Ginrin — The Sparkling Scale Type (銀鱗 (Ginrin))
Diamond-dust scales — a scale type, not a colour, where each scale carries a sparkling, reflective edge.
Ginrin — The Sparkling Scale Type: Normal full scaling, but each scale holds reflective deposits that glitter as the fish moves; types are described by how the sparkle sits on the scale.
| Pattern (JAS-aligned) | Normal full scaling, but each scale holds reflective deposits that glitter as the fish moves; types are described by how the sparkle sits on the scale. |
|---|---|
| Colours | Any variety's colours, lit by silver (gin) sparkle across the scales. |
| How to tell it | Hold the fish in changing light: if the whole coat twinkles scale by scale, it is Ginrin, whatever its colours. |
The variety in Japanese koi culture
Ginrin — silver scales — names the sparkling scale quality that breeders have set into many varieties, producing Ginrin Kohaku, Ginrin Showa and more. Connoisseurs distinguish how the sparkle is carried on the scale, and the effect is judged across the whole body: an even, unbroken glitter that survives as the fish grows. Like Doitsu, Ginrin is a type that combines with colour varieties rather than a variety on its own, and shows handle it accordingly — a distinction this guide keeps consistent across its variety pages.
Keeping notes on this page are limited to generally published principles about the variety in Japan. This page gives no diagnosis, no treatment and no prescription for an individual pond or fish. For a fish that looks unwell, contact a veterinarian or your local fisheries office.
Sources: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA — summary in our own words, credit only); All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association official; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and Finance Ministry trade statistics as published; Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) for nishikigoi variety names and definitions (2022); Niigata Prefecture, Ojiya City, Nagaoka City (Yamakoshi) and Nishikigoi no Sato official; Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) visitor statistics; USDA APHIS and Australian DAFF official import guidance. Checked 6 November 2026.