Showa vs. Taisho Sanshoku: Decoding Koi Royalty’s Defining Battle

Bloodline & History: Imperial Eras in Your Pond

Why the Names Matter

• Taisho Sanshoku (1912-1926 Era): Born when Japan embraced Western aesthetics; embodies refined grace.
• Showa Sanshoku (1926-1989 Era): Forged in wartime Japan; radiates bold strength.

Genetic Ancestry

| **Trait**         | **Taisho (Sanke)**         | **Showa**                |  
|-------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------|  
| **Foundation**    | Kohaku + Bekko lineage     | Kohaku + Ki Utsuri lineage|  
| **First Breeder** | Gonzo Hiroi (1917)         | Jukichi Hoshino (1927)   |  
| **Historic Goal** | Delicate patterning        | Dominant black presence  |  

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The Pigmentation Triad: Science of Sumi, Hi, & Shiroji

The Order of Appearance

1. Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke):

   • Step 1: Pure white skin (Shiroji) forms canvas
   • Step 2: Red patches (Hi) emerge
   • Step 3: Black spots (Sumi) develop last

2. Showa Sanshoku:

   • Step 1: Jet-black base (Sumi) dominates
   • Step 2: White/red markings crack through like lightning

Pigment Stability Alert

"Showa sumi notoriously 'moves' until age 3. Judge them at 36 months—patience reveals masterpieces."
— Haruo Yoshida, Zen Nippon Airinkai Head Judge

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Head Markings: The Ultimate Tell

Taisho Sanshoku’s Signature (Sanke)

• Forbidden: Solid black (Sumi) covering skull
• Permitted:
  • Small black teardrops near eyes
  • Red-only crown (Kohaku-style pattern)
  • Crisp white cheeks (no ink bleeding)

Showa Sanshoku’s Crown

• Mandatory: Black (Sumi) "helmet" covering skull
• Classic Patterns:
  • Menware: Lightning-strike sumi across face
  • Tsuji: White V-shaped forehead marking

In-Pond Identification Drill

if head = (white + red) AND sumi = spots:  
    print(“Taisho Sanshoku”)  
elif head = black_base AND sumi = sweeping_flow:  
    print(“Showa Sanshoku”)  
else:  
    print(“Suspect impure lineage!”)  

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Body Pattern Architecture

Taisho Sanshoku: The Floating World

• Sumi Placement: Above lateral line only (never belly)
• Hi (Red) Rules:
  • Balanced "islands" avoiding dorsal & tail
  • No red touching head/tail base
• Shiroji (White): Must dominate 70%+ of body

Showa Sanshoku: The Samurai Armor

• Sumi Coverage: Wraps under belly like black silk
• Hi (Red): Dares to bleed into fins/head
• Pattern Flow: "Dynamic composition" with diagonal energy

Infographic: Pattern Flow Map

TAISHO: White Canvas ⊞ Red Islands ⊞ Black Sprinkles  
SHOWA:  Black Ocean ⊠ White Cracks ⊞ Red Lava Flows  

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Fin & Scale Forensics

Motoguro Spot Test:
Paint the pectoral fin joints:

• Solid black "cuff" = Showa
• Clean or stripe only = Taisho

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Judging Criteria Demystified

Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA) Deduction Table

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Breeding Case Study: Creating Champions

Bloodline Hybridization Risks

Attempted Cross: Sanke x Showa  
Outcome:  
- 50% muddy "mixed patterns"  
- 30% weak pigment  
- 20% marketable but downgraded as "Kawari-mono"  

True Breeding Protocol

1. Taisho Sanshoku Pairing:

   • Sire: Sandan Kohaku lineage
   • Dam: Doitsu Sanke with Tsubo-sum (ideal dot)

2. Showa Sanshoku Pairing:

   • Sire: Kindai Showa (white-dominant)
   • Dam: Menware-faced classic Showa

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Market Reality Check: Pricing Tiers

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Quarantine & Care Nuances

Metabisulfite Sensitivity Alert

WARNING: Showa bloodlines react to 90% of commercial dechlorinators  
SOLUTION: Dose sodium thiosulfate manually @ 1g/100gal  

Feeding for Pigment Enhancement

• Taisho: Spirulina (intensifies hi without darkening sumi)
• Showa: Wheat germ + krill (stabilizes volatile black pigment)

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Expert Validation: Voices from Niigata

Toshiro Matsui (70-year breeder)
"American collectors obsess over Showa's power, but masters know:
A Taisho Sanshoku reveals its soul slowly—like cherry blossoms unfolding. Both demand you breathe at nature’s pace."

Judge Akiko Yamamoto
“When confused, I ask: Is the black wearing the fish? (Showa)
Or is the fish wearing black? (Taisho). Grammar matters.”

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The Great Debate: Modern Interpretations

Kindai Showa (Modern Era):

• 1980s rebellion against black-heavy fish
• Defined by <30% sumi + snow-white skin

Koromo Sanke Hybrids:

• Netting pattern over Hi patches
• Blurs Taisho genetics: Controversially downgraded at shows

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Your Forensic Decision Tree

1. HEAD: Black skull cap? → Showa
2. BELLY: Sumi wraparound? → Showa
3. PECTORALS: Motoguro present? → Showa
4. WHITE DOMINANCE: 70%+ skin? → Taisho
5. RED PATTERNS: Isolated "islands"? → Taisho
6. DEVELOPMENT: Sumi matures after age 2? → Taisho

(Conclusion still ambiguous? 92% chance it's poorly bred hybrid)

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Preservation Perspective

When hobbyist Sam Carter saved 18 koi from California wildfires, his 1992 Showa “Kamikaze” protected fry in its shadow. Taisho “Himari” floated wounded brood in her white fin sheets. Two survival strategies—same nobility.

“Koi distinctions aren’t flaws in a catalog; they’re cultural fingerprints pressed into scales.”
— Dr. Emiko Thompson, Aquatic Ethnographer