Zan

Zan is a Japanese Yokai monster folklore in Kagoshima and Okinawa Prefecture.

In Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Zan is believed to have fish fins with beautiful woman. One night, three young fishermen were playing on a beach. They heard a woman's voice from the sea, so they took a boat to the sea to check it. They threw a net and captured Zan. Zan cried and begged for life saying "I can not live outside the water, please let me go". So the fishermen let her go. Zan thanked them and said "A big tsunami is going to hit the island soon. Run into the mountain". The fishermen quickly went back to the village, told everyone about what happened and organised a evacuation. However, some villagers didn't believe them and stayed in the village. Later the day, a huge wall-like tsunami rushed into the village with dark clouds. Those who evacuated to the mountain survived, but those who stayed all died. This was the Yaeyama Earthquake on 24th April, 1771.