Shachihoko

A shachihoko float used in Karatsu Kunchi festival

A shachihoko (鯱) is an animal in Japanese folklore with the head of a tiger and the body of a carp. It was believed that this animal could cause the rain to fall, and as such, temples and castles were often adorned with roof ornaments (shibi) crafted in the form of a shachihoko, in order to protect them from fire.

The above kanji can be pronounced in two different ways. When pronounced "shachihoko", it refers to the mystical animal mentioned above. When pronounced "shachi", it usually means orca. This is a source of confusion, even among the Japanese.^{[citation needed]}

A shachihoko decorates the roof of Okayama Castle