The Kindness of the Catfish in Restoring the World

Three great earthquakes struck Japan during the Ansei era (1854–60) at the end of the Edo period, ranging between 6.9 and 8.4 in magnitude. The first earthquake struck Edo (modern Tokyo) on November 11, 1855, and was followed by 119 others that year. Records from the time indicate that 6,641 deaths and many injuries occurred inside the city. Much of the ancient capital, whose architecture was largely constructed of wood, was ravaged by fires spurred on by the unending aftershocks.

In this print, dating from the tragic year of 1855, anthropomorphized catfish rescue earthquake victims from underneath a collapsed structure. The earthquakes were frequently blamed on a giant catfish that thrashed about, and Ansei quakes were no exception. Despite the devastating effects of earthquakes, those thought to be caused by catfish were understood as helpful, acting as means of reforming feudal society and its corrupt governmental system. These environmental disasters also presented society with occasions to lower income inequality by employing people to rebuild the city. In this context, catfish function as a symbol of both destruction and renewal, despair and hope.