Beppunication

In Japan, during the Edo era (1603-1868), earthquakes were explained by the of a giant catfish. As a child, Makiko truly believed in the existence of this great supernatural being.
Over the centuries, while earthquakes have struck and tormented people's lives, they have also brought economic enrichment through the reconstruction of buildings and cities. Namazu, the giant catfish was seen as a bringer of destruction and later as a blessing to Japan.
There are illustrations in which the catfish was revered and praised, not as a person who causes earthquakes, but as a savior who removes social problems and diseases.

As part of the "Beppu Project" residency, we were inspired by this creature and designed a fish called "Zunama", like "Namazu" (catfish in Japanese).

A long time ago, there was a town called Beppu, known for its hot springs, but
the water was so hot that no human could enter it. Only a Yokai [explain]called Saruoni, was adapted to this water that had become boiling. Every day he bathed in it and cooked his vegetables which he sold to humans.
His son, Saruoni, during a bath, was sucked into a vertical gully and slipped into the
underground depths.
In a cave he met a large and mysterious aquatic creature called Zunama. He lived alone in this submerged cavity since his beloved Mazuna had disappeared. He was convinced that humans had killed her.
In his solitude, his anger had been boiling the water around him for many years.
Bringing Saruoni back to earth, Zunama came to the surface for the first time in thousands of years.
years. There he learned that his lover Mazuna was a singing star in the human world.
So she was alive!
His anger suddenly disappeared, the temperature of the hot water dropped dramatically, and the humans could finally enjoy the hot springs.