sanshoku

Shiro Utsuri

Hikari Muji

Hikari Moyo

Asagi

Shusui

Kawarigoi

Goshiki

A Ginrin (Gosanke)

B Ginrin (other than A Ginrin)

Bekko

Hikari Utsuri

Tancho

Koromo

Doitsu Koi (excluding Shusui, Hikarimono, and

Kumonryu)

Kujaku (including Doitsu Kujaku)

Kumonryu

Hi Utsuri / Ki Utsuri

Muji Mono

Male Variety Classes

Kohaku

Taisho Sanshoku

Showa Sanshoku, Shiro Utsuri, Ki Utsuri, Hi

Utsuri

A Ginrin (Gosanke)

Hikari

Doitsu Koi (excluding Shusui and Hikari)

Kawarigoi (all others not mentioned specifically

above)

Prizes

The following prizes are awarded:

- Overall Grand

- Champion

– selected from all Koi by all judges, each

judge having one vote. Up to 3 ballots may be re-

quired until any single Koi receives the required

50% majority vote.

- Champions

– (1 Koi for every 413 category), in essence

best in size and variety. A considerable number of

runners-up prizes are are given, both first runner

up and honourable mentions, the exact number

varying depending on the number of entries per

category.

- Kokugyo Award

– (25 awards) awarded to the best Koi in

each size division. Awarded to male and females.

Grand Champion takes overall Kokugyo.

- Size Division Overall Champions

– (selected from Kokugyo Award winners)

Baby Champion (15bu-25bu)

Young Champion (30bu-40bu)

Adult Champion (45bu-55bu)

Mature Champion (60bu-70bu)

Superior Champion (75bu-80bu)

Jumbo Champion (85bu-90bu)

Mature Male Champion (up to 70bu)

Superior Male Champion (over 70bu)

Miyabi Award

– (17 awards) awarded to best Gosanke

(including Shiro Utsuri) in each size classi-

fication.

Sakura Award

– (17 awards) awarded to the best non-

Gosanke (Shiro Utsuri also excluded) in

each size classification. Sakura Champion

is also awarded to best Sakura.

Tsubaki Award

– (17 awards) awarded to the best in each

size class from the following varieties; Tan-

cho, Koromo, Doitsugoi, Hikarimoyo,

Kumonryu.

Botan Award

– (17 awards) awarded to the best in each

size class from the following varieties; Hi

Utsuri/Ki Utsuri, Shusui, Asagi, Bekko,

Hikariutsuri, Hikarimuji, Muji Mono.

Best in Variety

– (21 awards) awarded to the best exam-

ple in each variety classification, irrespec-

tive of size. With effect from 2015 this Koi

wins this award exclusively, whereas previ-

ous for example the Grand Champion

was automatically the Best in Variety too.

Jumbo A and Jumbo B

– awarded to largest Gosanke and non-

Gosanke respectively.

In total that is something like 520 main priz-

es available, excluding the second places and

honourable mentions awarded in each size

and variety class. As you can imagine that’s

a pretty massive task to judge, so how do the

judges go about it?

Judgement Day Judging commences at 9.30am on Friday

morning. The show hall is closed off to the

public, and indeed professionals who are not

directly involved with the judging process.

Approximately 80 judges are invited, Japa-

nese Shinkokai members and international

members, all Nishikigoi professionals, either

breeders or dealers.

At 8.30am they assemble for a pre-judging

briefing at which they each draw a number

from a box to decide which of the 12 judging

Judges briefing meeting 2013 All Japan Koi Show

teams they will join. Each team will decide

who is the nominated head judge.

The first task for the judges is to nomi-

nate a Grand Champion. Each judge

makes a ‘secret’ nomination for one indi-

vidual Koi. For a Koi to take Grand

Champion it must accrue over 50% of the

total available votes. It is unusual that

this occurs in the first round of vot-

ing. Usually at least one more round of

voting is required. The Koi with the top 2

or 3 number of votes in the first round

are subject to another round of voting

where all judges must choose from only

those Koi. If there are 3 Koi and still no

single Koi has a majority then a 3rd and

final vote takes place between the top

2. This process also decides the ‘Jumbo

Champion’, the runner up (note this is

different to Jumbo A which is awarded on

size only).

The heads of each team, which are pre-

allocated size classes, then draw to find

out which variety classes they will

judge. Go-sanke classes are more heavily

entered than some others so the aim here

is to try and balance out the workload.

The judging teams will then split off to

judge their specified size and variety clas-

ses which will take them past lunchtime.

When they have judged the

420 champions they have to again join to-

gether in various permutations to judge

the higher awards, i.e. those that judged

75bu and 80bu will be required to select a

‘Superior’ Champion, those that judged

different varieties in 70bu must choose

Kokugyo, Sakura, etc.

By approximately 3pm the task will be

completed, all the Koi judged and all the

prizes awarded.

124 of the winning Koi, GC, Overall Size

Champions, Kokugyo, Sakura, Botan, Tsu-

baki, Best in Variety and Jumbo A and B,

are all moved to ‘champion’ pools at one

end of the exhibition hall.

