....and I'm sure a judge will come along to correct me; the quality of any tancho is entirely due to that of the head spot. Providing this is fine, then as long as the body shape is OK the pattern on the rest of the body is largely secondary.

However, despite modern breeding in Japan blurring the lines (and I assume it's not an Atarashi sanke) there is a world of difference between a sanke and a showa; and what is acceptable for either. I'm sure we all know that a sumi heavy sanke is not a showa - and vice versa. Motoguru (black in the wrist of the main fin) is an almost sure tell for a Showa, as is black on the head and below the lateral line. There are also differences in the quality of the black, the colour (showa is meant to be a bluer-black?). Sanke sumi is also meant to be spotted (Bekko like) whereas Showa is traditionally striped - like a Utsuri, or in larger patches - though I have seen plenty of pictures to contradict this.

The last point is about the Hi - any other red on the body will be a major demerit or remove it from the tancho class where it would have a lot more trouble competing.

I would also expect that in a Koi Show, a tancho kohaku (of equal quality) would usually win over a tancho sanke or showa.

Please post us a picture when we can so we can take a better look at it!

There is a fantastic Tancho Goshiki at my local dealers - thankfully it has already been sold or that would have burned a large hole in my wallet!

Gareth