Rainbow Trout (Freshwater Fish Pictorial Book, Series 1, revised by Yujin)

This figure is the Rainbow Trout, probably one of the most familiar North American game fish, Oncorhynchus mykiss, number 04 from the first series. This trout is widespread throughout North America, and parts of the Kamchatka peninsula; they are also introduced into many other places including, of course, Japan. Their sizing is quite variable depending on location, subspecies and whether it is a landlocked or sea-going form; the TL given by Yujin is 80cm.

There are a number of distinct forms of rainbow trout, and it is uncertain which this figure is meant to be; the type species O. mykiss mykiss, the Kamchatkan rainbow trout, is geographically closest, but I can’t find which subspecies is actually introduced in Japan. In any event, these fish are predatory, eating primarily arthropods, but taking anything they can catch. Rainbow trout can be found in streams and rivers, landlocked in lakes, and as anadromous sea-going populations. The individuals in the latter two environments have the potential to get substantially larger. There is also regional variation in the colours, some spectacularly so (such as the golden trouts, O. m. gilberti, o. m. whitei and O. m aguabonita), although the colours of this figure would represent the more typical and familiar colouration of a silvery to greenish back with numerous black spots over most of the body, a lighter belly, and in adults a distinctive pink to red band from the head to the tail (this may be faded or even absent in the lake and anadromous forms).

This model is about 6 cm long, making the figure roughly 1:13. The pose is pretty much similar to the trout and salmon models so far (they can only get so variable). The colouring is of course detailed, showing the dark back and pink sides of a mature freshwater male. This one is on the grey outcrop rock base. One thing to note is that the black spotting is quite reduced compared to what would normally be seen in a stream-run rainbow trout; in fact, the fins are completely unspotted. As well, the anterior margins of the fins are all highlighted in white; this is a char feature, not a trout feature. In fact, unspotted dorsal fins and white fin margins are how we identify stocked rainbows and other trout in rivers from native protected salmonids (bull trout, dolly varden)*. Like the other trout models, this one has the calm demeanor compared to some of the Yujin fish. As will be a running theme with many of the Japanese fish in the Yujin series, this species has shown up in a few other Japanese lines, but despite the wide range and familiarity of the species it is relatively uncommon. Replica Toy Fish did produce at least two subspecies, but rainbow trout are otherwise more common as unidentified trout figures, or in other fishing-based memorabilia.

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.

*for those wondering, “no black, put it black”