Chum Salmon, Alevin & Egg (Freshwater Fishes Book 2, second release by Yujin)

This figure is the Chum Salmon egg and alevin (hatchling), Oncorhynchus keta, number 19 in Book 2, but the number 15 is stamped into it—and it’s another Special Secret (I am reposting these based on the model numbers)! The difference with this one is that the numbering would appear to place it in the Series 2 set—but the papers for series 2 start at model 16 (although they restart at 1 within each Book), so it’s a little unusual for the Secret to be ‘first’ in the series. On top of that, the adult Oncorhynchus keta is part of Series 1, so we would expect them to be connected, but nope. It does make me wonder if the original intent was to be part of the first series, and then they decided to make a second before releasing anything–as it is, this and the Asian arowana models (which is unique to Book 1) are the only fully unique sculpts for secret figures in both series, all others are repaints of regular models.

The figure represents the two earliest stages of a chum salmon life cycle—an egg that is close to hatching, and the newly-hatched alevin with egg sac still attached. I just recently visited a Rainbow trout hatchery and can attest that this model really does look like the real thing (seeing as they are in the same genus). Chum salmon are of course laid and born far upstream in rivers, migrating to the open sea to grown for a few years before returning to start the cycle all over again (assuming that a dam or oil spill didn’t happen). It is surprisingly difficult to find a size for the alevin, but a length of 1.3cm seems about right compared to the rainbow trout alevin I saw. Yujin doesn’t give a particular size.

EDIT–as mentioned, I found out after the fact that this figure is, in fact, the Secret figure for the Series II line. It still doesn’t explain the weird numbering! I can also mention that, based on the visible veins in the yolk sac of the alevin and the dark vein down the body, this would be from Book 2 second release; the first is more transparent with no particular internal patterning in the yolk sac, and the body vein is more faint.

This alevin in the model is 3cm long, making the figure roughly 2:1, making it one of the few models that is larger than the real thing. The model is really two separate but related models—one is an unhatched egg, with a detailed, near-hatching salmon inside—the eye and curled up body is clearly visible inside, which is quite the feat of sculpting, since the egg cannot be opened.

The alevin is equally well-depicted, showing the major parts of the alevin body—undistinguished tail, bigger head with huge eye, and yolk sac. There is a lot of subtle detail involved, with a slight translucent plastic indicating the near-transparency of the alevin, and the red circulatory system being the only real colour.

As well as being the only freshwater Yujin model with two individuals, this is also the only model that does not use the acrylic rods to mount the figures—each has a small peg as part of the mold, with a corresponding hole in the base where it belongs. The base itself is a small pile of brown and black rocks; being a special figure, the base gets more detail; and being a specialized base, this base can only work for the salmon baby set.

While I can’t be completely certain, I don’t think a salmon egg or alevin has been made before—although a life-cycle set with a fingerling, juvenile and non-breeding adult, plus the breeding-form adult, would be kind of cool! EDIT – this was clearly written long before the Safari Salmon life cycle set was made in 2020 (but that features an Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, an entirely different genus and very different fish). As far as Yujin Freshwater secret figures go, this one seems to be among the more easily found and relatively inexpensive, so that’s at least a plus!

Starting on the 14th of January, 2024, I migrated my first Yujin Freshwater Fish Pictorial walkaround post from the Animal Toy Forum to this blog, with the intention of moving all species’/figures’ walkarounds here. The initial post contained a lengthy explanation of the series (both the original and updated) that I don’t think should be repeated each time! For those details, the post can be seen at the first post. Then we can just get to the fish. Most of the details and writing will come from the original post, although I may supplement/add where appropriate. This is the first figure from the Book 2 series! About halfway through!