Okayama’s “Liopropoma boss” shows us how he got that name

We’re at the penultimate last leg of our recent Japanese tour recount, and if you’re just following, be sure to check out the previous parts here, here, here, here and here. We’ve toured Osaka and the surrounding Kansai region extensively…

A visit to the okayama University of Science

In light of MACNA and the hectic schedule of traveling, we haven’t been able to finish up recounting our visit to Japan. Now that the dust has settled, we’re obligated to tie up the loose ends and finish up this short series.…

A Mauritian gem residing in Japan

As the metonymic dust begins to settle after our whirlwind tour of Japan, it becomes increasingly clear that this country is without a doubt, the capital mecca for rare fish and all things associated. With lolita inspired fashion and crazy pop…

The Peppermint Angelfish that won the world over

Despite the Peppermint Angelfish’s (Paracentropyge boylei) recent meteoric debut in the mainstream aquarium trade, it’s status as an iconic book fish has hardly been relinquished. Familiarity has not made us jaded with the clinquant beauty of this incredible species. In fact, it’s a…

Japanese coral video is in “supernatural” high definition

We share a lot of rare fish and exotic coral eye candy here on Reef Builders, and Japan has its fair share. There is coral “porn”, and then there are superbly close and exquisite corals that look so surreal and perfect,…

Is Japan really home to any endemic Fairy Wrasses? Cirrhilabrus katoi disagrees

The reefs of Japan are known to harbour unique fauna found nowhere else on this earth. Rife with endemics, species such as Centropyge interrupta, Chaetodon daedalma, Genicanthus takeuchii, Chromis mirationis and a whole hodgepodge of other reef fish call this…

Volx Japan releasing GrassyCube LED module soon

Volx Japan is set to release the GrassyCube LED module in June. Volx Japan has been an interesting company to watch from afar and the company seems to have a good following with Japanese reefers. From what we can gather in…

Trimma yoshinoi, a new species of pygmy goby from Japan

Another day, another new species of pygmy goby joins the ranks of our fishy wish list. Trimma yoshinoi is the latest species to be inducted into the growing genus of ‘Pygmy Gobies’ known as Trimma, this time it’s from southern Japan. Five…

Video of crazy, never ending coral field in Japan

There’s a lot of coral awesomeness in Japan, for some reason it is home to the northernmost coral reef ever found, as well as one of the single largest coral colonies yet documented. And here again we have procured this…

Japanese fish shows up in crab pot off coast of Oregon

Crab fisherman off the coast of Oregon got a surprise when they brought up a crab pot and discovered a live striped knifejaw that is native to Japan, China and Korea. The fish is now with a team of scientists…