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Origin[]
Earthquake-warding song (a namazu-e woodblock pamphlet, October 1855). The catfish is held down by Kashima aka Takemikazuchi.
Takemikazuchi, also known as 建御雷 or 武甕槌, which translates to "Brave-Awful-Possessing" or "Thunder-God" is a deity in Japanese mythology, considered a god of thunder and sword god. He also competed in what is considered the first sumo wrestling match recorded in mythology.
He is otherwise known as Kashima-no-kami, the chief deity revered of the Kashima Shrine at Kashima, Ibaraki (and all other subsidiary Kashima shrines). In the namazu-e or catfish pictures of the Edo Period, Takemikazuchi/Kashima is depicted attempting to subdue the giant catfish supposedly dwelling at the kaname-ishi , the "pinning rock", of the Japanese land-mass and causing its earthquakes.