A video captured on social media shows the odd fish spotted off the coast of the Canary Islands – and it has seriously spooky connotations in Japanese folklore

A rare oarfish that is said to predict "something bad is going to happen" has been found washed up on a beach – sparking fears among the superstitious.

The deep-sea dweller, usually at home in the ocean's depths, was discovered by beachgoers on February 10, causing quite the stir online.

A video capturing the moment the silvery fish with its distinctive orange fins was found has already racked up over nine million views on Instagram.

In the footage, a man in swimwear approaches the stranded sea serpent, known in Japanese folklore as ryūgū no tsukai, or "Messenger of the Sea God". Disturbingly, this is traditionally associated with predicting disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.

Despite being hard to study due to its preferred deep-sea habitat, this particular oarfish turned up on the shores of Playa Quemada in the Canary Islands.

An Instagram post showing the beached creature has attracted more than 267,000 likes and 5,000 comments. Among the concerned commenters, one user theorised: "Something bad is going to happen."

Another commented: "They show up before natural disasters." A third agreed: "Usually, it means that an earthquake is coming when it appears to the surface of the water."

A fourth urged: "Put that back and run, may be a tsunami coming." And another urgently suggested: "PUT IT BACK."

Unpacking the myths

The ryūgū no tsukai oarfish holds a special place in Japanese mythology. According to the Ocean Research and Conservation Association of Ireland (ORCA): "The legend says that oarfish live under the islands of Japan, and they come to the surface to warn people about a coming earthquake."

The marine body also claimed that the legend attracted attention in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant disaster. It said: "Before the earthquake in late 2009 and 2010, at least 20 specimens of oarfish were found stranded on the shores. People quickly connected those sightings with the earthquake, reinforcing the legend."

The legend has captivated Japan so much that even a hotel resort exists, named after the oarfish. The Spa Resort Ryūgū no Tsukai is based in the town of Higashiizu, 94 miles south of Tokyo, and consistently gets five-star reviews on Tripadvisor.

However, ORCA Ireland did stress that relying on these oarfish as a warning-detection method was not advised. It added: "Although the legend may be captivating and attractive, there is no scientific proof that the sightings of oarfish can be used in an earthquake warning systems, and ryūgū no tsukai thus remains a legend."

Last month, two surfers in Mexico discovered an oarfish from the same species on a beach. The creature was alive, but appeared to have part of its tail missing.

In August last year, a 12ft-long oarfish was found washed up on a beach in San Diego, USA, while a nine-foot-long creature was discovered off the coast of Phuket, Thailand five months earlier.

Source:
courtesy of MIRROR

by Ravi Meah

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