Namazu Menuki - M004

This made in Japan Menuki features a catfish. In the Japanese mythology, the Namazu or Onamazu (the giant catfish) is the primary origin of earthquakes. The giant Namazu lives in the mud under the islands of Japan, and he is quarded by the god Kashima (the one that is tied to the Kashima martial tradition) who restrain him with a stone. When Kashima lets his quard fall, or when Kashima attends the annual great meating of the gods at the Izumo Taisha once a year, Namazu trashes and causes violent earthquakes. The legend may finds its origin in a popular belief saying that some fishes and especially the catfish would be able to sense the tiny vibrations preceeding an earthquake and could therefore help prevent damages. The Namazu is very popular in Japanese arts and especially in Ukiyoe (paintings), as well as in modern pop culture, in music (songs) and video games (Zelda, Secret Of Mana, Final Fantasy, etc.).

• Available materials (options):
  Blackened copper plated brass with gold gilding
  Solid Silver
  
• Dimensions:
  Omote: 11.5 mm x 34 mm x 4 mm
  Ura: 10 mm x 32 mm x 4 mm