| Jikin | |
 |
|
 Name |
Jikin |
| Japanese name |
Jikin |
| Year of Origin |
Around 1610 |
| Country of Origin |
Japan (Owari region) |
| Breeder |
Suonokami Amano (Owari clansman) |
| History/ Background |
In the early Edo Era (around 1600), Suonokami Amano, a clansman from the
Owari region, made the Jikin by selecting and mutating a Ryukin-type goldfish
which had a long, standing tail fin, stabilizing it as a type of goldfish.
Since then, it has been reared in the Nagoya region as a local goldfish.
In 1958, it was registered as a protected species in Aichi Prefecture. |
| Features |
The Jikin has the same body shape as the Ryukin. Its characteristics include
its peacock tail that looks like an ‘X’ when viewed from behind, and another
unique feature is its ‘Rokurin’ (six scales) body color. ‘Rokurin’ means
that six parts of its body, the lips and each tail, are red, while the
other parts are white. However, since this body color is difficult to achieve,
it is artificially adjusted before the Jikin’s body color changes. There
are two ways to remove pigment: by removing their scales with a spatula
or by applying plum vinegar. This unique tail is associated with the Shachihoko
in Nagoya castle (a dolphin statue). The Jikin is also known as ‘peacock’,
‘sea wolf’ and ‘Rokurin’. |
| Acquisition difficulties |
Difficult. The Jikin is very rare as it is a registered protected species,
and is hardly distributed to the public. Acquisition is extremely hard. |
| Rearing difficulties |
Difficult. The Jikin is the only Wakin-type goldfish that is said to be
difficult to rear. |
| Details of the above photo |
The Jikin in the photo is a top-class goldfish that received the king fish
award in the two-year-old goldfish division at the Four-Tailed Jikin Preservation
Society (owned by Takehiko Tomita). |
| Other |
Jikin which did not have color adjustments when they were young will be
red and white in body color. |
