A giant-fish cryptid said to live in Takanami Pond in Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture. It is said to be 2 to 4 meters long and is seen as a carp-like fish. One theory is that it is a carp that has lived long and grown huge.
Also known as
Namitaro of Takanami Pond, Giant fish of Takanami Pond
Era / first recorded
Showa era
Origin
Japan
Stats
Rarity
4
Danger
1
Reality
3
Fame
2
Originally written in Japanese.
日本語版を読む
(the Japanese page also has rankings and comments).
What is Namitaro?
Namitaro is a giant fish said to live in Takanami Pond in Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture. Takanami Pond is a small pond about 1 km around at about 540 meters above sea level, known as a scenic spot with a view of the cliffs of Mount Myojo.
Sightings and features
Sightings put it at 2 to 3 meters or more, some even at 4 to 5 meters. It is usually described not as a salmon or trout but as a carp-like fish. A sign introducing Namitaro stands by the pond, and it is loved as a local attraction.
What is Namitaro really?
It is said to be a carp that has grown large over many years, or a large freshwater fish such as a grass carp. Because the reported size is very large for a pond of that scale, some point to misperception or exaggeration, and its identity remains unknown.
Namitaro: Legend & Sighting Locations
Takanami Pond
Itoigawa, Niigata · Sighting · Showa era
Please note
Trespassing on private property or restricted areas is prohibited by law. Please be considerate of local residents.
Positions on the map are a rough guide to the area where a legend or sighting is set. Most pins are placed at representative points of a municipality or prefecture (outside Japan, a city position rounded to about 10 km, or the country), not at the exact place. Municipality points: Geolonia address data (CC BY 4.0), based on the Address Base Registry (Digital Agency of Japan) / Country points: Natural Earth
Please note
The contents of this site introduce legends, eyewitness accounts and theories; they do not guarantee that anything described is true. The stats are our own rough guide. Trespassing on private property or restricted areas is prohibited by law. Please be considerate of local residents.