By Saturday morning when the show official-

ly opens to the public large signs with a mix-

ture of Japanese and English will be

Judges assembled at 2013 AJKS prior to GC judging

GC Nominations are counted

on all of the vats containing the main win-

ning Koi. Since around 2010 the amount

of information that can be discerned easily

has increased year on year.

Many of the other pools containing show Koi

will have certificates hanging above for the

first, second and honourable mention prizes,

including the name of the winner. By the en-

trance to exhibition hall information regard-

ing all winning Koi can be found on the wall,

to date this has always been in Japanese,

however if you are looking for a specific

prize winner someone should be able to

point you in the right direction. MG

Grand Champion Kohaku

94cm Owned by Mr Pan Zhi Cheng

Bred by Dainichi Toyota Handled by Narita Koi Farm

Jumbo Champion Kohaku 94cm

Bred by Sakai Fish Farm Handled by Narita Koi Farm

Mature Champion Sanke 70bu

Owned by Kanji Yagura Bred by Sakai Fish Farm

Handled by Odakan

Superior Male Champion Kohaku

90bu Owned by Keishi Omori Bred by Sakai Fish Farm

Superior Champion Kohaku

80bu Bred by Marudo Koi Farm

Handled by Narita Koi Farm

Mature Male Champion Showa 65bu

Owned by Paradorn Leosakul (Thailand) Bred by Dainichi Koi Farm Handled by Narita Koi Farm

Baby Champion Kohaku

25bu Owned by Takahiro Toyama

Bred by Oishi Fish Farm Handled by Narita Koi Farm

Young Champion Sanke 35bu

Owned by Ng Chee Kian (Singapore) Bred by Sakai Fish Farm

Handled by Narita Koi Farm

Adult Champion Sanke 50bu

Owned by Takehiko Kangyo Bred by Oya Koi Farm

Handled by Narita Koi Farm

Contact us on 0788621154

Or email info@steveskoi.co.za

Website: www.steveskoi.co.za

The symbolism of the 25th Anniversary SA

National Show badge.

By Mike Harvey

The designer of the 25th Anniversary SA

National show badge was a combined ef-

fort of husband and wife team- Steve and

Bronwyn Galgoczy. This is the first time

that they have designed a badge and what

a great job they made of it. Whilst many

will just view the badge as something to

commemorate the 25th Anniversary SA Na-

tional Show, which will be held once again

at Val Bonne Estates, Modderfontein on

the weekend of 14-15 May, there is much

symbolism to be found in the different ele-

ments making up the badge.

Quite understandably there is, at the centre

of the badge, the Kohaku, a variety of koi

that features on the SAKKS logo, and

which symbolises the very origins of Nishi-

kigoi - rudimentary examples of the earliest

koi were indeed Kohaku.

As this badge celebrates the 25th Anniver-

sary SA National Koi Show- whilst the let-

tering on the badge is clear, there also ap-

pears a subtle representation of the South

African flag in each corner – appropriate it

being the South African National Show this

year. It also symbolises the participation of

members from all corners of the country in

the SA National show.

As Nishikigoi originate from Japan, the tori

(the red “gate”) so integrally part of Japa-

nese culture and religion, is featured on the

badge – symbolising the origins of Japa-

nese Coloured Carp or Nishikigoi as we

know them today and which are the sole

focus of our SAKKS SA National Koi Show.

Finally the red scales are symbolic of the

fact that SAKKS is a Chapter of the Zen

Nippon Airinkai whose very own logo fea-

tures these red scales very prominently.

The inter- connected scales also represent

the “Friendship through Scales” motto of

ZNA- something we in South Africa promote

as well.

So congratulations to Steve and Bronwyn

on a badge which has such meaning and

symbolism contained within a unique badge

celebrating 25 years of SA National Koi

Shows in South Africa.

The basic design of the 25th

Anniversary

of the SA National Koi Show

6-7 August SAKKS Eastern Cape Chapter Koi show– Spargs Spar,

https://youtu.be/7IAMAX4nOkQ

Koi from a different view:

Floating Koi dome/ Upside down

Man Places Upside Down Fish Tank In His Koi Pond With Amazing Results

Read more at http://www.reshareworthy.com/upside-down-fish-tank/

#wGRQSh4aj41VMqjZ.99

This pet owner has made it a point to make his

pet Koi fish more comfortable in his garden

pond and has created something that’s not only

cool for the fish, it’s a really incredible feature to

look at. The “tower” tank lets the fish swim up

inside and look around.

This type of aquarium is sometimes called a

“bottomless aquarium” or “antigravity aquarium”.

The pillar of water in the tank wants to spill

downward because of gravity but it can’t be-

cause of air pressure. But if you were to lift off

the lid, the water would suddenly spill out and

into the pond.

German YouTuber “TChelmut” made his tank

from 1 to 1.5 cm thick glass. He says the aquari-

um did not need to be fixed at the bottom be-

cause of its weight. Without water it is 110

pounds (50 kg). With water it’s about 352

pounds (160 kg). The fish are free to come and

go as they please and really seem to like it,

crowding into the tower one on top of the other.

I’ve never seen a fish pond with a cool feature

like this before!

Read more at http://www.reshareworthy.com/

upside-down-fish-tank/

#wGRQSh4aj41VMqjZ.99