Namazu (Japanese mythology)

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Kashima controls a namazu

Namazu the savior

In Japanese mythology, Namazu (鯰) is a giant catfish who causes earthquakes. Namazu lives in the mud beneath the earth, and is guarded by the god Kashima who restrains the fish with a stone. When Kashima lets his guard fall, Namazu thrashes about, causing violent earthquakes.

Following an earthquake near Edo (modern day Tokyo) in 1855 (one of the Ansei Great Quakes), the Namazu became worshiped as a yonaoshi daimyojin (god of world rectification). He appeared in a series of unsigned prints, showing him forcing the wealthy to excrete coins for the poor, and atoning for his actions against the peasants. The portraits are known as Namazu-e. The Namazu was not always bad, as seen on the right.

	Japanese mythology and folklore
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