"River Disappears Beneath Sudden Swarm of Fish"... Citizens Stunned

School of Fish Spotted in Osaka's Dotonbori River
Swim in Dense Groups, Filling the Surface of the Water
Expert: "Most Likely Mullet Searching for Food Along the Current"

A mysterious school of fish has been spotted in the Dotonbori River, one of Osaka's most famous tourist attractions.

According to Japanese media outlets such as Yomiuri TV on the 24th, the school of fish was first observed here on the 18th. At that time, the fish suddenly appeared and swam in a dense group, filling the surface of the Dotonbori River. Tourists and local residents walking along the riverbank were so surprised by the unexpected sight that they stopped in their tracks and stared at the river. One local resident reported, "The school of fish suddenly appeared around 6 to 7 a.m."

A mysterious school of fish recently appeared in the Dotonbori River. Screenshot from social media platform X.

The footage capturing this scene quickly spread through social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter). Dotonbori, well known for the Glico signboard, is a bustling downtown area in central Osaka packed with shops and is also a popular destination for Korean tourists. The video vividly shows the fish packed so tightly that the river water is barely visible.

Online users who saw the footage expressed concerns that the appearance of the mysterious school of fish "could be a precursor to a major earthquake." The recent series of strong earthquakes in Japan has also contributed to heightened anxiety. One user commented, "There was a similar incident of a school of fish appearing in the river during the 1995 Hanshin earthquake."

Experts say it is difficult to determine the exact cause, but believe it is most likely a natural phenomenon. Akiko Matsui, a fish expert at the Osaka Museum of Natural History, explained, "The school of fish found in the Dotonbori River is most likely mullet that came in search of food following the current," adding, "Mullet are sensitive to changes in water temperature and may have moved to the relatively warm Dotonbori River." However, she also noted that it is "difficult to determine" the exact reason why so many fish gathered at once.

Meanwhile, in Japan, fears of a major earthquake have been growing since a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the coast of Aomori Prefecture in Honshu on the 8th. After this earthquake, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a "secondary earthquake advisory" for the Aomori region. The secondary earthquake advisory, introduced in December 2022, is issued when there is a high possibility of a large earthquake occurring within a week after a magnitude 7 or greater earthquake.