Beware of Catfish

Spotted on a sign in Akihabara: Mr. Catfish cries "I give up!" when confronted by an earthquake-proof bridge structure. Catfish have long been associated with earthquakes in Japan, both in folklore (legends describe a massive catfish deep beneath the earth that causes tremors when agitated) and in reality (some scientists believe that catfish really do grow agitated when earthquakes approach.)

In any event, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government uses a catfish mascot to designate earthquake evacuation routes out of the city, and one also makes an appearance alongside Mr. Book, the official mascot character of our book of mascot characters, Hello, Please!.

Comments

[Tim]

One often sees ukiyo-e of catfish raising hell in Edo. Many, however, are shown subdued by a god wielding a magical stone. I saw a parade in Akihabara that featured mounted samurai and a giant catfish float; the fish had a stone on its head. They were off to Kanda Myojin shrine, I think.

[Matt]

A great resource for catfish in Japanese folklore can be found here:

http://www.east-asian-history.net/textbooks/PM-Japan/ch8.htm

It's also available in "slideshow" format here:

http://www.east-asian-history.net/textbooks/Slideshows/catfish/med_res/parade_of_catfish_med.htm