Why Do Japanese People Believe Oarfish Brings Disasters? Recently, a rare deep-sea fish called the oarfish was seen near the shores of Baja California Sur, Mexico. This has made many people talk and wonder if something bad is about to happen. The oarfish, often called the "Doomsday Fish," has been linked to natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis, especially in Japan. According to Japanese folklore, the oarfish is known as "Ryugu no tsukai," which means "Messenger of the Sea God." It is believed that when this fish comes to the surface, it signals an upcoming disaster. This belief became stronger in 2011 when many oarfish appeared on Japanese beaches just months before the deadly Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. That disaster measured 9.0 in magnitude and caused massive destruction. Even though scientists have not found solid proof that oarfish predict earthquakes, many people still believe in this legend. Some experts think that underwater earthquakes or changes in ocean temperature might force these deep-sea creatures to rise to the surface.