What is a Japanese char (iwana)?

It is a salmonid fish native to cold streams in Japan and neighboring parts of East Asia, occurring in both landlocked and sea-run (anadromous) forms.

Where does the Japanese char live?

It inhabits mountain streams in Hokkaido and northern Honshu, plus northeastern Korea, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, and Kamchatka.

Why do Japanese char turn darker in winter?

Individuals develop a darker coloring in the coldest months, called "sabi" by anglers, which fades as water warms and feeding resumes.

Japanese Charイワナ

Salvelinus leucomaenisLC— Least Concern

The Japanese char (Salvelinus leucomaenis), known as iwana in Japan, is a salmonid native to cold mountain streams of Hokkaido and northern Honshu, as well as northeastern Korea, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, and Kamchatka. Both landlocked stream populations and anadromous, sea-run forms occur, and the species is a voracious predator of aquatic insects, crustaceans, and smaller fish. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Japanese Char (reference photo) — Photo: Σ64 / CC BY 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Salmoniformes / Salmonidae Source
Distribution: Native to cold mountain streams of Hokkaido and northern Honshu, as well as northeastern Korea, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, and Kamchatka. Source

Did You Know?

In deep winter, individuals darken in color, a change anglers call "sabi"; it fades once water warms and feeding activity increases. Source
Both landlocked stream-dwelling populations and anadromous, sea-run forms (known as amemasu) exist within the species. Source

Where to See This Species

2 facilities · 0 individuals

京都水族館 (Kyouto Suizokukan)KyotoJR「京都」駅中央口から徒歩約15分。

京都水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

札幌市豊平川さけ科学館 (Sapporoshitoyohiragawasakekagakukan)Hokkaido

イワナのWikipedia記事に飼育施設として記載 Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Salvelinus leucomaenisはIUCNでLCです。地域固有性の高い個体群を含むため、流域単位の保全が重要です。

Habitat

日本列島の冷たい山地渓流と上流域。

Threats

ダムなどによる河川の分断
水温上昇
放流魚との交雑

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

源流域と渓流環境の保全
地域個体群に配慮した放流・遺伝的管理

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

Support Conservation

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FAQ

What is a Japanese char (iwana)?: It is a salmonid fish native to cold streams in Japan and neighboring parts of East Asia, occurring in both landlocked and sea-run (anadromous) forms. Source
Where does the Japanese char live?: It inhabits mountain streams in Hokkaido and northern Honshu, plus northeastern Korea, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, and Kamchatka. Source
Why do Japanese char turn darker in winter?: Individuals develop a darker coloring in the coldest months, called "sabi" by anglers, which fades as water warms and feeding resumes. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org