According to a popular story, the cause of earthquakes is the giant catfish Namazu. Hiding somewhere beneath the Japanese mainland, sometimes he wiggles his tail, causing an earthquake in the human world. Some researchers believe that the myth of Namazu is based on people noting unusual behavior of catfish before an earthquake. Over time the catfish gradually replaces other animals, like water-dragons, the giant eel Jinshin-Uwo or the dragon-beetle Jinshin-Mushi, as earthshaking yo-kai. Some media searched for a connection between oarfish sightings and earthquake activity along the San Andreas fault, but none was found.

Source: Forbes February 02, 2019 16:17 UTC