Why do the Japanese believe that if 'Doomsday' fish comes to ..

Recent sightings of the rare oarfish, popularly called the "Doomsday Fish" has left everyone talking and their brains boggling in speculation. This deep-sea creature which has a long, ribbon-like body and shimmering silver scales, has been spotted near the shores of Baja California Sur, Mexico, causing a stir on social media.

The oarfish's rare appearances near the surface have long been associated with forthcoming natural disasters, particularly earthquakes and tsunamis. This belief is also deeply rooted in Japanese folklore and has led many to wonder if these recent appearances are a harbinger of doom.

What does the legend say?

The oarfish has the nickname of "Ryugu no tsukai," or "sea god's palace messenger," in Japanese folklore. This myth traces back to the 17th century and says that the surfacing of the oarfish is a harbinger of future natural disasters. The myth received strong support in 2011 when several oarfish washed up on beaches in Japan only some months before the destructive Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. This catastrophic event, measured 9.0 on the scale and brought widespread destruction and fatalities. This made the belief of the ‘doomsday oarfish’ even stronger.

What does science say?

Though the link between oarfish sightings and natural disasters is controversial, scientists have presented a number of theories for the phenomenon. According to some scientists, deep-sea fish such as the oarfish could be more sensitive to seismic activity underwater because they live near fault lines. Such sensitivity might lead them to come to the surface before an earthquake. But most scientists think the connection is accidental and that oarfish are more likely to be pushed to the surface by powerful currents or illness. A 2019 study in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America found no relationship between oarfish sightings and earthquakes in Japan.