Namazu

Lore & Background

The legend holds that a gigantic namazu lives inside or beneath the earth, causing earthquakes. The association of namazu with earthquakes first appeared around Lake Biwa in the 16th century, depicted in Ōtsu-e pictures. The creature became linked to the deity and foundation stone at Kashima, Ibaraki, where the god Takemikazuchi restrains it under a stone (kaname-ishi). When the god lets his guard fall, Namazu thrashes, causing violent earthquakes.

Widespread connections between catfish and earthquakes in Japan rose to popularity during the 19th century. Prior to the 1855 Edo earthquake, an eel fisherman reported unusually active catfish in a river, which he took as a predictor; the earthquake struck that night. This anecdote, recorded in an 1856 chronicle, is the earliest known claim that catfish can naturally predict earthquakes. In the 1930s, Japanese seismologists Shinkishi Hatai and Noboru Abe demonstrated that catfish in aquaria showed increased agitation hours before earthquakes, predicting quakes with 80% accuracy.

Namazu-e (catfish prints) were produced in great quantity after the 1855 earthquake near Edo. These woodblock prints typically depict the god subduing the catfish under a sword or the kanameishi stone. Despite being blamed for disasters, Namazu was also hailed as a yonaoshi daimyōjin (god of world rectification), symbolizing redistribution of wealth after the earthquake. One documented origin involves artist Kawanabe Kyōsai, who illustrated a catfish sketch for an account by author Kanagaki Robun.

Reader's Guide

Namazu holds a significant place in Japanese culture as both a mythological explanation for earthquakes and a symbol of social commentary. The myth, originating around Lake Biwa in the 16th century, provided a supernatural cause for seismic events, with the god Takemikazuchi restraining the catfish under a stone. The creature's prominence surged after the 1855 Edo earthquake, when namazu-e prints became a medium for public sentiment, ironically portraying the catfish as a force of world rectification that redistributed wealth from the rich. These prints, often featuring jingles like 'yo-naoshi, yo-naoshi, tate-naoshi,' expressed political discontent and hope for social change.

Beyond mythology, Namazu influenced early seismology: the 1856 chronicle of the 1855 earthquake recorded the first claim of catfish predicting quakes, and 1930s experiments by Hatai and Abe showed catfish agitation before earthquakes with 80% accuracy. In modern times, Namazu appears in emergency preparedness imagery, such as the Japan Meteorological Agency's Earthquake Early Warning logo and the Yurekuru Call app icon. The creature also features in popular culture, including the Pokémon Whiscash (Namazun in Japan), Final Fantasy XIV's Namazu race, and the film Suzume. Namazu's legacy bridges ancient myth, historical social commentary, and contemporary disaster awareness.

Did You Know?

• The earliest known claim that catfish can predict earthquakes comes from an 1856 chronicle of the 1855 Edo earthquake, based on an eel fisherman's report.
• Namazu-e prints were produced in great quantity after the 1855 earthquake near Edo, often depicting the catfish being subdued by a god or stone.