This parody of the Kadori Myojin story is often described as signifying useless endeavour. The Japanese catfish, Silurus Japonicus, was once known as the Earthquake-fish and believed to be their cause. More likely, perhaps, is its agitation due to the transmission of tremors through water, making its violent movements a result, rather than the cause, of earthquakes

For similar examples, see Bushell Collection of Netsuke, part II, sold in Christie's Great Rooms, Tuesday 18 October, 1988, lot 26, and Sotheby's Swedlow Collection, lot 105, 31 March 1993