The deep-sea oarfish (Regalecus glesne) — also dubbed the “doomsday fish” — has washed ashore recently in several locations, reigniting an age-old legend that links its surfacing to natural disasters. This slender, silvery creature, sometimes reaching over 10 m in length, typically inhabits depths between 200 and 1,000 m, making its rare appearances notable and eerie to onlookers.

Japanese folklore names it “Ryūgū no tsukai” — a messenger from the Sea God’s palace. According to Yokai, an online database dedicated to Japanese folklore, it is described as a massive creature with a human-like face, horns, and sometimes even long hair or a beard. Legend says that these mysterious fish would appear along Japan's coastline as harbingers of deadly disease. Supposedly, those who saw a portrait of the creature or heard its message would be spared. Communities across the Pacific, including Japan, the Philippines, and India, have historically associated oarfish sightings with impending calamities.

However, scientists caution that these connections are anecdotal; studies suggest beachings often coincide with deep-sea illness, injury, or unusual ocean conditions—and no consistent evidence links them to seismic events.