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Title: Namazu-e (catfish print)
Format: photograph: negative
Date: 1855
Description: According to Japanese legend, earthquakes were caused by the movements of a monster catfish that lived under the island of Japan. Immediately following the great Ansei earthquake of October 2, 1855, woodblock prints called Namazu-e (“catfish pictures”) appeared in Edo (now Tokyo), the most affected area. These imaginative and sometimes brutal depictions served as a unique source of information and reassurance to the local population. In this picture, the god of the Kashima Shrine holds the catfish in check with his sword. Shown above is the shrine with the great rock which was also supposed to hold the catfish down. It was while the god was travelling that the Namazu escaped and wreaked havoc.

Title: Namazu-e (catfish print)
Format: photograph: negative
Date: 1855
Description: According to Japanese legend, earthquakes were caused by the movements of a monster catfish that lived under the island of Japan. Immediately following the great Ansei earthquake of October 2, 1855, woodblock prints called Namazu-e (“catfish pictures”) appeared in Edo (now Tokyo), the most affected area. These imaginative and sometimes brutal depictions served as a unique source of information and reassurance to the local population. Here the people who suffered from the effects of the earthquake are trying to punish two Namazu.

Title: Namazu-e (catfish print)
Format: photograph: negative
Date: 1855
Description: According to Japanese legend, earthquakes were caused by the movements of a monster catfish that lived under the island of Japan. Immediately following the great Ansei earthquake of October 2, 1855, woodblock prints called Namazu-e (“catfish pictures”) appeared in Edo (now Tokyo), the most affected area. These imaginative and sometimes brutal depictions served as a unique source of information and reassurance to the local population. Here the monster Namazu (is lifting up the great stone of the Kashima Shrine by which it has been fixed under the ground for a long time. Carpenters and plasterers are encouraging the monster Namazu so they can make money repairing earthquake damage.

Title: Namazu-e (catfish print)
Format: photograph: negative
Date: 1855
Description: According to Japanese legend, earthquakes were caused by the movements of a monster catfish that lived under the island of Japan. Immediately following the great Ansei earthquake of October 2, 1855, woodblock prints called Namazu-e (“catfish pictures”) appeared in Edo (now Tokyo), the most affected area. These imaginative and sometimes brutal depictions served as a unique source of information and reassurance to the local population. Here people who suffered from the Ansei earthquake are trying to castrate the Namazu so that it can no longer cause earthquakes,

Title: Namazu-e (catfish print)
Format: photograph: negative
Date: 1855
Description: According to Japanese legend, earthquakes were caused by the movements of a monster catfish that lived under the island of Japan. Immediately following the great Ansei earthquake of October 2, 1855, woodblock prints called Namazu-e (“catfish pictures”) appeared in Edo (now Tokyo), the most affected area. These imaginative and sometimes brutal depictions served as a unique source of information and reassurance to the local population. Here an expert is giving a lecture on the monster Namazu and pointing out the postion of the great stone which is supposed to keep it from violence.

Title: Namazu-e (catfish print)
Format: photograph: negative
Date: 1855
Description: According to Japanese legend, earthquakes were caused by the movements of a monster catfish that lived under the island of Japan. Immediately following the great Ansei earthquake of October 2, 1855, woodblock prints called Namazu-e (“catfish pictures”) appeared in Edo (now Tokyo), the most affected area. These imaginative and sometimes brutal depictions served as a unique source of information and reassurance to the local population. Here the Kashima Shrine god is holding the catfish down while the people who suffered from the Ansei earthquake are attempting to capture, cook and eat the Namazu.

Title: Namazu-e (catfish print)
Format: photograph: print
Date: 1855
Description: According to Japanese legend, earthquakes were caused by the movements of a monster catfish that lived under the island of Japan. Immediately following the great Ansei earthquake of October 2, 1855, woodblock prints called Namazu-e (“catfish pictures”) appeared in Edo (now Tokyo), the most affected area. These imaginative and sometimes brutal depictions served as a unique source of information and reassurance to the local population. In this picture, the sly Namazu tries to beguile unwary children.

Title: Namazu-e (catfish print)
Format: photograph: print
Date: 1855
Description: According to Japanese legend, earthquakes were caused by the movements of a monster catfish that lived under the island of Japan. Immediately following the great Ansei earthquake of October 2, 1855, woodblock prints called Namazu-e (“catfish pictures”) appeared in Edo (now Tokyo), the most affected area. These imaginative and sometimes brutal depictions served as a unique source of information and reassurance to the local population. Here the Namazu, who appears with a human body, has been ordered by the gods to rescue people from the earthquake rubble.