オオナマズ

noun

ōnamazu; giant catfish thought to cause earthquakes

In Japanese mythology, a giant catfish believed to live underground and cause earthquakes by thrashing about. Often depicted in Edo-period prints.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには、地じ震しんはオオナマズが暴あばれるからだと考かんがえられていた。

  In the Edo period, earthquakes were thought to be caused by the thrashing of a giant catfish.

• この浮うき世よ絵えには、鹿か島しま神じん宮ぐうの神かみ様さまがオオナマズを押おさえつけている様よう子すが描えがかれている。

  This ukiyo-e print depicts the deity of Kashima Shrine pinning down the giant catfish.