Japanese huchen; Sakhalin taimen
A large freshwater fish native to Hokkaido and Sakhalin; critically endangered. Often written in katakana as イトウ.
The Japanese huchen inhabits only some rivers in Hokkaido.
Anglers call the Japanese huchen a 'phantom fish'.
Hiragana spelling, also common.
Rarely used kanji form.
Rarely used kanji form.
The name イトウ likely derives from the Ainu word for this fish. The kanji 伊富 and 伊富魚 are ateji.