Little Beauties: The Goldfish Bringing a Splash of Color to Everyday Life in Japan

A variety of aquarium ornaments lends color and variety to the tank where the goldfish live. (© Pixta)

Tokyo is home to numerous goldfish ponds where people of all ages can try their hand at fishing and maybe take home a new pet or two as a prize. (© Pixta)

Kingyo-sukui, or goldfish-scoping: not as easy as it looks! (© Pixta)

Goldfish are the main stars of this artistic display at the Art Aquarium in Ginza. (Courtesy Art Aquarium Museum Ginza)

Kingyo sodate-gusa (How to Keep Goldfish), published in 1748. (Courtesy National Diet Library)

“The Goldfish Lover,” h1401 Utamaro Toyokuni’s 24 Paragons of Modern Beauty, 1863. (National Diet Library)

Ryūkin. (Courtesy of Art Aquarium)

Demekin. (© Pixta)

Ping-pong pearl. (Courtesy of Art Aquarium)

Ōsaka ranchū. (Courtesy of Art Aquarium)

Tosakin. (© Pixta)

Jikin. (Courtesy Art Aquarium)

Nankin. (Courtesy Art Aquarium)

Edo-nishiki. (© Pixta)