Namazu://

> Pronunciation: nah-MAH-zoo

> English name: Giant Catfish
 

> Distinctive features: Massive, writhing catfish with a wide head, long whiskers, and flexible body. Often thrashing among rocks, rivers, or waves. Tattoos usually emphasize movement to capture raw power and chaos.

> Powers: Causes earthquakes, upheaval, and disruption. Symbolically represents untamable natural forces beyond human control.

> Habitat: Rivers, lakes, underground waters; sometimes shown with lightning, rocks, or the deity Kashima restraining it.

> Claim to fame: Namazu is said to live beneath the earth, shaking it with its tail to create earthquakes. The god Kashima restrains it with a giant rock, symbolizing order over chaos. Stories about Namazu became especially popular after Edo period quakes, cementing it in Japanese folklore.

> Common tattoo depictions: Thrashing among rocks and waves, restrained under a deity’s rock, emerging from water with swirling currents, paired with lightning bolts or storm clouds.

> Tattoo symbolism: Chaos, upheaval, resilience, and natural power. Often chosen to represent challenges, transformation, and the strength to overcome adversity.