My co-author and I often research monsters of Asian origin. We like to call it “Monday Monster” in our FB Group for Fans of Asian Urban Fantasy. I also like to eat so I stalk chefs on Instagram for our Friday Food segment. Often it’s something fun like Korean street food or something like Mapo Tofu Pizza (yes, pizza).
Rarely do Monday Monster and Friday Food overlap but somehow, we made it happen deep into our draft of Blood Jade (Book 2 of the Phoenix Hoard). When our hero Emiko makes it to the magical pocket at Shinjuku station, she’s hungry. The menu offering? Deep fried namazu!
What is namazu? Namazu is a massive, bottom-dwelling fish that is said to have the power to cause earthquakes or tsunamis. It lives in the waters surrounding Japan and is guarded by the god Kashima. Kashima holds the namazu in place by pinning it under a heavy rock. If Kashima’s attention flags, the Namazu bucks and writhes, causing natural disasters. Maybe the legend of the namazu sprung from sightings of the giant oarfish.
But what would Namazu taste like? Ken posited:
“My teeth crunched through paper-thin batter and into steaming hot, flaky fish that tasted of ocean brine and cloying umami. Wow. It was like unagi and oysters had a sexy, delicious love child. I dunked the next bite in the sauce which complemented the fish with the salty tang of fish sauce, lime, crushed garlic, and wafer-thin rings of vibrant crimson chiles. In seconds my stomach troubles were long forgotten as I licked the last bit of pickle brine from my fingers and tossed the tray in the garbage.”
Given how large the mythic namazu is in the artwork we’ve seen, it could feed a lot hungry travelers!
When Catfish Cause Earthquakes
