Trout

"Moment of Shimmer"

Beautiful trout shimmers underwater.
The speckled pattern extending to the fins suggests this is a brook trout. The wide-open mouth and arched body create a sense of dynamic movement. This could be the moment of taking prey into its mouth, or perhaps the fish desperately resisting after being hooked.

The wild yet graceful fish body shimmers in this moment, expressed through Infigo's distinctive use of color.

Brook Trout in Nikko

Brook trout (Japanese name: Kawamasu) are members of the char family, and while some populations are anadromous, the most distinctive feature of freshwater individuals is the vivid speckled pattern that extends from their back and sides to their dorsal and tail fins. These spots, called "worm-track markings," consist of red or yellow spots surrounded by blue halos.

Native to eastern North America, these fish arrived in Japan in 1902. Thomas Glover, visiting Nikko as a summer resort, imported brook trout eggs from America and released the hatched fry into the Yukawa River, which had no fish at the time. At the same time, fly fishing techniques were introduced to Japan, making the Yukawa River the birthplace of Japanese fly fishing.

However, brook trout are now designated as an "invasive alien species for ecosystem damage prevention." Considering their impact on native species, catch and release is mandatory in the Yukawa River, and removal is prohibited. While beloved by anglers for their beautiful appearance and strong fight, efforts continue to prevent their further spread. While beloved by anglers for their beautiful appearance and strong fight, efforts continue to prevent their further spread.

A unique fish bearing the contradictory nature of being precious as the only population in Japan's natural rivers limited to the Yukawa, while also subject to restrictions to protect native species—they represent Nikko's historical heritage in an extremely delicate position.